ATM 2026 in Dubai to bring global travel leaders together for a new era of tourism
New technology showcase will spotlight AI, robotics, fintech and smart mobility
DUBAI – Dubai will once again become a focal point for the global travel and tourism industry when Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 opens at Dubai World Trade Centre from September 14 to 17.
The 33rd edition of the international event is set to bring together destinations, tourism authorities, airlines, hotels, travel technology companies, suppliers, buyers and industry professionals from across the world.
Organised by RX Global, ATM 2026 will focus on strengthening commercial relationships and examining how innovation, technology and changing traveller expectations will shape the sector towards 2040.
The event's official press conference, held at Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina today, brought together RX Global and ATM's strategic partners, including the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Emirates, IHG Hotels & Resorts and Al Rais Travel, to outline plans for this year's edition.
ATM 2026
Held under the theme Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology, ATM 2026 will explore the technologies, trends and partnerships influencing the future of global travel. The programme comes as the industry continues to navigate changing market conditions, evolving customer expectations and rapid advances in digital technology.
ATM organisers said preparations for the event have been shaped by ongoing engagement with exhibitors, buyers, partners and other stakeholders, allowing the show to respond to changing industry requirements while continuing to provide opportunities for business, networking and knowledge exchange.
A global gathering
The exhibition will feature destinations, tourism authorities, airlines, hospitality groups, travel technology companies, tourism suppliers and professionals representing markets from around the world. Alongside individual destinations and businesses, the event will highlight the interconnected nature of the global tourism industry and the importance of partnerships in maintaining commercial activity and sharing knowledge.
Confidence, resilience and collaboration will be among the key themes running through the 2026 edition. The event will examine the impact of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, smart mobility and evolving traveller expectations on tourism, while also looking at the commercial opportunities emerging from these changes.
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director, UAE, RX Global, said the industry had been required to adapt during the past few months and thanked customers and partners for their trust, understanding and flexibility.
She said ATM had listened closely to the needs of its customers and adapted where necessary to provide support as circumstances changed. Curtis added that bringing the global travel community together was particularly important this year, with the event focused both on immediate industry priorities and the innovation and opportunities expected to shape the future of travel.
Dubai's role as an international meeting point for the travel sector was also highlighted by Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), part of DET.
Kazim said hosting ATM at an important moment for global travel reflected Dubai's position as a trusted meeting point where government and private-sector partners work together to maintain confidence, enable business and create new opportunities.
He linked the event to the wider objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of Dubai's economy and further strengthen the emirate's position as a leading global destination for business and leisure.
Kazim said platforms such as ATM were important for strengthening international partnerships and accelerating innovation across the visitor economy, adding that Dubai was looking forward to welcoming the global travel community once again.
Focus on technology
Technology will take a more prominent position at ATM 2026 with the launch of ATM Travel Tech, a dedicated co-located exhibition designed to focus on the rapidly changing travel technology landscape.
Sabre will join ATM Travel Tech as its official strategic partner. The technology-focused programme will sit alongside the Tech & Innovation Hub, which will showcase developments spanning artificial intelligence, immersive technologies, robotics, fintech and smart mobility.
The new elements reflect the central role technology is expected to play in the industry's development towards 2040. From the way travellers search and book journeys to how airlines, hotels and destinations manage operations and personalise experiences, digital tools are increasingly influencing the travel ecosystem.
Ramzi Al-Qassab, Managing Director for META, EE, CIS, PK at Sabre and ATM Travel Tech Strategic Partner, said the travel industry was dealing with economic and geopolitical uncertainty while also facing significant technological opportunities.
He said Sabre's role was to provide airlines, agencies and hoteliers with intelligence and technology to manage current challenges while preparing for future developments. Al-Qassab described ATM as a platform where the industry could come together to navigate uncertainty and balance immediate requirements with longer-term opportunities.
Al Rais Travel will also bring a technology-led development to the event with the launch of its new AlRaisTravel.com platform. Mohamed Al Rais, Executive Director of Al Rais Travel, said the platform will feature Voice AI and Chat AI aimed at making travel planning faster, easier and more personalised.
The company will also strengthen its presence in medical tourism by connecting travellers with healthcare providers around the world.
Al Rais Travel has operated since 1977 and has developed alongside Dubai's tourism and travel sector. Al Rais said the company's participation in ATM 2026 would combine its experience and established partnerships with new technology as it looks towards the next phase of travel.
Industry outlook
The ATM 2026 conference programme will bring policymakers, tourism leaders, researchers and technology specialists together across the Global Stage, Future Stage and Experience Hub.
Sessions will examine a broad range of issues affecting the travel industry, including artificial intelligence, destination resilience, hospitality, aviation, business events, luxury travel, accessibility, sustainability and investment.
The programme will also consider the changing expectations of today's experience-led traveller and how businesses can respond to demand for more relevant, seamless and technology-enabled journeys.
Research from ATM's official knowledge partners, including Tourism Economics, Euromonitor International and Dragon Trail International, will support discussions across the conference programme.
For hospitality businesses, the focus on technology comes as hotel supply continues to expand across the Middle East. Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said the region continued to demonstrate strong long-term fundamentals for travel and hospitality, supported by investment in tourism, infrastructure, destination development and international connectivity.
Mattar said the next phase of growth would involve converting investment and expanding hotel supply into sustainable, long-term demand. He highlighted technology and data as tools that can help businesses better understand travellers, reduce friction throughout the guest journey and deliver more relevant experiences.
He said ATM's emphasis on innovation and technology was timely as the industry considers how these capabilities can contribute to responsible growth through 2040 and beyond.
Emirates at ATM 2026
Emirates is also preparing to use ATM 2026 as a platform to deepen relationships and develop new commercial opportunities across the travel sector.
Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates, said ATM had long been an important fixture on the airline's industry calendar, providing an opportunity to strengthen relationships with partners and give visitors a first-hand experience of its latest products.
The airline will use this year's event to further joint tourism initiatives and partnerships with organisations serving specialised traveller segments, while continuing to strengthen its long-standing relationships.
Kazim said destination growth and access to new customer segments required cooperation across the industry, with partnerships playing a central role in creating opportunities for tourism businesses and destinations.
The presence of Emirates alongside DET, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Al Rais Travel and Sabre reflects the broad range of organisations involved in shaping the event's agenda, from destination development and aviation to hospitality, travel distribution and technology.
ATM 2026 is expected to provide a platform for these sectors to engage directly with buyers, policymakers, suppliers and potential partners during four days at Dubai World Trade Centre.
A platform for networking
RX Global said ATM has continued to expand as an international platform for travel and tourism, with the 2026 edition recording 16% year-on-year growth and attracting more than 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries.
Now in its 33rd year, the event has developed beyond a traditional exhibition floor, with forums, experiences and networking opportunities extending across the week. Its programme is designed to connect travel communities, facilitate commercial relationships and create opportunities for businesses operating across different parts of the tourism ecosystem.
Jonathan Heastie, Portfolio Director, Travel Sector, RX Global, said the organiser's focus was on ensuring its events evolve in line with the industries and communities they serve.
For ATM, he said this meant responding to changes across the travel sector while continuing to deliver value for customers. He added that the 2026 theme reflected the need to look beyond immediate priorities towards the innovation and opportunities expected to influence the industry in the years ahead.
Registration for ATM 2026 is live, with separate registration options available for visitors and media, while businesses interested in exhibiting can make enquiries through the event organisers.