Starting October 21, Qatar Airways will launch thrice-weekly flights from Doha to the Red Sea, unlocking Saudi Arabia’s most talked-about luxury destination for global travellers.

For years, the Red Sea was a name on glossy masterplans. Now it’s taking shape as one of the Middle East’s most intriguing new escapes. From October 21, Qatar Airways makes it easier than ever to get there, with three weekly flights direct from Doha into the Red Sea International Airport (RSI).

The appeal goes well beyond its beaches. The Red Sea destination covers more than 90 offshore islands, framed by coral reefs among the largest in the world and desert landscapes cut by mountain canyons. In the past two years, several luxury resorts have already begun welcoming guests, including properties on Southern Dunes and Ummahat Islands, setting the tone for what’s coming: Shura Island, the flagship development, with its 11 planned resorts, an 18-hole championship golf course and a rollout of dining, retail and cultural venues that will continue over the next few seasons.

Unlike other new destinations, RSI was designed with sustainability in mind, aiming for one million passengers annually by 2030 without compromising its ecological ambitions. The airport itself, inspired by the desert landscape, has already become an architectural talking point.

With Qatar Airways as the first global airline to connect it to more than 170 cities worldwide, the Red Sea is no longer just Saudi Arabia’s bold tourism experiment. It’s a real, bookable getaway. ✤

GO: Visit qatarairways.com for more information.