The rescheduled event returns to Dubai World Trade Centre from September 14th to 17th, and it is set to welcome more than 55,000 travel professionals from across the globe to explore the technologies, trends, and partnerships shaping Travel 2040

For more than three decades, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has been a meeting point for the global travel and tourism industry in Dubai, for the people, brands, and ideas shaping the sector. Returning once again from September 14th to 17th at Dubai World Trade Centre, this year’s edition will as always welcome industry leaders, decision-makers, innovators, and buyers from around the world, with technology, sustainability, and future-focused thinking at the heart of the conversation.

As we have already discussed in our previous blog, this year’s edition promises to be unmissable, delving into some of the most press topics the industry is facing today.

A Regional Travel Show Becomes a Global Industry Powerhouse

Since its launch more than 30 years ago, Arabian Travel Market has evolved alongside the Middle East’s travel industry, growing into one of the world’s leading travel trade events. What began as a platform connecting the region with the international tourism community has become an essential fixture in the global travel calendar, hosting destinations, hospitality brands, airlines, technology companies, tour operators, and travel professionals under one roof.

Today, ATM provides a truly comprehensive view of the travel industry, spanning leisure, luxury, MICE, corporate travel, and everything in between. Its continued growth is also a nod to the increasing importance of the Middle East as a global tourism hub, with Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and the wider region continuing to attract major investment, new destinations, and increasingly diverse traveller audiences.

ATM 2025 is Bigger, Broader, and More Global

Last year’s edition demonstrated just how much the event has grown, welcoming more than 55,000 attendees, 2,800 exhibitors, and participants from 166 countries. With more than 220 conference speakers sharing their expertise across the programme, ATM 2025 offered an expansive look at the forces transforming the global travel landscape.

Beyond the headline figures, the event delivered tangible value for the businesses taking part. Some 67% of attendees prioritised networking, with 84% satisfied with their new business connections, while 54% were actively seeking innovative solutions, with 83% reporting measurable impact. Targeted meetings and partnerships also proved highly effective, with 81% of participants achieving tangible results onsite. These figures underline what makes ATM such an important fixture for the industry, offering a platform where meaningful business gets done.

Travel 2040 Starts Here

This year, ATM looks further ahead with the overarching theme “Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology.” The theme is all about a travel industry entering a period of rapid transformation, where artificial intelligence, smart technology, sustainability, changing consumer behaviour, and new forms of connectivity are redefining how people plan, experience, and remember their journeys.

With more than 55,000 professionals from 166 countries expected to attend, the event will explore what the next 15 years could look like for global tourism. ATM 2026 will examine how technology can unlock new opportunities while ensuring the industry remains responsive to changing expectations and increasingly complex global challenges.

The focus on innovation also extends beyond technology itself. Sustainability and purpose-driven travel will remain important areas of discussion, while the continued growth of experiential and ultra-luxury travel, MICE, and emerging destinations will offer fresh perspectives on where the biggest opportunities lie. For businesses operating in the Middle East, this provides an opportunity to understand global shifts while considering how they apply to one of the world’s fastest-evolving tourism markets.

What to Expect at ATM 2026

Across the conference programme, attendees will hear from global leaders, innovators, and decision-makers across three key stages. The Global Stage, proudly presented by Trip.com Group, will examine the major developments influencing the future of tourism, while the Future Stage, presented by Adyen, will look at technological transformation and the ideas that could define Travel 2040. The Experience Hub will also provide practical strategies and inspiration for those working across business events and the wider experience economy.

Technology will be particularly prominent through the ATM Travel Tech sector and its dedicated Tech & Innovation Hub, creating a space for businesses and visitors to explore emerging solutions firsthand. Alongside interactive demonstrations, Innovation Zones, and the Future Stage, the hub will showcase how AI, data, digital tools, and other technologies are changing the way the industry operates and how travellers engage with brands.

The event will also provide extensive opportunities for commercial connection. The ATM Buyers’ Club gathers senior travel decision-makers with direct purchasing responsibility, while the Buyers Networking event connects exhibitors with more than 230 hosted buyers from around the world. Alongside these matchmaking opportunities, ATM’s annual Trends Report, produced with Tourism Economics, will offer an insight into the latest growth patterns across Middle Eastern travel, providing businesses with data and insights to inform their next moves.

How Katch Helps Brands Make an Impact at ATM

For Katch, Arabian Travel Market is about much more than simply getting our clients through the doors. Over the years, we have worked closely with some of the region’s biggest hospitality brands to ensure they make the most of one of the travel industry’s biggest media opportunities. Through organising media relations, interview coordination, sourcing panel opportunities, media training, event support, and on-the-ground communications, our team works across every stage of the ATM journey to turn participation into meaningful coverage and conversations.

Our previous ATM campaigns have included JA Resorts & Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Rixos Hotels, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, and The H Dubai, among others. At ATM 2024, for example, we helped position senior leaders from Banyan Tree, Rixos Hotels, The H Dubai, and Four Seasons across high-profile conference sessions, while also arranging media opportunities around the event. For Four Seasons, our team supported media training and liaised with the ATM programming team to help secure a high-profile panel appearance for Adrian Messerli, alongside organising a pre-event media breakfast attended by senior leadership and key regional media. The wider campaign delivered more than 80 pieces of coverage and a reach of over 12 million.

Where Travel’s Next Chapter Begins

As the global travel industry continues to evolve at pace, Arabian Travel Market remains one of the most important places to understand where it is heading next. ATM 2026 promises to feature the biggest conversations, brands, and decision-makers in Dubai.

For brands looking to make an impact in the travel and hospitality space, it is an opportunity to be part of the conversation, build meaningful relationships, showcase expertise, and discover what lies ahead. And for Katch, it is another chance to be on the ground, telling our clients’ stories and helping them turn one of the region’s biggest industry events into a platform for visibility, influence, and growth.

For more details on Arabian Travel Market 2026, visit the website or follow them on Instagram @Arabian_Travel_Market to keep up to date.