Government ministers and global industry leaders to address the future of travel at Arabian Travel Market 2026

• UN Tourism Secretary-General H.E. Shaikha Al Nuwais and H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, will join senior government and industry leaders on the Global Stage at ATM 2026
• Over 200 speakers and contributors from organisations including Tourism Economics, Euromonitor International, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Trip.com, Sabre, Visa, Tripadvisor, dnata, ICCA and GBTA will address the issues shaping global tourism
• Conference agenda to explore resilience, AI, traveller behaviour, aviation and connectivity, hospitality, business events, investment and the changing economics of global travel from 14–17 September at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 07 September 2026: Government ministers, policymakers and senior international travel leaders will gather at Arabian Travel Market’s (ATM) 2026 next week, as the tourism industry comes together in Dubai to examine the future of travel regionally and internationally, from 14–17 September at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

This year’s edition will feature over 210 influential speakers from the government and the private sector as part of the programme on the Global and Future Stages, and the Experience Hub. Across more than 80 sessions, discussions are expected to address topics including resilience and international cooperation, artificial intelligence (AI), aviation and connectivity, hospitality, traveller behaviour, investment, sustainability and business events.

Opening the Global Stage programme on 14 September, H.E. Shaikha Al Nuwais will deliver a UN Tourism welcome address, followed by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism.

The opening day will also feature the high-level Ministerial Debate: Building A Resilient Industry Through Collaboration, examining how the GCC can strengthen traveller confidence, enhance its global competitiveness and build the foundations for long-term tourism growth.

The debate will bring together H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri; H.E. 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 discussion will consider the role of coordinated destination messaging, crisis communications, policy alignment and cooperation between governments, source markets, airlines and the wider tourism industry.

Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director – UAE, RX Global, said: “We’re pleased to be bringing together such a high calibre of participants for this year’s conference programme, from UN Tourism and government ministers to senior leaders and experts from across the international travel industry. The breadth of expertise across our stages reflects the issues that matter most to the sector today, from resilience and traveller confidence to AI, connectivity, investment, changing consumer behaviour and the future workforce.

“By combining senior-level perspectives with research, market intelligence and practical discussion, we want the programme to give attendees valuable insights they can take back to their businesses, while creating an important forum for the industry to exchange ideas and explore the opportunities shaping the future of travel.”

Research and market intelligence will be central to 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 The State of Travel: Inflation, Polycrisis & the New Travel Reality.

Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, will also return with the annual ATM Travel Trends Report. Dave Goodger, Managing Director, EMEA, Tourism Economics, will present Middle East Momentum & Market Shifts, examining where international travel demand is moving and the opportunities emerging for the Middle East. He will also join senior representatives from the public and private sectors to discuss why travel demand in the region continues to demonstrate resilience.

Hospitality will also feature prominently. Haitham Mattar, Managing Director MEA & South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, will appear on the Global Stage, while speakers across the wider programme will examine how changing guest expectations, technology and experience-led travel are influencing the future of the sector.

Technology moves from a conference theme to a central part of the visitor experience at ATM Travel Tech, the dedicated co-located show making its full debut at ATM 2026. Its Future Stage will examine how AI, fintech, digital distribution and connected platforms are moving from experimentation into commercial application. At the Tech & Innovation Hub – Demo Zone, attendees can experience the future of travel first-hand, with more than 15 interactive demos from leading Travel Tech companies showcasing the latest innovations and solutions.

Dr Marwan Alzarouni, CEO, AI at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), will open the Future Stage programme with AI's True Role in Rewriting the Travel Landscape, exploring how AI is changing the infrastructure, policy and ecosystems underpinning travel.

The programme will also bring together senior representatives from companies including Sabre, Trip.com, Tripadvisor, Wego, MakeMyTrip, RateGain and Visa. Sessions will examine agentic AI, the future of online travel agencies, investment and consolidation, digital discovery and the changing travel supply chain.

Among the international technology leaders taking part is Schubert Lou, CEO of Trip.com, who will join Ross Veitch, CEO of Wego, and Raj Rishi Singh, Chief Business Officer – Corporate, Flights and GCC at MakeMyTrip, for a discussion on how AI and accelerating innovation cycles are changing the competitive landscape for online travel platforms.

Alongside the Global and Future stages, the Experience Hub will create a more interactive forum for business events, corporate travel, sustainability and peer-to-peer discussion. Organisations including ICCA, IAPCO, GBTA and SITE will lead sessions addressing the future of meetings and incentives, regional collaboration and changing corporate travel priorities.

ICCA's Beyond Borders: The Middle East's Collaborative Vision for a Global Business Events Future will bring together senior tourism and events representatives from across the region to explore how business events can support investment, talent and knowledge exchange. Participants will include representatives from the Oman Convention Bureau, Bahrain Tourism & Exhibition Authority, Visit Qatar and Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority.

Now in its 33rd edition, Arabian Travel Market will take place from 14–17 September 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing the international travel community together to build partnerships, exchange market intelligence and explore the opportunities shaping the next era of global tourism.

Registration is live for ATM 2026. Media can register here; to register as a visitor, click here; and for enquiries related to exhibiting, please click here.

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14 - 17 September 2026

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Trina Quintana

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E-mail: trina.quintana@shamalcomms.com

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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 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. Evolving from ATM’s fastest-growing sector, ATM Travel Tech provides a dynamic platform driving the future of travel technology.

The next edition of ATM will take place in Dubai from 14-17 September 2026.

https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html    

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.

Next event: 8-10 September 2026 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Centre (RFECC)

http://spotlight-riyadh.com/

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 41 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. For more information, visit www.rxglobal.com.

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 territories 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.

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