Indian tourists planning a trip to Abu Dhabi can get a complimentary 30-day UAE entry visa under a new limited-period program, provided they meet the eligibility and booking conditions.
This initiative has been launched by the Department of Culture & Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) to promote tourism from India. As per the initiative, Indian passport holders who meet certain criteria will be exempted from paying UAE visa fees on their holiday package bookings to Abu Dhabi.
The pilot program covers travel from August 1 to October 31, 2026. Travelers must book a minimum three-night stay in Abu Dhabi to qualify for the complimentary visa. The visa is valid for 30 days and its cost is roughly Dh285. The scheme shall initially cover up to 20,000 visas.
The scheme shall be available to passport holders from India who will book their vacation packages in Abu Dhabi within the period of the scheme. The travel period under the scheme ends on October 31, 2026.
The participating travel partners named under the scheme are:
Holiday Tribe
Thomas Cook & SOTC
Thrillophilia
Akbar Holidays
Utazzo.com
Kesari Tours
Riya Travels
Royal Tours
PickYourTrail
MakeMyTrip
Aaryan Leisure
The travelers need to book an eligible Abu Dhabi vacation package with any of the above companies to qualify for the free visa. There is no restriction on the number of visas that can be issued for a single booking or family, provided every traveler meets all program requirements.
The free visa offer does not mean automatic visa approval. Applications remain subject to UAE immigration regulations and must be approved by the relevant authorities.
Visa applications will follow the standard processing timeline set by UAE immigration authorities. There is no separate or expedited processing timeline for visas issued under the program.
Travel partners can work through a Destination Management Company appointed by DCT Abu Dhabi, with the visa cost covered directly. They can also use their existing DMC partners, in which case DCT Abu Dhabi will reimburse approximately Dh285 for each visa issued.
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The complimentary visa program is a pilot program, and it has not been decided whether it will be continued beyond October 31, 2026. DCT Abu Dhabi will evaluate the results of the program after October to determine its future course.