16 October 2026
German airline Condor began daily, year-round flights between Berlin Brandenburg Airport and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport on 15 October 2026. The route is flown by an Airbus A320neo with 180 seats and is part of Condor’s codeshare partnership with Etihad Airways, so passengers can book onward connections through Abu Dhabi to destinations in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Australia. According to Condor, this is the first scheduled direct connection between Berlin and Abu Dhabi on its network. Gulf News reported the launch on 16 October 2026.
The new route at a glance
The service links the German capital with the UAE capital every day in both directions and is planned as a year-round operation, not a seasonal one.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Airline | Condor |
| Route | Berlin Brandenburg (BER) to Zayed International (AUH) |
| First flight | 15 October 2026 |
| Frequency | Daily, both directions, year-round |
| Aircraft | Airbus A320neo, 180 seats |
| Partner | Etihad Airways, codeshare |
Flight times before and after the clock change
Germany moves to winter time on 25 October 2026, and the timetable shifts with it. All times below are local.
| Period | Berlin to Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi to Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| 15 to 24 October | 16:40, arrives 01:00 next day | 02:15, arrives 07:15 |
| From 25 October | 10:00, arrives 19:20 | arrives 06:20 |
In the first ten days the outbound flight leaves Berlin in the afternoon and lands in Abu Dhabi after midnight, while the return leaves Abu Dhabi in the early hours and reaches Berlin in the morning. From 25 October the outbound becomes a daytime flight with an evening arrival in the UAE capital. The report did not give the winter departure time from Abu Dhabi, so travellers should confirm current times on the Condor or Etihad booking pages before fixing meetings around the flight.
How the Condor and Etihad codeshare works
Condor and Etihad Airways announced their strategic partnership in December 2025. Under the codeshare, Condor-operated flights carry Etihad flight numbers, and selected Etihad flights carry Condor codes. For passengers this means:
- One ticket. A trip from Berlin via Abu Dhabi to a third destination can be booked as a single itinerary.
- Through-checked baggage. On a single itinerary, bags are checked through to the final destination.
- Onward network. Through Abu Dhabi, passengers can continue on Etihad to destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Australia.
- Frankfurt as well. The partnership also covers a Condor route between Frankfurt and Abu Dhabi.
When the partnership was announced, the Berlin service was planned to start in June 2026. It opened on 15 October 2026. Gulf News notes that the launch comes while airlines in the region continue to deal with airspace restrictions and schedule changes, and that the new route adds capacity between Germany and the UAE.
What Abu Dhabi says about the route
Carsten Nørland, Chief Commercial Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, said the service strengthens direct connectivity between the two capitals and creates opportunities for tourism, business and trade. Haitham Ali Khamis, Acting Director of Tourism Products Development at the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, said Germany remains an important source market for visitors to the emirate.
UAE and Germany air links today
The Berlin route adds to the existing services between the two countries. Emirates flies from Dubai to four German cities: Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf and Hamburg. Etihad serves the German market through Abu Dhabi, and Condor’s own flights and codeshare arrangements widen the choice for travellers.
Aviation was also on the agenda of the UAE President’s state visit to Germany in September 2026. In the joint declaration, Germany agreed to add a fifth German point to the route schedule for one UAE national carrier, with that carrier’s total frequencies capped at the current level. We covered the details in our article on the EUR 40 billion UAE investment package in Germany. The Condor service is operated by a German airline, with Etihad flight numbers added under the codeshare.
What it means for companies working between Germany and the UAE
About 2,000 German companies use the UAE as a regional hub, according to figures published around the state visit; see our article on UAE and Germany trade in 2025. For them and for Berlin-based founders, the new route changes several practical things:
- Direct access to the capital. Teams from Berlin can fly straight to Abu Dhabi, home to the federal government, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and many state-linked companies, without connecting elsewhere.
- Onward travel on one ticket. Companies that cover several markets from the UAE can combine Berlin, Abu Dhabi and Asian or African destinations in a single booking.
- Regular rotation. A daily, year-round frequency makes it easier to plan trips between a German head office and a UAE entity.
- Schedule checks. Regional flight schedules have changed several times in recent months, so confirm flight status shortly before travel.
For a German company, the step after regular visits is often a local entity: a trade licence, a corporate bank account and residence visas for the managers who travel most. Our company formation guide for the UAE explains the options, from free zones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to mainland licences. It is also worth knowing that the UAE and Germany have had no double taxation agreement since 1 January 2022, and the September 2026 joint declaration refers to resumed negotiations, so cross-border structures should be reviewed with tax advisers in both countries.
Checklist for a German company planning UAE operations
- Define the role of the UAE entity: local sales, a regional base or a holding.
- Choose between mainland and free zone, and between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, based on the activity and the clients.
- Prepare the founders’ passports and the corporate documents of the German parent company; foreign documents usually need legalisation for use in the UAE.
- Plan the corporate bank account: banks ask for a clear business model and source of funds.
- Decide which managers need UAE residence visas and in which order.
- Review the tax position in both countries, given that there is currently no double taxation agreement.
How Atlant Capital can help
Atlant Capital helps entrepreneurs and companies from Europe set up and run their business in the UAE. We select the jurisdiction and business activities and register the company on the mainland or in a free zone in Abu Dhabi or Dubai; see our company setup service. We prepare the documents for the corporate bank account and arrange investor and employee visas and family residency. Accounting, VAT and corporate tax filings are handled by licensed accounting firms from our partner network.
Conclusion
Since 15 October 2026 Condor has been flying daily and year-round from Berlin Brandenburg to Zayed International Airport with a 180-seat Airbus A320neo. Under the codeshare with Etihad Airways, passengers can continue on one ticket to the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Australia. From 25 October the outbound flight leaves Berlin at 10:00 and lands in Abu Dhabi at 19:20 local time, and the return arrives in Berlin at 06:20.
Source: Gulf News.
FAQ
When did Condor start flying from Berlin to Abu Dhabi?
Condor launched daily, year-round flights from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi on 15 October 2026. The service operates in both directions every day. According to Condor, it is the first scheduled direct Berlin to Abu Dhabi connection on its network.
Which aircraft does Condor use between Berlin and Abu Dhabi?
Condor operates the route with an Airbus A320neo configured with 180 seats. The flight is part of the codeshare between Condor and Etihad Airways, so it also carries Etihad flight numbers.
Can I connect to other destinations through Abu Dhabi on the Condor flight?
Yes. Under the Condor and Etihad codeshare, a trip from Berlin via Abu Dhabi can be booked on one ticket with baggage checked through to the final destination. Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi cover destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Australia.
What are the Condor flight times between Berlin and Abu Dhabi?
Until 24 October 2026 the flight leaves Berlin at 16:40 and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 01:00 the next day, and the return leaves at 02:15 and lands in Berlin at 07:15. From 25 October, when Germany moves to winter time, the flight leaves Berlin at 10:00 and arrives at 19:20, and the return reaches Berlin at 06:20. All times are local.
