Arabian Travel Market 2026 opened in Dubai with tourism policymakers from the Middle East, Europe, Central Asia and the United Nations discussing resilience, preparedness and long-term growth.
The 33rd edition is taking place at Dubai World Trade Center from September 14 to 17. Its program covers tourism resilience, traveler confidence, artificial intelligence, connectivity, investment and changing traveler behavior.
UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said decades of investment in infrastructure had strengthened the country’s ability to manage recent geopolitical challenges. UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nuwais emphasized early cooperation, information-sharing and trust as essential to responding to future disruptions.
Bahrain’s Minister of Tourism Fatima Jaafar Al Sairafi said tourism contributes more than 11% of GDP across GCC countries, compared with a global average of around 10%. Officials from the European Union and Uzbekistan also highlighted continued regional cooperation.
Research from STR and Euromonitor International, presented ahead of the event, forecasts that travel spending across the Middle East and Africa will rise by nearly 48% by 2030, adding more than $50 billion to the regional tourism economy.
Held under the theme “Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology,” ATM 2026 is also examining AI, digital transformation, smart mobility and changing traveler expectations.
Source: Fast Company Middle East
