- Global exhibitors will flock to Arabian Travel Market 2026, spurred on by trends such as tourism infrastructure expansion and increased air connectivity
- Exhibition space reserved by participants from Africa and Asia sees compound annual growth rates of 31.99% and 13.95%, respectively (2024-26)
- China’s ATM return will offer an opportunity to forge and strengthen links with Gulf tourism partners as the nation’s outbound market regains mom
Dubai, United Arab Emirates,January 2026: With overseas travel spend by Middle East residents expected to grow by 6% per year until the end of the decade, where it will top US$60 billion according to the latest ATM Travel Trends Report, exhibition space is in high demand among international participants at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, which will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 4-7 May.
Under the theme ‘Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology’, the 33rd edition of ATM will enable visitors from around the world to chart the evolution of global tourism by exploring market trends such as travel-tech innovation and adoption, sustainable offerings and ultra-luxury experiences.
ATM 2026 is generating significant interest among international exhibitors, with projected year-on-year growth in exhibition space of 10% and increased demand across all core markets. During the period 2024 to 2026, the event has recorded pronounced compound annual growth rate (CAGR) upticks from participants in Africa (31.99%), Asia (13.95%), Europe (8.75%), the Americas (8.25%) and the Middle East (8.04%).
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “International participation at ATM continues to grow in step with the remarkable shifts taking place across the worldwide tourism landscape. From Africa’s wide-ranging investment in infrastructure and sustainable luxury to Asia’s rapid expansion in air connectivity and travel technology, we are seeing unprecedented engagement with the Middle East market in ways that would have been unimaginable even a decade ago.”
Egypt’s appeal among regional travellers is clear, with the volume of outbound leisure nights from the Middle East to the North African country set to increase by 21% by 2030. Home to the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza as well as a multibillion-dollar pipeline of mega-tourism projects from New Alamein City and Ras al-Hekma to the Great Transfiguration Project and Marassi Red Sea resort, Egypt is investing heavily in its visitor economy. Exhibitors, including the Egyptian Tourism Authority, Rixos Premium Seagate Hotel, Sunrise Resorts and Cruises, Classic for Touristic Resorts & Hotel Management, among others, will be eager to showcase what this exciting destination has to offer at ATM 2026.
Morocco has launched equally ambitious plans for rail expansion and improvement as it prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Portugal and Spain. In addition to rail expansion, the country opened 120 new air routes in 2024 and 80 in 2025, including Atlanta-Marrakech, linking the country to 125 American cities through the world’s largest hub.
ATM will welcome a range of exhibitors from the country, alongside Visit Morocco, as well as a myriad of investors and project partners who can help Morocco achieve its goals of adding 150,000 hotel beds and hosting 26 million annual visitors by 2030.
The 2026 edition will also see a strong showing from Türkiye – a key destination for travellers across the Gulf and wider region, accounting for 8% of outbound nights in 2025. Represented at ATM 2026 by high-profile exhibitors, which include, amongst others, Mercan DMC, Regnum Hotels, Atas Group Hotels, Ajet Airlines, Bursa Culture & Tourism Promotion Union, Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), the country is expected to grow by 96% as a source market for international leisure tourism nights in the Middle East by 2030.
Focusing on Asia Pacific, China will once again have a presence at ATM in 2026, building on a boom in low-friction, outbound travel to Middle East nations such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The country has also outlined its intentions to increase inbound travel, with the China Cultural Center in UAE keen to increase interest from the Middle East. To achieve this, the country has rapidly expanded its visa-free arrangements for visitors, with 76 countries, including those within the GCC, utilising unilateral or mutual visa-free entry, while also implementing measures to streamline entry, enhance consumption experiences and simplify tax refund policies.
As such, ATM’s 33rd edition will welcome Chinese tourism enterprises and cultural bodies, with companies confirmed so far including the China Cultural Centre in UAE, The Garden Hotel Company LTD Guangzhou, and China Highlights International Travel Services Co LTD.
In addition to increased international interest in the Middle East’s travel sector, ATM 2026 will highlight a broad array of industry trends, innovations and opportunities. With a focus on the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA), as well as Eastern European countries, for both inbound and outbound travel, the upcoming edition will reinforce Dubai’s position as a global gateway, connecting to more than 274 destinations across six continents.
Through features such as the ATM Ultra Luxury Lounge, IBTM @ ATM and the co-located event, ATM Travel Tech, which will have two dedicated halls, the event will showcase how the industry is evolving to meet the needs of new traveller segments, while strengthening connections between destinations, buyers and brands that are shaping the next chapter of global travel.
About ATM:
Now in its 33rd year, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is the leading global platform driving growth and innovation across every sector of the travel and tourism industry. Held annually in Dubai – the gateway to global travel and tourism with its unmatched connectivity – ATM is where the energy of opportunity comes to life.
More than just an event, ATM is a dynamic hub for industry communities, featuring forums, experiences, and networking opportunities that continue well beyond the show floor throughout the week. Now in a period of rapid expansion, ATM has grown 16% year-over-year, attracting over 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries.
About IBTM @ ATM:
IBTM @ ATM is the dedicated business events hub within Arabian Travel Market (ATM), connecting the global meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) community with the Middle East’s rapidly expanding meetings and mega events sector.
The feature brings together association planners, conference organisers, corporate buyers, and incentive agencies with destinations, venues, DMCs, and business event suppliers specialising in world-class events. With a comprehensive hosted buyer programme, targeted networking, pre-scheduled appointments, and a dedicated Business Events Stage featuring expert-led sessions, IBTM @ ATM is the essential platform for driving innovation, collaboration, and growth across the global meetings industry.
About ATM Travel Tech:
ATM Travel Tech is the premier co-located technology event within Arabian Travel Market (ATM), dedicated to showcasing the groundbreaking innovations set to transform global travel by 2040.
ATM Travel Tech will feature more than 180 exhibitors from 30 countries across two dedicated halls, providing a dynamic platform for the technologies, partnerships, and ideas shaping the future of travel.
At its core, the Tech & Innovation Hub spans 850m², offering immersive demos in AI, VR and AR, robotics, fintech, and green technologies. The Future Stage will bring together global tech leaders, entrepreneurs, and futurists to discuss artificial intelligence, immersive commerce, cybersecurity, and sustainability, alongside the Start-up Pitch Battle. Evolving from ATM’s fastest-growing sector, ATM Travel Tech provides a dynamic platform driving the future of travel technology.
About RX:
RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 42 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.
About RELX:
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at http://www.relx.com/investors
World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises leading travel events and online portals across four continents. The events are:
WTM Spotlight in Saudi Arabia is the definitive launchpad for Saudi Arabia’s tourism ambitions – a platform purpose-built to connect the Kingdom’s growing tourism sector with the global travel industry. The show promotes meaningful exchange between regional stakeholders and international players. It’s where global travel brands gain direct access to one of the most promising new markets, and where Saudi Arabia showcases its destinations, vision, and investment opportunities to the world. WTM Spotlight Riyadh plays a vital role in shaping the Kingdom’s journey as a rising force in global tourism.
WTM London is the world’s most influential travel & tourism event for the global travel community. The show is the ultimate destination for those seeking a macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it. WTM London is where influential travel leaders, buyers and high-profile travel companies gather to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and accelerate business outcomes.
WTM Latin America takes place annually in the city of São Paulo and attracts around 20,000 tourism professionals during the three-day event. The event offers qualified content together with networking and business opportunities. In this its ninth edition – there have been eight face-to-face events along with a 100% virtual one, which was held in 2021 – WTM Latin America continued to focus on effective business generation, and achieved the advance booking of six thousand meetings that were held between buyers, travel agents and exhibitors in 2022.
WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2022, WTM Africa facilitated more than 7 thousand unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 7% compared to 2019 and welcomed more than 6 thousand visitors (unaudited), the same number as in 2019.
About ATW Connect: Africa Travel Week’s digital arm, is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim to keep all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology.
WTM Global Hub, is the WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub. https://hub.wtm.com/
