DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Residents planning to bring friends or relatives to the UAE have two new incentives to consider this summer, with Dubai offering visitor rewards worth more than Dh3,000 and Abu Dhabi covering UAE entry visa costs for eligible Indian tourists.
The two initiatives target different groups but share a common goal: encouraging international visitors to travel to the UAE during the summer and early autumn period.
Dubai offers rewards for bringing overseas visitors
Dubai’s A Dubai Invite initiative allows UAE citizens and residents to earn a package of benefits when nominated friends or family members visit the emirate.
Eligible visitors must arrive in Dubai between July 20 and Oct. 31, 2026. Rewards can include offers linked to hotels, dining, attractions and lifestyle experiences, with the overall package valued at more than Dh3,000.
The programme is open to UAE citizens and residents aged 18 or older who have a valid Emirates ID.
Residents must nominate their guests online before they arrive. Up to five visitors can be nominated at a time, while additional visitors can be registered through separate submissions.
Once a nominated guest enters Dubai, their arrival is verified and the resident receives information by email about the available rewards and how to redeem them.
The benefits are generally valid through Dec. 31, 2026, subject to individual offer conditions.
Who can be nominated?
The visiting guest must not be a UAE resident and must enter Dubai with a valid tourist visa or through an eligible visa-on-arrival arrangement.
Visitors can arrive by air, land or sea during the programme period.
The initiative does not cover the visitor’s visa requirements. Anyone who needs a UAE tourist visa must arrange and pay for it separately.
Abu Dhabi covers visa costs for eligible Indian tourists
Abu Dhabi is taking a different approach, with a pilot programme aimed specifically at Indian passport holders travelling from India.
Under the offer, eligible travelers can have the cost of their UAE entry visa covered when they book a qualifying Abu Dhabi holiday through participating travel agencies or online travel platforms.
The programme runs from Aug. 1 through Oct. 31, 2026, with up to 20,000 visas available during the pilot period.
To qualify, travelers must book a package that includes a return flight from India and at least three consecutive nights at an Abu Dhabi hotel.
The booking must also be made through an approved participating travel partner or online travel agency.
Importantly, the free-visa offer cannot be claimed through an independent visa application. Travelers must meet the programme’s booking requirements and arrange the package through a participating provider.
What this means for UAE travelers
For UAE residents, Dubai’s programme could make an overseas family visit more attractive by adding hotel, dining and leisure benefits after a nominated guest arrives.
For Indian travelers considering a UAE holiday, Abu Dhabi’s visa-cost incentive could lower the upfront cost of a qualifying trip, provided the required hotel and flight package is booked through an eligible provider.
Both initiatives run through Oct. 31, giving travelers and UAE residents several weeks to take advantage of the offers.
As travel plans are made, visitors should check the latest eligibility rules, participating travel providers and visa requirements before booking, as terms can vary between offers.
