Abu Dhabi rolled out a new visa incentive for Indian tourists, offering complimentary UAE entry visas to eligible travelers who book qualifying holiday packages in the emirates. The initiative was launched by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). The new plan will run from August 1 to October 31, 2026.
The offer is available to Indian passport holders traveling from India. To avail of the offer, tourists must arrange a holiday package that includes at least a three-day stay in an Abu Dhabi hotel, along with return flights from India. The holiday packages have to be arranged via participating travel partners/online travel portals under the program.
The offer does not indicate that Indian citizens will be allowed to enter the UAE visa-free under a general visa-free policy. Instead, the visa cost is covered when travelers meet the specified package conditions.
The program covers bookings made during the campaign period, which runs until October 31, 2026. Reports indicate that the initial initiative is expected to cover up to 20,000 visas, making the offer subject to availability.
The country continues to be one of the major source markets for the tourism sector in the UAE. This new offer aims to make holidays in Abu Dhabi more appealing by cutting the initial costs of getting a visa.
This program also encourages travelers from India to spend more nights in Abu Dhabi than just using the city as a transit point. A minimum three-night hotel stay forms a central condition of the offer.
This offer will be very helpful in covering some initial costs involved in traveling to the UAE during the months of August and October. However, the visa provided free of charge does not cover any other costs.
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