Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has announced the launch of new flights to Kabul, Afghanistan, marking a significant development in regional aviation and diplomatic ties. The airline revealed on October 10, 2025, that it will commence three weekly direct flights connecting Abu Dhabi with Kabul, starting in December this year. This move makes Kabul the 31st new route announced by Etihad in 2025, underscoring the carrier’s aggressive expansion strategy throughout the Middle East and South Asia, as reported by Kazinform and the Associated Press (AP).
"These flights will serve strong demand for travel, enable trade and investment flows, and reconnect families and communities," said Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer at Etihad Airways, in a statement quoted by Kazinform. The timing is notable: Etihad has seen its passenger numbers soar by more than 80 percent since 2022 and is on track to reach an impressive 38 million passengers annually by 2030. The company’s financial health appears robust as well, with Etihad posting a record $476 million profit in 2024, according to AP.
The rationale behind the new Kabul service is multilayered. The United Arab Emirates hosts one of the largest Afghan expatriate communities in the Gulf, with around 300,000 Afghans living and working in the country, according to the Afghan Business Council. This sizable diaspora has long sought easier travel options between the UAE and Afghanistan, especially as families remain split across borders and economic opportunities beckon both ways.
Etihad’s announcement emphasized that the new flights are designed to "support trade, investment, cultural exchange, and facilitate travel for large Afghan communities across the GCC, Australia, Europe, and the US," as detailed by Kazinform. The service is expected to be a boon for businesspeople, students, and families alike, offering unprecedented connectivity through Abu Dhabi’s international hub.
The move also comes at a time when the Afghan capital is gradually re-entering the international aviation network after years of instability. Other international carriers, such as Turkish Airlines and FlyDubai, already operate direct flights to Kabul, but Etihad’s entry signals renewed confidence in the market and a willingness to engage with Afghanistan’s evolving political landscape.
Etihad’s decision is not occurring in a vacuum. The UAE has, over the past few years, developed closer ties with the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, even as much of the Western world maintains a cautious or adversarial stance due to the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls. In June 2024, Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Sirajuddin Haqqani, a senior Taliban official who remains a controversial figure on the international stage due to his alleged involvement in attacks against foreign nationals. Later that year, the UAE accepted the credentials of a Taliban government ambassador, further cementing diplomatic relations, as reported by AP.
These developments are part of a broader trend in regional diplomacy. In July 2025, Russia became the first country to officially recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, breaking with the policy of most Western nations. On the same day as Etihad’s announcement, India revealed it was upgrading its technical mission in Kabul to a full embassy, highlighting a slow but steady normalization of relations between Afghanistan and key regional powers.
While the Taliban remains largely isolated from the West, their ability to establish bilateral relations with influential neighbors is reshaping Afghanistan’s international standing. The launch of Etihad’s Kabul flights is emblematic of this shift, suggesting that economic and community ties are beginning to take precedence over political disagreements—at least among certain Gulf and Asian states.
Etihad’s expansion is also part of a wider pattern of growth among Middle Eastern airlines. The region’s carriers have rebounded strongly from the pandemic, with rising passenger numbers and new routes reflecting pent-up demand and strategic investments. As Kazinform noted, Kazakhstan’s budget airline FlyArystan is also set to launch direct flights from Aktau to Dubai, further increasing connectivity between Central Asia and the Gulf.
The new Kabul service is expected to play a crucial role in supporting trade and investment flows, not just between Afghanistan and the UAE, but also more broadly across the airline’s vast network. Abu Dhabi’s airport is a major international transit point, offering onward connections to Europe, Australia, and North America. For Afghan businesses, this means easier access to global markets. For families separated by years of conflict and migration, it offers hope for more frequent reunions.
Despite the optimism, challenges remain. Afghanistan’s political situation is still fraught, with ongoing concerns about security and human rights, especially for women and girls. Many Western countries continue to withhold formal recognition of the Taliban government and maintain sanctions or travel restrictions. However, as the example of Russia and India shows, there is a growing willingness among some countries to engage with the authorities in Kabul for pragmatic reasons.
For Etihad, the decision to launch Kabul flights is both a business calculation and a diplomatic signal. The airline is betting that demand will remain strong enough to justify regular service, and that the UAE’s close relationship with Afghanistan’s current rulers will help ensure operational stability. As Antonoaldo Neves put it, "These flights will serve strong demand for travel, enable trade and investment flows, and reconnect families and communities."
Other airlines will be watching closely. Turkish Airlines and FlyDubai have maintained their Kabul services even during periods of heightened uncertainty, and the arrival of Etihad could spur further competition and potentially lower fares for travelers. It could also encourage other carriers to reconsider their own approach to Afghanistan, especially as the security situation stabilizes and regional ties deepen.
For the Afghan diaspora, particularly the 300,000-strong community in the UAE, the new flights offer more than just convenience—they represent a tangible link to home and a symbol of Afghanistan’s re-emergence on the international stage. For business leaders and investors, they signal new opportunities in a market that, despite its challenges, remains strategically important for trade and energy transit between South Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
As Etihad prepares to launch its Kabul flights in December, the eyes of the aviation and diplomatic communities will be watching. Will this move spark a new era of connectivity and cooperation in the region, or will it run up against the same obstacles that have plagued Afghanistan’s international relations for decades? For now, at least, the runway is clear—and the world is watching to see what takes off next.