If you're flying Etihad through the UAE capital, there's a decent chance your next holiday comes with a bonus one. Since launching in 2024, the Abu Dhabi Stopover programme has drawn more than 310,000 international visitors who chose to break long journeys with a free stay — and now the offer stretches beyond the capital itself to Al Ain, the UAE's inland 'Garden City'.

Here's the deal: anyone connecting through Zayed International Airport on an Etihad ticket can add a complimentary one or two-night hotel stay in Abu Dhabi city and its islands — or, from now on, Al Ain. Bookings go through etihad.com or select travel agents, with participating Al Ain properties including the Four Points by Sheraton, Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort, Al Ain Rotana and Danat Al Ain Resort. Shuttle transfers between the airport and Al Ain are included, so the room really is the only thing you're paying nothing for.

The Al Ain option isn't a like-for-like swap. Where Abu Dhabi offers beaches, Yas Island thrills and waterfront dining, Al Ain is slower and greener — a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the birthplace of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and home to highlights like Al Ain Oasis, Al Jahili Fort, Qasr Al Muwaiji, Al Ain Zoo and the winding road up Jebel Hafeet. The timing isn't accidental: Al Ain has been named Capital of Arab Tourism for 2026, and the stopover extension leans into that.

There are extra sweeteners too. Stopover guests get a digital Stopover Pass with savings of up to 15% at big-name attractions such as Qasr Al Watan, The National Aquarium and Ferrari World Yas Island. And since June 2026, Etihad passengers on qualifying tickets automatically receive complimentary medical travel insurance for up to 15 days — no application needed — through a partnership with Daman, running until December 2026.

The numbers suggest it's working. Around 60,000 visitors used the programme in the first eight months of 2026 alone, with Europe the biggest source — led by the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain — followed by the Americas (US and Canada) and India. Both DCT Abu Dhabi and Etihad say a key payoff is repeat visits: plenty of guests who first saw the emirate on a stopover come back for a proper holiday.

For travellers, this is one of the better value stopover schemes anywhere. A free hotel night, discounted attractions and automatic medical cover turn an inconvenient connection into a genuine mini-break, and the Al Ain addition means heritage and mountain scenery are now on the menu alongside the usual city-and-beach version. If your route to Asia, Africa or the Indian Ocean passes through Abu Dhabi anyway, it's worth pricing in a night or two. Terms and eligibility are on etihad.com/stopover.