More than 210 speakers from government and the private sector will gather at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 in Dubai next week, where discussions will focus on resilience, artificial intelligence, and the shifting economics of global travel. The event runs from 14-17 September at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), bringing together ministers, policymakers, and senior executives to examine what comes next for the industry.
H.E. Shaikha Al Nuwais, UN Tourism Secretary-General, will open the Global Stage programme on 14 September with a welcome address. H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, follows with remarks that set the tone for four days of sessions across the Global Stage, Future Stage, and the Experience Hub.
Ministerial debate puts collaboration centre stage
The opening day features a high-level Ministerial Debate on building a resilient industry through collaboration. Panellists include 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 cover coordinated destination messaging, crisis communications, policy alignment, and cooperation between governments, source markets, and airlines. The goal is to examine how the GCC can strengthen traveller confidence and long-term tourism growth.
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."
Research, hospitality, and the technology shift
Market intelligence anchors much of the Global Stage agenda. Stephen Dutton, Global Insight Manager - Travel at Euromonitor International, will present The State of Travel: Inflation, Polycrisis & the New Travel Reality, examining how inflation, geopolitical uncertainty, and changing consumer priorities are reshaping demand.
Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, returns with the annual ATM Travel Trends Report. Dave Goodger, Managing Director, EMEA, will present Middle East Momentum & Market Shifts, followed by a panel on why travel demand in the region keeps proving resilient. Hospitality leaders, including Haitham Mattar, Managing Director MEA & South West Asia at IHG Hotels & Resorts, will explore how guest expectations and experience-led travel are changing the sector.
Technology moves from a conference theme to a physical presence this year with the full debut of ATM Travel Tech, a co-located show. Its Future Stage tackles how AI for Hospitality & Events is moving from experimentation into commercial application. Dr Marwan Alzarouni, CEO, AI at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, opens the programme with a session on AI's role in rewriting the infrastructure and policy underpinning travel.
Senior representatives from Sabre, Trip.com, Tripadvisor, Wego, MakeMyTrip, RateGain, and Visa will join sessions on agentic AI, the future of online travel agencies, digital discovery, and the changing travel supply chain. Schubert Lou, CEO of Trip.com, joins Ross Veitch, CEO of Wego, and Raj Rishi Singh, Chief Business Officer at MakeMyTrip, for a discussion on how AI and faster innovation cycles are reshaping competition among online travel platforms.
Business events and the Experience Hub
The Experience Hub creates a more interactive forum for business events, corporate travel, and sustainability. Organisations including ICCA, IAPCO, GBTA, and SITE will lead sessions on the future of meetings and incentives, regional collaboration, and shifting corporate travel priorities.
ICCA's session, Beyond Borders: The Middle East's Collaborative Vision for a Global Business Events Future, brings together tourism and events representatives from the Oman Convention Bureau, Bahrain Tourism & Exhibition Authority, Visit Qatar, and Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. The panel will explore how business events can support investment, talent, and knowledge exchange across the region.
Why this matters for hospitality and events professionals
ATM 2026 puts the operational pressures you face daily - changing guest expectations, corporate travel budgets, and technology adoption - directly onto the main stage. The dedicated ATM Travel Tech show and the Experience Hub sessions offer practical exposure to tools and peer strategies, not just high-level policy talk. If you are managing venues, planning business events, or running hotel operations, the discussions on AI-driven distribution, traveller behaviour shifts, and regional collaboration will hit the specific commercial realities you are navigating this year.
Your membership also unlocks:
