Tag Archives: FirstPost

That was the setting less than an hour ago. In this, I saw two posts that give a clear sign that the UAE is tinkering with the tourist setting (in a good way). So first there was FirstPost, give gives us that ‘Abu Dhabi is offering free UAE visas to Indians: Check eligibility, dates, and rules’ (at https://www.firstpost.com/lifestyle/abu-dhabi-is-offering-free-visas-to-indians-check-eligibility-dates-and-rules-14037280.html) where we see “Abu Dhabi is offering complimentary UAE entry visas to eligible Indian tourists. Check the dates, three-night stay rule, flight requirement and eligibility” the setting was not that steep (this is not the United States of America after all) which gives in addition “The emirate has launched a limited-period travel initiative under which eligible Indian passport holders can receive their UAE entry visa free of charge when they book a qualifying holiday in Abu Dhabi through participating travel partners. The offer, introduced by the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), runs from August 1 to October 31, 2026 and is designed to encourage Indian visitors to stay longer and explore the UAE capital. The initial programme is expected to support up to 20,000 visas.” The setting is pretty simple, to get this complementary visa, you need to adhere to the following three rules:

• A minimum stay of three consecutive nights in an Abu Dhabi hotel
• A return flight from India
• Booking through a participating travel partner or online travel agency

Sounds simple, doesn’t it. And for those staying merely a week, it might be viewed as a luxury, because even if it isn’t expensive, the price given is “AED 252 – AED 400 ($68 – $110 USD)” for 30 days, is not that expensive, but considering that this is per person, it is good to have that discount in your pocket. And the time is from August 1, 2026 until October 31, 2026.

As said, it is a simple, but effective package to drown one of the costs of a vacation away and right along with this, we get CN Traveller giving us ’The Abu Dhabi islands worth visiting for beaches, wildlife and luxury stays’ (at https://www.cntravellerme.com/story/the-abu-dhabi-islands-worth-visiting-for-beaches-wildlife-and-luxury-stays) where we see “Made up of more than 200 islands, Abu Dhabi is an archipelago that’s abundant in diversity. The emirate’s islands are both natural and man-made, featuring natural wonders and areas purpose-built to increase the city’s footprint. Whether you want to unwind to the rhythmic sounds of the Gulf lapping sandy shores, explore the capital’s cultural landmarks, or get out into nature and explore rugged greenery and powdery desert dunes.” Awe then get a run down of the 10 islands prominently mentioned, with the 10th Yas Island (one that graces my first position on my bucket list) with “As the host of the star-studded Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Island is all about the glamour and adrenaline. Yas Mall is the biggest shopping centre in Abu Dhabi and the second largest in the UAE, while the elegant bars and restaurants of Yas Bay are some of the liveliest in the emirate. [2] Stay at slick W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island (the only hotel in the world built directly over a Formula 1 racetrack) and take on the same fairways as the world’s top golfers at Yas Links, the golf club that stages the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship every winter.” Where I did miss the setting which I would have placed at [2]:

[2] “Enjoy by yourself or with the entire family a visit to one of the 4 amazing pleasure point. SeaWorld giving you a view on the oceans through engaging media and a view on the mazing animals all over the world. A show of breathtaking aquaria and surroundings that need to be seen to be believed. WaterWorld is the place to get wet with slides, pools, a lazy river and even a rollercoaster totaling up to 45 rides, a day magnificently spend there. Then for the speed lovers, the Yas Mall gives direct access to Ferrari world. With the fastest coaster in the world and 9 hectares of Ferrari history and several views on the subject. Then we get the Warner Bros. World which is globally the largest indoor world with present participation by Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry, Batman (joker too), Green Lantern, the Flintstones and Scooby-Doo. The adults can loudly claim a “Yabadabba do” and the kids will go nuts on all the rides and an introduction to Scooby Doo himself. It will be a view unlike others and next on that list will be the Harry Potter world which is currently being built, as such you should see this a first gander on your next vacation, because Yas Island can keep you busy for at least a week and you never have to see the same event twice.” There is an upside to this, several hotels give you a complementary day ticket to one for these four parks even day, so you can relax with the benefits that this daily ticket give you and you get one for every day you are there. So feel free to check whether your hotel has this perk and there are no costs for the Yas Mall, so you get a shopping moment like no other and in all this, it is showing that the UAE and Abu Dhabi are now setting the larger focus on what India could enjoy and this is a start to increase the record 26.6 million visitors over the course of 2025, supported by strong performance in hotel revenues and international arrivals and it is only getting better for Abu Dhabi.

So when I saw these two articles, I knew that Abu Dhabi wasn’t tinkering on the side of the road letting the Iranian terrorist actions get a handle on them, they are actively getting the upper hand in their settings, as they are (remember: approximately 99% of all Iranian missiles hit nothing at all)

So it is good to see the UAE making a better setting and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the 20,000 free visas get passed onto tourists before the ink of the offer is even cold. Have a great day today.