ABU DHABI — Abu Dhabi has launched a three-month programme offering complimentary UAE entry visas to eligible Indian passport holders who book qualifying holiday packages in the emirate, in a bid to encourage tourism from one of its key international markets.
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) said the initiative runs from Aug. 1 through Oct. 31, 2026. Under the programme, Indian travellers must book an Abu Dhabi holiday package that includes at least three consecutive nights at a hotel and arrange the trip through participating travel partners or online travel agencies.
The visa is not being offered as a general visa-free entry arrangement for all Indian citizens. Eligible travellers must meet the programme's conditions, and visa issuance remains subject to applicable UAE entry requirements and approval.
DCT Abu Dhabi will cover the visa fee for qualifying travellers. The initiative is initially planned as a pilot covering up to 20,000 visas, according to reports citing the tourism department.
Travel partners can process eligible applications through a designated destination-management company or their regular visa channels, with the tourism department reimbursing the applicable visa cost. Reports citing the programme put the covered fee at 285 UAE dirhams ($77.60) per visa.
Abdulla Yousuf, DCT Abu Dhabi's director of international operations, said India remains an important source market for the emirate and that the programme was intended to make travel to Abu Dhabi easier for Indian visitors.
The initiative comes as Abu Dhabi seeks to strengthen tourism links with India. DCT Abu Dhabi said in June that the emirate had more than 300 weekly flights connecting it with India, while airline load factors reached 92% in April. The department also said hotel occupancy in Abu Dhabi stood at 64% in May.
The UAE's federal government says visa requirements vary by nationality and advises travellers to check their eligibility before departure. Indian ordinary passport holders generally require advance arrangements unless they qualify for specific visa-on-arrival provisions under separate rules.
The Abu Dhabi offer therefore applies specifically to qualifying tourism bookings during the programme period rather than changing the UAE's broader visa policy for Indian passport holders.
The programme is scheduled to remain available through Oct. 31, or until the allocated visas are exhausted, with applications handled through participating travel companies rather than independently by travellers.
