5 days ago
Abu Dhabi Expands India Outreach to Boost Tourism
Abu Dhabi wants more people from India to visit.
Indian visitors are already the emirate’s biggest international hotel guest group.
Tourism officials held events in three Indian cities to promote hotels, attractions and activities.
They highlighted planned attractions such as Disneyland Abu Dhabi and Sphere Abu Dhabi.
A new offer can give some Indian travellers a free UAE entry visa if they book three hotel nights.
Abu Dhabi received 436,124 Indian hotel guests in 2025.
Officials say many Indian travellers want to return.
The emirate is promoting tourism while conflict in the region has affected its image as a safe destination.
Abu Dhabi is increasing efforts to attract Indian travellers, its largest international hotel guest market.
The emirate held tourism roadshows in Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Chennai in July.
Promoted attractions include Disneyland Abu Dhabi, Sphere Abu Dhabi and an expanded Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi.
Indian passport holders booking three hotel nights may receive a complimentary United Arab Emirates entry visa.
Abu Dhabi welcomed 436,124 Indian hotel guests in 2025, a 22% year-on-year increase.
- Who
- Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism and Indian travellers, travel advisers and tour operators.
- What
- Abu Dhabi is expanding its India tourism outreach and offering a complimentary UAE entry visa to eligible Indian passport holders who book three hotel nights.
- Where
- The outreach included Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Chennai in India, promoting travel to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
- When
- Roadshows were held in July; Abu Dhabi’s reported tourism figures refer to 2025.
- Why
- The emirate wants to attract more Indian visitors, support tourism-led economic diversification and strengthen confidence after regional conflict affected Gulf destinations.
Key facts
- Largest international source market
- India was Abu Dhabi’s largest international market by hotel guest volume.
- Indian hotel guests in 2025
- 436,124
- Year-on-year growth
- Indian hotel guests increased by 22% in 2025.
- Total visitors in 2025
- Abu Dhabi recorded 26.6 million visitors.
- Hotel revenue in 2025
- Hotel revenues rose 19.5% year on year to AED 9.1 billion.
- Visa offer
- Indian passport holders booking three hotel nights can receive a complimentary UAE entry visa under the new programme.
- Tourism’s economic contribution
- Tourism contributes about 13% of Abu Dhabi’s gross domestic product.
Quotes
Abdulla Yousuf
Director of international operations at Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism
“We are seeing interest from a wider range of cities beyond the major metropolitan centres. That is why we are expanding our presence across the country through roadshows, destination training, familiarisation visits, joint marketing programmes, and closer collaboration with airline and travel partners,”
rediff.com
“India has long been one of Abu Dhabi's most important international markets, so our increased engagement reflects the importance we place on the market over the long term.”
rediff.com
Sources
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