Indian passport holders can now receive a UAE entry visa at no additional cost when booking an eligible Abu Dhabi holiday package for a minimum of three consecutive nights. The initiative has been launched by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) to encourage Indian tourists to stay longer and explore the UAE capital.
According to DCT Abu Dhabi, the initiative will initially support up to 20,000 visas and will run from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31, 2026.
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Under the programme, DCT Abu Dhabi will cover the full cost of entry visas for eligible bookings made through participating travel partners and online travel agencies.
Travellers who meet the programme's conditions will receive their UAE entry visa at no additional cost.
Who qualifies?
The program is available to Indian passport holders who are departing from India.
To be eligible, travellers must:
- Make a reservation via an online travel agency or a participating travel partner.
- Spend a minimum of three nights in a row at an Abu Dhabi hotel.
- Have a return flight to India.
How The Free Visa Program Operates
Participating online travel agencies and travel partners will facilitate the visa process.
Travel agencies can choose between two arrangements for processing visas.
They can work with a DCT Abu Dhabi-designated Destination Management Company, in which case DCT Abu Dhabi will cover the visa cost directly.
Alternatively, travel partners can continue working with their existing destination management companies. Under this arrangement, DCT Abu Dhabi will reimburse Dh285 for each approved visa.
India Is A Key Market
The three-month pilot programme will initially support up to 20,000 visas for eligible Indian travellers.
According to DCT Abu Dhabi, the initiative is part of its continued engagement with the Indian market and its efforts to improve air connectivity, strengthen travel trade partnerships and offer Indian tourists more opportunities to explore Abu Dhabi.
Abdulla Yousuf, Director of Foreign Operations at DCT Abu Dhabi, said India remains one of the organisation's most important international markets and that it is working with travel partners to make Abu Dhabi more accessible to Indian travellers.
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He added that covering the cost of UAE entry visas would make it easier for Indian travellers to choose Abu Dhabi while giving travel partners another reason to recommend the destination.
Yousuf said DCT Abu Dhabi expects the initiative to encourage more Indian tourists to spend additional time exploring the emirate's culture, entertainment, hospitality and natural attractions.
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