DUBAI, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Air Arabia, the biggest budget carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, announced on Tuesday to introduce a new direct flight route to Afghan capital Kabul from home airport in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Despite ongoing political and security instability in the Central Asian country, the new flight to Kabul will start on Oct. 4.

"The two-and-half-hour flight will operate four times per week, on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays," said the government-controlled carrier.

The outbound flight from the UAE will depart from Sharjah International Airport at 6:40 a.m. and arrive in Kabul International Airport at 9:40 a.m., while the return flight will leave Kabul at 10:40 a.m. and arrive in Sharjah at 1 p.m..

Adel Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said "Kabul is a new addition to our network that will meet the needs of thousands of people traveling between Afghanistan and the UAE as well as the wider region."

Other airlines operating flights from the UAE to Kabul are Dubai Emirates Airline, flydubai, Kam Air, Safi Airways and Ariana Afghan Airlines.

Air Arabia currently operates more than 150 routes across the globe from four hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.