Government ministers, policymakers and senior international travel leaders are set to gather in Dubai for Arabian Travel Market 2026, with discussions expected to focus on the future of global tourism amid changing consumer behaviour, technological advances and economic uncertainty.
The 33rd edition of Arabian Travel Market will take place from September 14 to 17, 2026, at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The event will feature more than 210 speakers and contributors across over 80 sessions on the Global Stage, Future Stage and Experience Hub.
The programme will examine issues including tourism resilience, artificial intelligence, aviation and connectivity, hospitality, traveller behaviour, investment, sustainability and business events.
Ministers to discuss tourism resilience
The Global Stage programme will open on September 14 with a welcome address from H.E. Shaikha Al Nuwais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism, followed by remarks from H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism.
The opening day will also feature a high-level ministerial debate titled “Building a Resilient Industry Through Collaboration.”
The session will bring together Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Shaikha Al Nuwais, H.E. Fatima bint Jafar Al Sairafi, Bahrain Minister of Tourism, and Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
The debate will examine how the Gulf Cooperation Council can strengthen traveller confidence, improve global competitiveness and build the foundation for long-term tourism growth.
Discussions will also consider coordinated destination messaging, crisis communication, policy alignment and cooperation between governments, airlines, source markets and the wider travel industry.
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director – UAE at RX Global, said the conference programme would bring together government officials, industry leaders and research experts to examine the issues affecting the sector.
She said the programme was intended to provide practical insights for businesses while creating a platform for the exchange of ideas and the development of new opportunities.
Research and market intelligence
Research and market intelligence will form a major part of the Global Stage programme.
Stephen Dutton, Global Insight Manager – Travel at Euromonitor International, will examine the impact of inflation, geopolitical uncertainty and changing consumer priorities in a session titled “The State of Travel: Inflation, Polycrisis & the New Travel Reality.”
Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, will also present its annual ATM Travel Trends Report.
Dave Goodger, Managing Director, EMEA, at Tourism Economics, will lead a session on “Middle East Momentum & Market Shifts,” examining changes in international travel demand and emerging opportunities for the region.
Hospitality will also feature prominently, with Haitham Mattar, Managing Director for the Middle East, Africa and South West Asia at IHG Hotels & Resorts, among the speakers.
AI takes centre stage
Artificial intelligence will be a major focus of ATM 2026, with ATM Travel Tech making its full debut as a dedicated co-located show.
The Future Stage will explore how AI, fintech, digital distribution and connected platforms are moving from experimentation into commercial application.
The Tech & Innovation Hub – Demo Zone will feature more than 15 interactive demonstrations from travel technology companies.
Dr Marwan Alzarouni, CEO of AI at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, will open the Future Stage with a session titled “AI’s True Role in Rewriting the Travel Landscape.”
The programme will also feature senior representatives from companies including Sabre, Trip.com, Tripadvisor, Wego, MakeMyTrip, RateGain and Visa.
Discussions will cover agentic AI, online travel agencies, digital discovery, investment, consolidation and the changing travel supply chain.
Business events and investment
The Experience Hub will provide an interactive forum for business events, corporate travel, sustainability and peer-to-peer discussions.
Organisations including ICCA, IAPCO, GBTA and SITE will lead sessions on meetings and incentives, regional collaboration and changing corporate travel priorities.
A session titled “Beyond Borders: The Middle East’s Collaborative Vision for a Global Business Events Future” will examine how business events can support investment, talent development and knowledge exchange.
Arabian Travel Market has grown by 16 per cent year-on-year and now attracts more than 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries.
The organisers said ATM 2026 would provide an opportunity for the international travel community to build partnerships, exchange market intelligence and explore the forces shaping the next era of global tourism.
