New flights available for UAE residents: A total of 12 new flight routes have been confirmed for UAE citizens in the current year.
In the world of aviation, UAE-based airlines continue to make waves with their route expansions. While most recent and detailed information focuses on new routes launching in late 2025 and early 2026, there are still notable developments for 2023.
Emirates, one of the UAE's leading airlines, has made several announcements for the year. From February 2, 2023, Emirates' Shanghai services will transition to a three-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, operating four weekly flights. Additionally, Emirates will return to Shanghai using an Airbus A380 aircraft for two weekly flights from January 20, 2023, with a stopover in Bangkok. The airline has also increased its services to Shanghai, China, starting from January 20, 2023, with twice daily flights, gradually increasing to daily flights from March 1, 2023.
Emirates now offers 28 weekly trips to Bangkok and 14 regular flights to Phuket, providing access to 130 destinations across 6 continents.
Flydubai, another Dubai-based airline, has announced the resumption of services to Ashgabat in Turkmenistan from January 23, starting with a twice-weekly service. The airline will also operate flights to 10 new locations from June 23, including Izmir, Turkey. Flydubai will run bi-weekly trips from Dubai to the Greek island of Corfu starting June 24. The airline is also expected to return to seasonal summer destinations such as Pisa, Bodrum, Mykonos, Santorini, and Tivat.
Air Arabia, based in Sharjah, will start direct flights to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur from March 20, 2023, operating 3 trips weekly from Sharjah International Airport to the location.
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi started operations to the new route of Ankara, providing convenient, point-to-point travel for tourists and residents in both the UAE and Turkey. The flight from Abu Dhabi to Ankara operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi, has not announced any major new routes specifically for 2023. However, they have plans for new routes in the future, including Kazan, Russia, Salalah, Oman, and Kraków, Poland, scheduled to launch between December 2025 and May 2026. These routes will operate as seasonal services, enhancing direct connections between Abu Dhabi and the respective destinations.
While there are no major new UAE-based airline routes specifically announced for 2023 in the provided sources, airlines like Etihad, Emirates, and Flydubai primarily focused on route resumptions, increased frequencies, or minor adjustments rather than groundbreaking new destinations.
In related news, Air Baltic launched direct flights to Lithuania in 2023, and increased frequencies in subsequent years. Additionally, Virgin Atlantic (UK-based) announced the launch of flights from London Heathrow to Riyadh, not in the UAE but still relevant to GCC travel patterns, starting in March 2025.
As we move forward, it's exciting to see how these airlines continue to shape the aviation landscape, connecting people and cultures across the globe. Stay tuned for more updates on UAE airline routes and expansions.
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- In the business world of aviation, Emirates, a UAE-based airline, is expanding its travel options by transitioning its Shanghai services to a three-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and increasing services to Shanghai, China, offering 28 weekly trips to Bangkok and 14 regular flights to Phuket.
- Flydubai, another Dubai-based airline, is making strides in technology by announcing the resumption of services to Ashgabat in Turkmenistan, the introduction of flights to 10 new locations including Izmir, Turkey, and bi-weekly trips to the Greek island of Corfu.
- The lifestyle of travelers in the Middle East and beyond is being impacted by the announcements of Air Arabia, based in Sharjah, starting direct flights to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, providing convenient point-to-point travel to Ankara, Turkey. Despite not announcing major new routes specific to 2023, airlines like Etihad, Emirates, and Flydubai are contributing to the growth of the economy by focusing on route resumptions, increased frequencies, or minor adjustments.
