Abu Dhabi offers free UAE visas to Indian tourists booking three-night holidays

Indian passport holders travelling from India can receive a UAE entry visa at no additional cost when they book an eligible Abu Dhabi holiday package of at least three consecutive nights under a new tourism initiative.

The programme, launched by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), is running from August 1 to October 31, 2026, and will initially cover up to 20,000 UAE entry visas.

Under the initiative, DCT Abu Dhabi will cover the full visa cost for eligible travellers who make their bookings through participating travel partners or online travel agencies.

Who can qualify for the free visa?

The offer is available to Indian passport holders departing from India. Travellers must meet the programme's booking and travel requirements to receive the visa without an additional fee.

Eligible travellers must:

• Book their holiday through a participating travel partner or online travel agency.
• Stay at least three consecutive nights at a hotel in Abu Dhabi.
• Hold a return flight from India.

The visa benefit applies only when all programme conditions are met.

How the visa programme works

Participating travel companies can process eligible visas through one of two arrangements.

Under the first option, travel partners can work with a destination management company appointed by DCT Abu Dhabi. In this arrangement, DCT Abu Dhabi covers the visa cost directly.

Travel partners can also continue working with their existing destination management companies. Under this arrangement, DCT Abu Dhabi will reimburse Dh285 for each visa issued.

Travellers do not need to pay an additional UAE entry visa fee when their booking qualifies under the programme.

India remains a key tourism market

The three-month initiative is part of Abu Dhabi's efforts to strengthen its relationship with the Indian travel market.

DCT Abu Dhabi said the programme builds on ongoing efforts to improve air connectivity, expand partnerships with travel companies and create more opportunities for Indian travellers to visit the emirate.

Abdulla Yousuf, Director of International Operations at DCT Abu Dhabi, said India remains one of the department's key international markets.

He said covering the cost of UAE entry visas would make it easier for Indian travellers to choose Abu Dhabi while providing travel partners with an additional incentive to promote the destination.

The initiative is also intended to encourage visitors to spend more time exploring Abu Dhabi's cultural attractions, entertainment venues, hospitality offerings and natural destinations.

With up to 20,000 visas covered during the pilot period, the programme is expected to provide an additional boost to tourism from India while supporting Abu Dhabi's wider efforts to attract international visitors.