Free Abu Dhabi Pass offers Etihad...

DCT partners with national carrier to enhance stopover programme

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Etihad Airways have launched a free version of the Abu Dhabi Pass at ITB Berlin.

The initiative will see Etihad passengers receive an email to access the Abu Dhabi Pass through a dedicated website, free of charge.

Upgraded benefits include a SIM card with 10GB of data, unlimited access to buses and 24-hour access to the hop-on hop-off tourist bus network.

“Through this partnership, we aim to introduce Abu Dhabi as a top global destination to a wider audience, making it easier for our travel and tourism stakeholders to showcase the very best the emirate has to offer,” said Abdulla Yousuf, Director of International Operations at DCT Abu Dhabi.

The agreement builds on Etihad's stopover programme, which welcomed 85,000 international visitors in 2024, and aims to host 130,000 in 2025. The programme allows visitors to choose a stopover in the UAE capital and get a free hotel stay for up to two nights.

Pass holders get discounts at cultural attractions and entertainment destinations, including Qasr Al Watan, Louvre Abu Dhabi (pictured above), Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi, SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld.

The Etihad pass also provides deals at more than 200 restaurants across the emirate, plus popular tours like desert safaris.

Louvre Abu Dhabi

The original Abu Dhabi Pass launched in 2024, with passholders paying from US$31 to US$133 for discounts of up to 40% at more than 40 of the city's premier attractions.

Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030 aims to position the emirate as one of the fastest growing global destinations, boosting visitor numbers to 39.3 million and contributing AED90 billion (US$24.5 billion) to GDP by 2030.

New attractions set to open this year include Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District, which will include the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum and the National History Museum Abu Dhabi.

TeamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, a 17,000 square metre immersive art installation experience, will make its debut on 18 April 2025.

When complete, Saadiyat Cultural District Abu Dhabi will be the largest concentration of world-leading cultural and educational institutions in the world.

For more information, visit dct.gov.ae/en/default.aspx

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