Indian tourists looking to take advantage of Abu Dhabi’s complimentary visa scheme can now book through 11 participating travel partners, including MakeMyTrip, Thomas Cook & SOTC, Thrillophilia and Akbar Holidays.
Eligible Indian passport holders can receive a 30-day UAE tourist visa, worth approximately Dh285, when booking an Abu Dhabi holiday of at least three nights through one of the participating operators.
The pilot programme, introduced by the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), applies to travel between August 1 and October 31, 2026, and will initially support up to 20,000 visas.
Which travel partners are participating?
The programme currently includes 11 participating travel partners:
Holiday Tribe
Thomas Cook & SOTC
Thrillophilia
Akbar Holidays
Utazzo.com
Kesari Tours
Riya Travels
Royal Tours
PickYourTrail
MakeMyTrip
Aaryan Leisure
Travellers must book an eligible Abu Dhabi holiday through a participating partner to benefit from the free visa.
What type of visa is offered?
Eligible travellers will receive a 30-day UAE tourist visa issued through participating tour and travel operators.
Is the scheme open to all Indian passport holders?
Yes, it applies to all Indian passport holders booking holidays in Abu Dhabi.
What do the August 1 to October 31 dates apply to?
The dates refer specifically to the travel period.
This means eligible travel must take place between August 1 and October 31, 2026.
Can travellers book before October 31 and travel later?
No. All travel under the programme must take place by October 31.
This means booking an eligible package or obtaining the visa before the deadline will not qualify a traveller for the complimentary visa if the trip itself takes place after October 31.
