Free UAE Visa for Indian Tourists: Abu Dhabi Announces New Travel Offer
Indian tourists planning a holiday in Abu Dhabi can now benefit from a free UAE visa under a new tourism programme launched by Abu Dhabi.
The initiative is aimed at making Abu Dhabi more accessible to Indian travellers and encouraging more visitors from one of the emirate’s key international tourism markets.
The programme, launched by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), runs from August 1 to October 31, 2026. It will support visa costs for up to 20,000 eligible travellers during the pilot period.
However, the offer is not available to every Indian traveller automatically. Visitors must meet specific conditions and book their Abu Dhabi holiday through participating travel partners or online travel agencies.
Who Can Get the Free UAE Visa?
The offer is available to Indian passport holders travelling from India who book an eligible Abu Dhabi holiday package.
To qualify, the booking must include:
- A minimum three consecutive nights at an Abu Dhabi hotel.
- A return flight from India.
- A booking made through a participating travel partner or online travel agency.
- The traveller must meet the requirements of the UAE entry visa.
Travellers cannot apply independently for the free visa. The offer is linked to qualifying holiday bookings made through participating partners.
How Does the Free Visa Offer Work?
DCT Abu Dhabi will cover the cost of the UAE entry visa for eligible bookings. Participating travel companies can process the visa through a DCT-appointed destination management company.
They can also use their existing destination management company and receive reimbursement of Dh285 for each visa issued. This means Indian tourists do not need to pay the usual visa cost when their booking qualifies under the programme.
The offer is also designed to encourage visitors to stay longer in Abu Dhabi. The minimum three-night hotel requirement gives travellers more time to explore the emirate’s attractions, hotels, entertainment venues and cultural sites.
Important Things Indian Travellers Should Know
- The programme is valid from August 1 to October 31, 2026.
- It is limited to 20,000 visas during the pilot period.
- Only eligible Indian passport holders travelling from India can use the offer.
- The holiday booking must include at least three consecutive hotel nights in Abu Dhabi.
- A return flight from India is required.
- The booking must be made through a participating travel company or OTA.
- Travellers cannot apply for this particular free-visa offer on their own.
Why Abu Dhabi Is Targeting Indian Tourists?
India is an important tourism market for Abu Dhabi, with strong air connections and regular travel between the two destinations.
By removing the visa cost from qualifying holiday packages, Abu Dhabi hopes to make travel more attractive for Indian visitors.
The initiative also comes as Abu Dhabi continues to promote its tourism, hospitality, entertainment and cultural offerings to international travellers.
For Indian tourists already considering a UAE holiday, the programme could reduce the overall cost of an Abu Dhabi trip. However, travellers should check the conditions with their chosen travel partner before booking, as the free visa is only available through participating partners and while the programme’s allocation lasts.
For Indian travellers planning an Abu Dhabi trip between August and October, this could be a useful opportunity to save on visa costs while exploring the UAE capital.
