Uae Joins Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, And Kuwait In 2026 For Indian Travellers To Explore Being Tight On Budget Without Breaking The Bank: A Complete Guide

Published on October 25, 2025

For 2026 GCC trips from India connected a tight budget, Visa, Flights, Accommodation, Food, Transport, and Typical budget were compared crossed United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait. In nan United Arab Emirates a 30-day e-Visa costs astir ₹8,900, off-peak return flights ₹15,000–25,000, fund stays ₹1,500–3,000, regular food ₹500–1,000, metro ₹700–1,200; a 5-day estimate ≈ ₹46,400. Saudi Arabia e-Visa ≈ ₹16,600, returns ₹18,000–25,000, rooms ~₹2,500, meals ~₹700, section transport ~₹450; ≈ ₹54,850. Qatar offers a 30-day visa waiver, returns ~₹16,000, stays ~₹2,000, nutrient ~₹1,700, carrier ~₹1,800; ≈ ₹43,500. Oman 10-day e-Visa ≈ ₹1,075, returns ₹9,486–16,073, stays ~₹5,000, nutrient ₹1,500–3,500, carrier ₹2,500–5,000; ≈ ₹58,075. Bahrain e-Visa ≈ ₹6,400–16,900, returns ₹13,000–14,000, stays ₹3,740–6,720, nutrient ~₹3,400, carrier ~₹2,640; ≈ ₹72,380. Kuwait e-Visa ₹810, returns ₹13,000–14,000, stays ~₹1,826, nutrient ~₹1,743, carrier ~₹1,200; ≈ ₹38,655.

1. United Arab Emirates (Dubai / Abu Dhabi)

Visa: Indians visiting nan UAE mostly request a tourer e‑Visa. A 30‑day e‑Visa costs astir AED 400 (≈ ₹8 900) successful 2025[1]. Visa‑free introduction is constricted to a fewer nationalities, truthful Indian citizens must put a visa earlier departure aliases done a sponsor.

Flights: Low‑cost airlines (Air Arabia, FlyDubai, Air India Express, etc.) connection round‑trip fares from awesome Indian cities for ₹15 000 – 25 000 successful nan off‑peak season[2]. Shoulder‑season fares (Aug – Sep aliases Feb – Apr) are cheaper; full‑service carriers (Emirates, Etihad) costs more.

Accommodation: Budget hostels and guesthouses successful older districts specified arsenic Deira aliases Bur Dubai costs ₹1 500 – 3 000 per night[2]. Two‑ and three‑star hotels successful these areas are disposable astir ₹3 000 and mid‑range four‑star hotels successful Bur Dubai costs ₹6 000–12 000 per night[3]. Luxury properties successful Downtown aliases Palm Jumeirah (e.g., Burj Al Arab) tin beryllium ₹20 000–140 000 per night[4].

Food: Cheap meals astatine section cafeterias aliases shawarma stands costs astir ₹500–1 000 per day. A bully sit‑down repast typically costs ₹1 000 per person[5]; mid‑range restaurants complaint ₹2 000 – 3 000 for two[5].

Transport: Dubai’s integrated transit strategy (metro, tram, bus) is nan cheapest measurement to get around. A regular Nol recreation paper costs astir AED 30–50 (≈ ₹700–1 200) per day[2]. Using taxis aliases ride‑shares costs ₹1 000–1 500 per trip[3].

Typical budget: A 5‑day fund travel utilizing low‑cost flights, a 30‑day e‑Visa, fund accommodation (₹2 000/night), inexpensive meals (₹800/day) and metro recreation (₹700/day) would costs approximately:

Money‑saving tips: Travel extracurricular nan December–January peak; usage Nol paper alternatively of taxis; enactment successful Deira aliases Bur Dubai; return advantage of free attractions for illustration nan Dubai Fountain, nationalist beaches and wandering astir Souk Al Bahar[6].

2. Saudi Arabia (Riyadh / Jeddah / Mecca)

Visa: For tourists, a single‑entry e‑Visa costs USD 195.63 – 201.76 (≈ ₹16 350 – 16 864) and is valid for 90 days[7]. Holders of valid US/UK/Schengen visas tin get a visa connected arrival, but astir travellers should use successful advance.

Flights: Budget carriers specified arsenic Air India Express and Indigo connection flights from India to Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah. Skyscanner quotes one‑way fares from ₹9 407 (Riyadh), ₹9 584 (Dammam) and ₹9 723 (direct to Jeddah)[8]. A return summons typically costs ₹18 000 – 25 000.

Accommodation: Budget hotels commencement astir $30 per night[9] (~₹2 500). According to BudgetYourTrip, travellers walk $53 per personification per time connected average, pinch fund travellers spending astir $41 per day[10]. Hotels successful Riyadh mean $83 per night, while hotels successful Mecca mean $134[11]; hostels aliases mini guesthouses tin beryllium cheaper.

Food: Meals astatine inexpensive section restaurants costs $5–10 per person[9] (₹415–830). Coffee and thoroughfare snacks adhd different $2–3 per day.

Transport: Intercity buses and ride‑shares costs $1–5 per ride, truthful fund astir $5 per day (≈ ₹415). Metro services are expanding successful Riyadh and Jeddah but are still limited.

Typical budget: For a 5‑day travel utilizing a single‑entry visa, fund flights, inexpensive hotels and inexpensive meals:

Money‑saving tips: Use nationalist buses and rideshare apps; eat astatine section shawarma shops; recreation during enarthrosis seasons (February–April aliases September–November) to debar precocious airfare and edifice rates. Note that intoxicant is prohibited and women should travel section dress codes.

3. Qatar (Doha)

Visa: Indians pinch a passport valid for 3 months, impervious of accommodation and return summons person a visa waiver connected presence for up to 30 days, astatine nary cost[12]. Travellers needing longer stays tin use for a tourist visa for astir QAR 200 (~₹4 784)[12].

Flights: Skyscanner lists nan cheapest one‑way formation from India to Qatar astatine ₹7 286, pinch return flights from ₹15 901[13]. Qatar Airways, Air India and Indigo run nonstop flights (~4.5 hours).

Accommodation: Doha’s 2025 “stop‑over program” hotels charged astir QAR 170 per nighttime for 2 people[14]. That’s QAR 85 per person (~₹1 955 per night). Hostels are scarce; fund travellers often enactment successful guesthouses adjacent Souq Waqif aliases nan Old Airport area.

Food: Two travellers spent QAR 447 connected nutrient complete 3 days (≈ ₹10 281), astir QAR 75 (₹1 725) per personification per day[15]. Street nutrient successful Souq Waqif is affordable, while world restaurants astatine The Pearl are much expensive.

Transport: The Doha Metro, tram and nationalist buses are cheap. The aforesaid 2 travellers spent QAR 610 connected carrier for 2 complete 3 days (≈ ₹14 030), ~QAR 101 (₹2 320) per personification per day[16]. BudgetYourTrip reports mean section carrier costs of QAR 84 per day[17] (~₹1 932) which is simply a reasonable average.

Typical budget: Assuming a visa‑free 5‑day stay, round‑trip formation of ₹16 000, accommodation astatine ₹2 000 per nighttime and humble spending connected nutrient and transport:

Money‑saving tips: Use nan metro (contactless cards disposable astatine stations); eat astatine Souq Waqif and section cafeterias; sojourn free museums connected their free‑entry days; return advantage of nan Qatar stop‑over programme which includes discounted hotels and metropolis tours.

4. Oman (Muscat, Nizwa)

Visa: Oman offers different e‑Visas. As of mid‑2025, a 10‑day single‑entry visa costs 5 OMR (≈ ₹1 075), a 30‑day single‑entry visa costs 20 OMR (≈ ₹4 300), and a 30‑day multiple‑entry visa costs 50 OMR (≈ ₹10 750)[18].

Flights: Low‑cost airlines specified arsenic Salam Air, Air India Express and Indigo alert from India to Muscat. One‑way fares commencement astatine ₹4 743, and return trips scope from ₹9 486 – 16 073[19]. Air India quotes Mumbai–Muscat fares from ₹8 332[20].

Accommodation: Oman does not yet person galore hostels; fund hotels mean $131 per personification per day according to BudgetYourTrip[21]. However, independent travellers who self‑drive and campy trim costs substantially: 1 mates spent 1 358 OMR complete 29 days connected a road‑trip, astir 23.4 OMR (≈ ₹5 031) per personification per day[22]. In Muscat, mid‑range hotels often costs ₹5 000–6 000 per night.

Food: The mean traveller spends $140 (OMR 53) connected meals per day[21]. Those connected a shoestring fund tin eat astatine roadside cafeterias and supermarkets for astir OMR 5–7 per day (~₹1 075–1 505).

Transport: BudgetYourTrip lists $68 (OMR 26) per day for section transport[21] (~₹5 590), but self‑driving reduces costs. Renting a mini car costs astir $20–30 per day and petrol is inexpensive. Intercity buses betwixt Muscat and Nizwa are astir OMR 3 one‑way.

Typical budget: For a 5‑day travel utilizing a 10‑day visa, low‑cost flight, camping/self‑drive aliases staying successful fund hotels:

Money‑saving tips: Visit during wintertime (Nov – Feb) for pleasant upwind and off‑season edifice rates; rent a mini car and campy astatine wadi sites; bargain groceries astatine Lulu Hypermarket; debar guided tours by readying self‑drives; usage intercity buses for time trips to Nizwa, Sur and Salalah.

5. Bahrain (Manama)

Visa: Indians must use for an e‑Visa anterior to travel; fees alteration by magnitude (two‑week azygous entry, 30‑day aggregate entry, etc.). Official sources statement that visas mostly costs between BD 29 and BD 77 (≈ ₹6 400 – 16 940), but travellers should corroborate connected nan Bahraini authorities portal. Some Indian passports pinch a valid US/UK/Schengen visa suffice for visa connected arrival.

Flights: Skyscanner lists one‑way flights from India to Bahrain (Manama) starting astatine ₹7 564, pinch return tickets from ₹13 090[23][24]. Gulf Air and Air India run nonstop flights (≈ 4 hours).

Accommodation: According to BudgetYourTrip, fund travellers walk $88 (BHD 33) per personification per day, mid‑range travellers walk $197 (BHD 74) and luxury travellers walk $365 (BHD 138)[25]. The site’s breakdown shows that accommodation successful Bahrain averages $66 per personification per night (≈ ₹5 480) for a shared double room[26]. Low‑season edifice prices scope $45–84 (₹3 740–6 720) per night[27].

Food: BudgetYourTrip reports that fund travellers walk $41 (BHD 15) per day connected food[28], astir ₹3 400. Meals astatine accepted Bahraini restaurants (Machboos aliases falafel shops) costs BD 2–4 (₹440–880). Dining astatine malls aliases world chains costs more.

Transport: Past travellers spent $30 (BHD 11) per personification per day connected section transport[29] (≈ ₹2 640). Taxis and ride‑sharing services (Uber, Careem) costs BD 2–5 per trip. Bahrain has nary metro; nationalist buses are limited.

Typical budget: Assuming a two‑week single‑entry visa (~BD 29), fund flights and fund hotels for a 5‑day stay:

Money‑saving tips: Travel during debased play (May–August) erstwhile edifice rates fall; enactment successful Juffair aliases Adliya districts which person cheaper hotels; usage Careem aliases stock taxis; dine astatine section shawarma stalls aliases successful nan Manama souk. Note that intoxicant is ineligible only successful licensed venues and adds substantially to nan budget.

6. Kuwait (Kuwait City)

Visa: Most nationalities, including Indians, tin use online for a tourer e‑Visa. The e‑visa interest is 3 KWD (≈ $10 aliases ₹2 700) and support is mostly quick[30]. Obtaining nan e‑visa successful beforehand avoids queues astatine immigration.

Flights: One‑way flights from India to Kuwait City commencement from ₹8 397, and return flights from ₹13 568[31]. Airlines flying straight see Kuwait Airways, Jazeera Airways, IndiGo and Air India[32].

Accommodation: The Where And When recreation fund tract estimates that for 2 group connected a low‑budget two‑week trip, nan daily fund is $119 for two (~$60 per person) covering accommodation, nutrient and section transport[33]. This equates to $22 per personification for accommodation, $21 for meals and $12 for section transport[34]—roughly ₹1 826, ₹1 743 and ₹996 respectively. Hostels are scarce; fund travellers enactment astatine elemental hotels for illustration nan Royal Inn Al Salmiya, recommended successful fund guides[35].

Food: Street nutrient and meals astatine Souk Al Mubarakiya costs astir $8.2 per person for luncheon aliases a fast‑food meal[36] (≈ ₹680). A three‑course meal astatine a mid‑range edifice is astir $26 per person (≈ ₹2 158)[36]. At nan souk, dishes for illustration mutton majboos costs a fewer Kuwaiti dinars[37].

Transport: Kuwait City is not walkable. Taxi rides via nan ride‑sharing app Careem costs around $5 for a 7 km ride[38] (~₹415). Car rentals commencement astatine $34 per day[39] (≈ ₹2 822), while tours costs $70–$150 for half‑ and full‑day excursions[40].

Typical budget: For a 5‑day sojourn utilizing an e‑visa, low‑cost flight, elemental hotels and section food:

Money‑saving tips: Avoid highest recreation months (November, June and January) erstwhile formation and edifice prices spike; take enarthrosis months for illustration December aliases spring[35]. Stay astatine fund hotels successful Al Salmiya; eat astatine Souk Al Mubarakiya for inexpensive accepted dishes[41][37]. Public buses beryllium but are infrequent; stock rides via Careem.

Comparative summary

The array beneath summarises nan approximate per‑person costs (in Indian rupees) for a fund travel (5 days) to nan six GCC countries successful 2026. It considers round‑trip flights from India, visa fees, fund accommodation, inexpensive nutrient and section transport. Prices tin up and down pinch speech rates, recreation play and individual spending habits.

* Visa fees are approximate and taxable to change; ever cheque nan charismatic consulate aliases migration website for nan latest rules.

** Approximate regular fund includes accommodation, nutrient and section carrier but excludes flights and visa. Exchange complaint fluctuations whitethorn change costs.

*** Estimated 5‑day full is simply a unsmooth calculation for 1 person; costs whitethorn summation during highest recreation seasons, for backstage tours aliases if staying successful mid‑range aliases luxury hotels.

Key takeaways

1. Kuwait and Qatar are nan cheapest GCC destinations for a short trip. Kuwait’s e‑Visa is inexpensive (3 KWD ≈ ₹810) and low‑cost return flights commencement astir ₹13 000[31]. When staying successful elemental hotels and eating astatine section souks, a five‑day travel tin costs ₹35 000–40 000, making it nan astir affordable GCC option[33].
2. Qatar’s visa‑free entry for Indians and comparatively debased formation prices make Doha attractive. Budget travellers staying successful stop‑over hotels and eating astatine thoroughfare markets walk ₹40 000–45 000 for 5 days[15][16]. However, section carrier costs tin beryllium precocious if utilizing taxis; nan metro is nan astir economical.
3. The UAE offers a scope of value points. Budget travellers tin negociate pinch ₹45 000–50 000 for 5 days if they enactment successful Deira/Bur Dubai, thrust nan metro and dine inexpensively[2][5]. Hotels and eating tin quickly summation costs.
4. Saudi Arabia and Oman require much readying and person higher regular costs. Saudi visas are costly (~₹16 600), and accommodation is pricier than successful neighbouring states, starring to a five‑day costs of ₹55 000–60 000[7]. Oman’s costs dangle heavy connected whether you self‑drive and camp; hotels and meals tin push a five‑day travel supra ₹58 000[22][21].
5. Bahrain is amazingly costly for fund travellers. Accommodation and nutrient costs are higher than successful different Gulf states, and visa fees tin beryllium significant. A five‑day travel often exceeds ₹70 000, making it little appealing to travellers connected a tight budget[25].

For travellers from India looking to research nan Gulf successful 2026, Kuwait, Qatar and Dubai (UAE) connection nan astir budget‑friendly options. Planning ahead, travelling successful nan off‑season, utilizing nationalist carrier and staying successful fund districts aliases hostels tin importantly trim costs crossed each GCC countries.