A high-ranking official announced at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 that Abu Dhabi has introduced a pilot scheme for a free visa for travelers from India. This decision was made after it became clear that rising travel costs are the main obstacle for Indian households wishing to visit the emirate.
Abdulla Yusuf, Director of International Operations at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), noted that this decision followed direct feedback from Indian trade partners during a high-level visit to Abu Dhabi in May.
During this visit, partners pointed out that the main deterrents were expensive airfare and the depreciation of the Indian rupee, which increases the overall cost of any travel package regardless of the destination.
Yusuf emphasized that for Indians, the biggest problem when traveling from India is the high price of air travel, and the depreciation of the Indian rupee means that the cost of any package is already higher than last year.
According to a statement from DCT Abu Dhabi dated August 10, 2026, passport holders from India can receive a free entry visa to the UAE when booking a stay in Abu Dhabi for a minimum of three nights under the new tourism initiative. This pilot project will run from August 1 to October 31, 2026, and will initially cover up to 20,000 visas.
Abdulla Yusuf specified that DCT Abu Dhabi asked partners what single change could have the greatest impact on an Indian family's decision to travel, and they indicated the visa fee. He added that management took this comment very seriously and decided to conduct a pilot launch.
Although it is too early for a detailed assessment of the results, early signs have been encouraging. Yusuf reported that many bookings have already been made for upcoming dates. Tourists using this scheme must stay in Abu Dhabi for a minimum of three nights until the end of October, and some early bookings indicate a desire to plan trips around Diwali, with the possibility of extending the stay to attend the festival.
He also mentioned that other Indian partners have already shown interest in participating in the program, but DCT Abu Dhabi prefers to complete the pilot phase first. Yusuf stated that if the concept proves successful, they are ready to expand it to more partners, noting that partners were deliberately chosen from B2C channels so that consumers would learn about the promotion directly.
Yusuf noted that India remains a leading international market source for Abu Dhabi, alongside China and Russia; all these countries have supported the emirate's recovery since the regional conflict began. Although the arrival of Indian tourists has decreased by 10% compared to last year, which he attributes to the initial period of the conflict, he believes the market is 'back on track' and expects to exceed last year's figures within a few months.
Furthermore, he pointed out that many Indian travelers holding valid US, UK, or European visas are already eligible for entry into the UAE upon arrival, something they may not know. DCT Abu Dhabi plans to improve communication to eliminate this knowledge gap. He concluded that in 2026, the reasons for such restrictions have largely disappeared due to technological advancements and closer cooperation with security service representatives.
