The 33rd edition of Arabian Travel Market 2026 opens tomorrow, Monday, at the Dubai World Trade Centre and runs until 17 September, bringing together the international travel and tourism community under the theme "Travel 2040: Exploring New Horizons Through Innovation and Technology."
The 2026 edition, held from 14 to 17 September, focuses on strengthening partnerships, restoring confidence and exploring future growth opportunities in travel and tourism, with the participation of destinations, tourism boards, airlines, hospitality brands, technology companies, buyers and industry professionals, according to a post on the exhibition's website.
The exhibition showcases a range of trends reshaping global tourism, including artificial intelligence, digital transformation, changing traveler expectations, destination resilience, smart mobility and sustainable long-term growth.
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director at RX Global in the UAE, said this year's edition marks an evolution for both the exhibition and the industry, with the launch of the co-located "Travel Tech" event, a wider focus on innovation and a conference program discussing the trends and opportunities shaping global tourism.
She added that the challenges the travel sector has faced in recent months have reinforced the importance of bringing the travel and tourism community together in person, supporting discussions, partnerships and the exploration of new opportunities during the exhibition.
The 2026 edition sees the first launch of "Travel Tech" as a specialized exhibition held alongside Arabian Travel Market, with more than 180 exhibitors from 30 countries across two dedicated halls.
The event brings together technology companies, innovators and industry pioneers to showcase solutions and partnerships for developing the travel ecosystem, while the 850 square meter "Technology and Innovation Hub" features applications in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, robotics, fintech and sustainable technologies.
The hub also hosts the "Future Stage," featuring technology leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators in sessions on artificial intelligence, automation, data, digital transformation, fintech, immersive technologies, robotics and next-generation travel platforms.
The stage program opens with Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni, Chief AI Officer at Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, who will speak on the role of artificial intelligence in reshaping the travel sector.
The program also features representatives of Sabre, Trip.com, Tripadvisor, Wego, MakeMyTrip, RateGain and Visa, discussing topics including agentic AI, the future of online travel agencies, investment and mergers, digital discovery and developments in the travel supply chain.
The Global Stage and the "Experience Hub" will host a number of industry leaders, policymakers, researchers and technology specialists over the four days of the exhibition.
The Global Stage program begins with a ministerial session titled "Building a Resilient Industry Through Collaboration," discussing restoring traveler confidence in the GCC, strengthening the region's global position and building a tourism sector better able to handle change.
The session features Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism; Shaikha Al Nowais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism; Fatima Jaafar Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism; and Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner.
The exhibition also features research organizations including Oxford Economics' Tourism Economics, Euromonitor International, STR and Dragon Trail International, presenting research and insights on changing market conditions and growth opportunities in tourism.
Research from the exhibition's partners points to continued resilience in travel demand, while innovation is giving destinations and companies new tools to respond to changing traveler expectations.
This year's edition also sees the launch of Arabian Travel Market's updated visual identity, as part of developing the event's brand and expanding its activity to connect travel communities, ideas and business opportunities year-round.
In its 33rd edition, Arabian Travel Market continues to bring together travel and tourism players from different markets to develop partnerships, share knowledge and explore business opportunities across the sector.
To view the post on the Arabian Travel Market website, click here.
