Royal Jordanian, in partnership with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), is launching two new direct routes from King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba this month. A twice-weekly Abu Dhabi service begins on 18 September, followed by a twice-weekly Riyadh service from 24 September. Both routes operate under arrangements that reflect Aqaba’s ambition to pull in more Gulf visitors directly, rather than routing them through Amman.
The announcement comes alongside news of upgraded facilities at King Hussein International Airport, where investment in terminal infrastructure has been ongoing through 2025 and 2026.
Why These Routes Matter
Aqaba has long been one of Jordan’s most under-visited assets relative to what it offers. The city sits at the northern tip of the Red Sea, with access to some of the Red Sea’s northernmost coral reefs — the same reef system that extends south to Egypt’s Sinai and Saudi Arabia’s Neom coastline. The diving is genuinely world-class: the northern Red Sea’s water clarity, reef health, and proximity to the shoreline give Aqaba an advantage over destinations where boat access to reefs is required.
Beyond diving, Aqaba functions as the southern gateway to Jordan: Wadi Rum is 60 kilometres to the north, and Petra is a three-hour drive up the Rift Valley highway. Visitors who fly into Aqaba and out of Amman — or vice versa — can complete a Jordan loop without backtracking.
The challenge has always been connectivity. Gulf visitors, who make up a significant portion of regional tourism to Jordan, have typically had to route through Amman. Direct connections from Abu Dhabi and Riyadh to Aqaba remove that requirement and shorten total journey times substantially.
What Travellers Can Expect
The Abu Dhabi route operates Tuesdays and Saturdays. The Riyadh service flies Wednesdays and Sundays. Both operate on Royal Jordanian’s regional fleet. Flight times are under two hours from both cities — short enough that the routes appeal to both leisure visitors planning longer stays and Gulf residents considering weekend escapes.
For visitors planning to combine Aqaba’s Red Sea beaches and diving with Wadi Rum and Petra, the new direct access simplifies the itinerary considerably. Flying into Aqaba, spending two or three days on the water, transferring to Wadi Rum for a night in the desert, and completing the trip with Petra before flying out of Amman is now a coherent and efficient route.
King Hussein International Airport is compact and handles arrivals quickly. Accommodation is distributed between resort hotels on the beach strip north of the city and more modest options in the town centre.
For help planning a visit, see our Aqaba city guide for local orientation, our Aqaba diving guide for reef information and dive operator recommendations, and our Aqaba tours guide for day trips and excursions from the city.