Arabian Travel Market 2026 opens tomorrow in Dubai with global tourism leaders set to gather
Four-day event will bring destinations, airlines, hotels and technology firms together
DUBAI – The 33rd edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) will open tomorrow at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), bringing together the international travel and tourism community for four days of business, networking, knowledge exchange and collaboration.
The event will take place from 14 to 17 September, with destinations, tourism authorities, airlines, hospitality brands, technology companies, buyers and industry professionals gathering in Dubai. This year’s programme will focus strongly on innovation, technology, resilience and the forces expected to shape the next phase of global tourism.
Held under the theme ‘Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology’, ATM 2026 will examine developments transforming the tourism sector, including artificial intelligence, digital transformation, changing traveller expectations, destination resilience, smart mobility and sustainable long-term growth.
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director - UAE, RX Global, said the event would bring the global travel and tourism industry back together in Dubai while highlighting the continued evolution of both the sector and ATM itself.
“This year is particularly significant as we see continued evolution across both the industry and ATM itself,” Curtis said, pointing to the debut of ATM Travel Tech, an expanded focus on innovation and a conference programme examining emerging trends and opportunities across global tourism.
She added that recent challenges facing the industry had reinforced the value of bringing its international community together in person, with the event expected to generate new conversations, partnerships and commercial opportunities.
Tech takes centre stage
Technology will be one of the major areas of focus at ATM 2026, with the debut of ATM Travel Tech as a dedicated co-located show.
The new event will feature more than 180 exhibitors from 30 countries across two dedicated halls, bringing technology companies, innovators and industry leaders together to explore solutions and partnerships changing the travel ecosystem.
At its centre will be the 850-square-metre Tech & Innovation Hub, which will showcase developments in artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, robotics, fintech and green technologies.
The Hub will also feature the Future Stage, where technology leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators will discuss how emerging technologies are reshaping travel. Sessions will cover artificial intelligence and automation, data and digital transformation, fintech, immersive technology, robotics and next-generation travel platforms.
The Future Stage will open with Dr Marwan Alzarouni, CEO, AI at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), examining the role of artificial intelligence in reshaping the travel landscape.
The programme will also feature senior representatives from Sabre, Trip.com, Tripadvisor, Wego, MakeMyTrip, RateGain and Visa. Discussions will explore agentic AI, the future of online travel agencies, investment and consolidation, digital discovery and the changing travel supply chain.
Global industry debate
The wider conference programme will continue across the Global Stage and Experience Hub, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, researchers and technology specialists throughout the four-day event.
The Global Stage will begin with the Ministerial Debate: Building A Resilient Industry Through Collaboration. The session will bring senior tourism figures together to discuss rebuilding traveller confidence, strengthening the GCC’s global tourism position and establishing the foundations for a resilient future for the sector.
Speakers will include H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism; H.E. Shaikha Al Nuwais, Secretary General, UN Tourism; Fatima Jaafar Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism; and Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EC Commissioner, UN Tourism.
Research and market intelligence will also feature prominently, with organisations including Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, Euromonitor International, STR and Dragon Trail International set to share research and practical insights.
Their sessions will focus on changing market conditions and the opportunities available to tourism businesses as traveller behaviour and industry dynamics continue to evolve.
Curtis said research from ATM’s partners continued to point to resilience in travel demand, while innovation was creating new ways for destinations and businesses to respond to changing traveller expectations.
New ATM identity
ATM 2026 will also introduce a refreshed brand identity across the event, reflecting the exhibition’s continued development beyond the traditional trade-show floor.
The updated identity is intended to reflect ATM’s evolution as a year-round platform connecting communities, ideas and commercial opportunities across the global travel and tourism ecosystem.
Now in its 33rd edition, Arabian Travel Market continues to bring together the international travel community in the Middle East, providing a platform for destinations, businesses and industry professionals to develop partnerships, exchange knowledge and explore new commercial opportunities.
Registration for ATM 2026 is live, with visitor, media and exhibitor registration available through the event’s official channels.