The airline name “Etihad” is derived from Arabic.
Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates. The Arabic word “ittihad” means “union,” an idea connected with the federation of the seven emirates that formed the United Arab Emirates in 1971. The airline began operations in 2003.
The name is therefore a meaningful word rather than an arbitrary corporate label. In English-language branding, it is usually written as Etihad, while Arabic transliteration can vary slightly depending on the system used.
Etihad Airways is sometimes confused with Emirates because both are major airlines based in the United Arab Emirates. Emirates is headquartered in Dubai, while Etihad is based in Abu Dhabi. Their names, histories and ownership structures are separate.