ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has signed nine joint marketing agreements with Indian travel companies aimed at bringing 75,500 additional visitors to the emirate.
In a statement, DCT Abu Dhabi said the agreements were signed at Arabian Travel Market and would strengthen its links with India, Abu Dhabi’s largest overseas source market.
The largest agreement is with MakeMyTrip and targets 37,500 visitors over 18 months. Agreements with Thrillophilia and Akbar Holidays are expected to attract 11,000 and 10,000 visitors, respectively, over the same period.
DCT Abu Dhabi also signed one-year agreements with RezLive and Utazzo Holidays, each targeting 3,500 visitors annually. Holiday Tribe is expected to bring 3,000 visitors, while TravClan and Pickyourtrail will each target 2,500. An agreement with GNRconnect.com aims to attract 2,000 visitors.
At Arabian Travel Market, DCT Abu Dhabi showcased the emirate as a tourism destination offering experiences across arts, culture, cuisine, entertainment and shopping, the statement said.
India was Abu Dhabi’s largest overseas source market in 2025 and has remained a key source market in 2026, according to DCT Abu Dhabi. Indian travellers accounted for 13% of the emirate’s hotel guests in 2025, with their number rising 22% year on year to 436,124.
DCT Abu Dhabi attributed the growth to increasing air connectivity, access to concerts and annual events such as the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and marketing campaigns centred on occasions including Diwali and Eid.
The statement also cited an ambassador campaign featuring Indian actors Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone as a factor supporting visitor growth.