ATM 2026 opens in Dubai next week with AI, travel technology, smart mobility and industry resilience dominating the agenda.
DUBAI: ATM 2026 is set to put artificial intelligence, travel technology and changing traveller expectations at the centre of the global tourism conversation when Arabian Travel Market returns to Dubai World Trade Centre from September 14 to 17.
Now in its 33rd edition, the international travel and tourism event will bring destinations, airlines, hotels, tourism authorities, technology companies, buyers and industry professionals together as the sector looks towards its next phase of growth.
This year’s theme, “Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology”, gives the event a distinctly future-facing agenda. Artificial intelligence, digital transformation, smart mobility and increasingly experience-led travel will feature prominently as businesses examine how technology could reshape tourism over the coming years.
One of the biggest additions is ATM Travel Tech, a dedicated co-located exhibition focused on the technologies changing how people research, book and experience travel. Sabre joins as a strategic partner, while the Tech & Innovation Hub will showcase developments spanning AI, immersive technology, robotics, fintech and smart mobility.
The conference programme will run across the Global Stage, Future Stage and Experience Hub. Discussions are expected to cover aviation, hospitality, destination resilience, luxury travel, accessibility, sustainability, investment and business events.
For Dubai, the gathering also supports a wider strategy to strengthen its position as a global tourism and business hub. The Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, targets doubling the emirate’s economy over the decade to 2033, with international connectivity and partnerships playing an important role in that ambition.
Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing CEO Issam Kazim said platforms such as ATM are “vital to strengthening international partnerships and accelerating innovation across the visitor economy”.
Industry leaders are also focusing on how technology can improve the traveller experience rather than simply automate existing processes. IHG Hotels & Resorts highlighted the growing role of technology and data in understanding travellers, reducing friction and creating more relevant experiences.
That shift could become one of the defining themes of ATM 2026. As airlines, hotels, destinations and travel companies experiment with AI-powered services, the commercial challenge will be turning new technology into experiences travellers genuinely value.
The event arrives at a time when collaboration and resilience remain important across international tourism, making Dubai a meeting point for both immediate business discussions and longer-term strategies.
Impact to expect
ATM 2026 could accelerate travel technology adoption across the Middle East by connecting global technology providers with airlines, hotels, destinations and tourism businesses seeking smarter ways to serve travellers.
