Etihad Airways Launches Daily Abu Dhabi to Tashkent Flights

Launching a daily nonstop service from August 9, 2026, Etihad Airways is connecting Abu Dhabi and Tashkent while offering codeshare transits to eight domestic destinations across Uzbekistan.

The Core Transit Update

Middle East-Central Asia air corridors and global codeshare networks are expanding under bilateral economic partnership agreements. Etihad Airways has commenced its first scheduled daily nonstop service between Zayed International Airport (AUH) in Abu Dhabi and Tashkent International Airport (TAS).

Cooperating under a commercial agreement signed on May 15, 2026, the Gulf carrier is partnering with national airline Uzbekistan Airways to offer passengers single-ticket travel options. The codeshare opens onward flight connections through Tashkent to regional Uzbek hubs, including Samarkand, Bukhara, and Urgench, facilitating travel for tourism, business, and family visits.

Flight Schedules & Tourism Statistics

Evaluating regional flight routes requires monitoring scheduled connections and analyzing national traveler statistics. The following tables outline the Etihad Tashkent route details, international arrivals in Uzbekistan, and outbound travel statistics to the United Arab Emirates.

Route Sector	Operating Carrier	Scheduled Launch Date	Flight Frequency	Onward Codeshare Partner	Connected Uzbek Domestic Destinations
Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Tashkent (TAS)	Etihad Airways	August 9, 2026	Daily nonstop	Uzbekistan Airways	Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench, Nukus, Fergana, Namangan, Qarshi, Termez

Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi–Tashkent flight parameters.

Travel Evaluation Period (2026)	Total Foreign Arrivals (Tourists)	Year-on-Year Visitor Increase	Growth Rate Percentage	Key Demographics / Characteristics
January – March (Q1)	2,872,502 visitors	770,000 additional visitors	+36.6% year-on-year	Arrivals from 164 countries
January – April	4,048,417 visitors	930,800 additional visitors	+29.9% year-on-year	Rapid seasonal spring surge
January – May	5,351,868 visitors	1.1 million additional visitors	+27.3% year-on-year	203 countries; 31–55 group largest (2,791,843)

Uzbekistan international tourism arrival statistics.

Travel Evaluation Period (2025)	Total Uzbek Outbound Tourists to UAE	Year-on-Year Traveler Increase	Growth Rate Percentage	Primary Strategic Outbound Segment
January – February	31,800 travelers	N/A	+21.4% year-on-year	Winter breaks & shopping tourism
January – April	58,800 travelers	11,200 additional travelers	+23.4% year-on-year	Spring holiday & family transits
January – May	71,400 travelers	15,700 additional travelers	+28.2% year-on-year	Early summer business & vacations

Uzbekistan citizen outbound travel to the UAE.

Traveler Logistics Guide

From a ground-level perspective, the best way to navigate this is to confirm whether your baggage is checked through to your final domestic destination during the check-in process in Abu Dhabi, as codeshare transits connecting to domestic sectors in Tashkent may require you to retrieve your luggage to clear customs at the capital's terminal. Checking visa entry regulations is recommended.

To manage your journey through Uzbekistan:

Verify Entry Visa Requirements: Ensure you register on Uzbekistan's official electronic visa portal before booking your flights. Many nationalities enjoy visa-free entry, but requirements can vary.
Coordinate Airport Transfers: Zayed International Airport's new terminal (opened in November 2023) handles all Etihad flights. Allow at least two hours for connecting flight banks.
Utilize Charter Incentives: The Uzbek Tourism Committee offers tour operators reimbursements of $20 per foreign tourist ($50 in winter from November 20 to February 20, for stays exceeding five nights) for charter flights to regional airports.
Review Baggage Allowances: Codeshare flight operators have differing baggage weight limits. Check both Etihad and Uzbekistan Airways policies to avoid excess fees at Tashkent.

Infrastructure Impact Assessment

The daily nonstop route between Abu Dhabi and Tashkent supports the "New Era of Economic Partnership" declared by the UAE and Uzbekistan for the 2025–2027 period.

By linking Zayed International Airport with Tashkent and providing onward connections to Samarkand and Bukhara, the service accommodates rising traveler volumes (which reached 5,351,868 foreign arrivals in Uzbekistan during Jan–May 2026), encourages trade in technology and infrastructure, and facilitates travel for the 71,400 Uzbek tourists visiting the UAE annually.