More Travel Choices as Abu Dhabi Woos Indians and Saudi Adds Flights
Two new developments are set to give travellers more options across the Gulf: Abu Dhabi is offering free UAE entry visas to eligible Indian travellers booking qualifying holidays, while a new Air Arabia-led consortium is preparing to launch domestic flights from Saudi Arabia’s Dammam.
The moves come as Gulf destinations continue to strengthen air connectivity and compete for travellers from India and across the region.
Abu Dhabi visa offer targets Indian travellers
Abu Dhabi has launched a pilot programme offering UAE entry visas free of charge to eligible Indian passport holders travelling from India and booking an Abu Dhabi holiday of at least three nights.
The initiative, announced by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) on August 10, will run until October 31, 2026, and initially covers up to 20,000 visas.
Abdulla Yousuf, DCT Abu Dhabi’s director of international operations, said the initiative followed discussions with Indian travel partners during a senior-level visit to Abu Dhabi in May.
The feedback was that rising airfares and the weakening Indian rupee were the biggest barriers to overseas travel, rather than visa processing itself. However, when partners were asked what single change could make the biggest difference to a household’s decision to travel, they identified the visa fee.
“We took that comment very seriously,” Yousuf said during a media briefing at Arabian Travel Market 2026.
Early response to the initiative has been encouraging, he said, with bookings already being made for stays in the coming weeks. Some travellers are also planning trips around Diwali, with the option of extending their stays.
The scheme is available through selected consumer-facing travel partners and requires a minimum three-night stay in Abu Dhabi before the end of October. Other Indian travel partners have expressed interest in joining, although DCT Abu Dhabi plans to assess the pilot before expanding it.
India remains one of Abu Dhabi’s top international source markets. Yousuf said Indian arrivals were currently about 10 per cent lower year-on-year but the market was recovering and expected to surpass last year’s full-year numbers within months.
He also noted that some Indian travellers holding valid US, UK or European visas may already qualify for UAE visa-on-arrival facilities but are unaware of the provision.
New Saudi airline to launch from Dammam
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is preparing for the September 20 launch of a new low-cost national airline based at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.
The consortium, led by Air Arabia and comprising Nesma Group and Kun Holding, received its Air Operating Certificate from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation on Sunday.
The airline will initially connect Dammam with Riyadh, Jeddah and Madinah.
It will operate two daily flights between Dammam and Riyadh and two daily flights to Jeddah, while the Dammam-Madinah route will operate daily.
Air Arabia Group CEO Adel Al Ali described the launch as a strategic milestone that would expand affordable and reliable air travel options across the Kingdom.
The airline will operate Airbus A320 aircraft and is expected to strengthen connectivity for travellers in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, with plans to offer a wider choice of domestic and international destinations.
Together, the two developments highlight the Gulf’s continuing push to attract travellers by combining easier access, stronger connectivity and greater choice.
