New Delhi, 10 August
Free UAE Visa for Indians: Abu Dhabi Announces Visa Waiver Offer, Check Eligibility and Last Date
Indian travellers can now benefit from a free UAE visa for eligible Abu Dhabi holidays under a new visa waiver offer announced by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).
The Free UAE Visa for Indians initiative is available from August 1 to October 31, 2026, and will cover up to 20,000 visas under the pilot programme.
The offer is aimed at Indian passport holders travelling from India who book eligible Abu Dhabi holiday packages through participating travel partners or online travel agencies.
Free UAE Visa for Indians: Who is eligible?
The Free UAE Visa for Indians offer is available to Indian passport holders who meet the eligibility requirements set under the Abu Dhabi tourism initiative.
To qualify for the UAE visa waiver, travellers must:
- Be an Indian passport holder travelling from India.
- Book an eligible Abu Dhabi holiday through a participating travel partner or online travel agency.
- Stay at an Abu Dhabi hotel for at least three consecutive nights.
- Have a return flight from India.
Eligible travellers can have the cost of their UAE entry visa covered under the programme.
Abu Dhabi free UAE visa offer: Last date
The Free UAE Visa for Indians offer started on August 1, 2026, and is available until October 31, 2026.
The pilot programme is expected to cover up to 20,000 visas, making the offer available for a limited number of eligible travellers during the promotional period.
Indian tourists planning to visit Abu Dhabi should check whether their travel booking qualifies for the visa waiver before making arrangements.
What are the requirements for the UAE visa waiver?
The UAE visa waiver for Indians is linked to an eligible Abu Dhabi holiday booking.
Travellers must book a minimum stay of three consecutive nights at an Abu Dhabi hotel and have a return flight from India.
The booking must be made through a participating travel partner or online travel agency covered under the initiative.
The offer does not mean that every Indian traveller visiting the UAE will automatically receive a free visa. Travellers must meet the specified conditions and use an eligible participating booking channel.
How will the free UAE visa be processed?
DCT Abu Dhabi has introduced two arrangements for participating travel partners to process visas under the initiative.
Travel partners working with a DCT-appointed destination management company (DMC) can have the visa costs covered directly by the tourism authority.
Travel partners that use their existing DMC partners will receive AED 285 for each visa issued as reimbursement from DCT Abu Dhabi.
This arrangement is intended to help travel partners process eligible visas while covering the applicable visa cost.
Why is Abu Dhabi offering free visas to Indians?
India remains one of Abu Dhabi’s most important international tourism markets.
Abdulla Yousuf, Director of International Operations at DCT Abu Dhabi, said the tourism authority remains committed to working closely with travel partners to make Abu Dhabi more accessible to Indian travellers.
The visa waiver is also intended to give travel partners an additional incentive to recommend Abu Dhabi to Indian tourists.
Abu Dhabi aims to attract more Indian tourists
The Free UAE Visa for Indians initiative is part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s continued engagement with the Indian travel market.
The emirate has been working to strengthen air connectivity, expand travel trade partnerships and create new opportunities for Indian visitors to explore Abu Dhabi.
The visa waiver could make Abu Dhabi a more attractive option for eligible Indian travellers planning a holiday during the offer period.
Free UAE Visa for Indians: Key details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Offer | UAE visa waiver |
| Eligible travellers | Indian passport holders travelling from India |
| Destination | Abu Dhabi |
| Minimum hotel stay | 3 consecutive nights |
| Flight requirement | Return flight from India |
| Booking | Participating travel partners or online travel agencies |
| Offer starts | August 1, 2026 |
| Last date | October 31, 2026 |
| Pilot limit | Up to 20,000 visas |
| Visa reimbursement | AED 285 per eligible visa under existing DMC arrangements |
What Indian travellers should know
The Free UAE Visa for Indians offer applies to eligible Abu Dhabi holiday bookings made through participating travel partners or online travel agencies.
Travellers should confirm their eligibility with the participating booking partner before making travel arrangements. They should also check the latest visa requirements, hotel booking conditions and documentation requirements before travelling.
The current offer is available only until October 31, 2026, subject to the programme’s eligibility conditions and visa allocation.
For eligible Indian tourists, the initiative could make travelling to Abu Dhabi more affordable by removing the UAE entry visa cost during the promotional period.