Arabian Travel Market 2026 brought together travel buyers from more than 115 countries for its 33rd edition, cementing Dubai's place as a leading hub for the global tourism industry.
Held over four days at Dubai World Trade Centre, the event featured more than 55 destination stands and drew tourism authorities, airlines, hospitality brands and technology firms from across the world.
Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said the show offered a vital platform for the industry to build partnerships and explore new opportunities. He noted that the strong turnout reflected continued confidence in Dubai as a safe and accessible destination and pointed to sustained growth in its tourism sector.
The event was marked by a wave of major announcements. Visit UAE launched as the country's first unified national tourism brand, paired with the UAE Grand Tour, a platform allowing travelers to explore all seven emirates on a single continuous route.
Emirates signed 11 memoranda of understanding with regional and international partners covering technology, marketing and passenger experience. Rotana revealed a pipeline of 40 hotels totaling more than 8,300 rooms, with 10 projects planned in Saudi Arabia. Etihad Airways and Etihad Rail agreed to explore an integrated air and rail travel experience across the UAE.
Mastercard and Trip.com demonstrated AI powered booking tools through TripGenie in partnership with Network International, while a consortium including Air Arabia Group announced a new Saudi airline set to launch on September 20, connecting Dammam with Riyadh, Madinah and Jeddah.
Danielle Curtis of RX Global said participation from Middle Eastern and international markets remained strong, with the show's technology space doubling in size following the debut of the co-located ATM Travel Tech event. The next edition runs from May 3 to 6, 2027.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
