The Arabian Travel Market (ATM) opened its doors for the first time in May 1994 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

It was established during the pivotal era when Dubai made a strategic national pivot: preparing for an economic future beyond oil by transforming the emirate into the aviation, luxury, and tourism crossroads of the world. ATM was engineered to be the premier platform to showcase Dubai to the world while opening an international gateway for Middle Eastern travelers.

2. The Organizers and Government Backing

  • Organizer: ATM is owned and organized by RX Global (formerly known as Reed Exhibitions), one of the world’s largest commercial event producers, and forms the cornerstone Middle East show within the World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio.

  • Strategic Partners: The event is organized in direct alliance with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the Emirates Group / Emirates Airline, and the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). It is officially patronized by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

3. Growth and Scale

  • The 1994 Debut: The inaugural 1994 event covered just 2,000 square meters of exhibition floor space, featuring 300 exhibitors from 52 nations and welcoming approximately 7,000 visitors. (In 1995, ATM held a single edition in Bahrain before returning permanently to Dubai in 1996).

  • The Modern Giant: Now in its 33rd edition (September 2026), ATM is one of the top three travel trade exhibitions on earth. It occupies over 25,000 to 30,000 square meters across multiple DWTC exhibition halls, hosting over 47,000 industry professionals, 2,600+ exhibiting organizations, and delegates representing more than 160 nations. It directly facilitates between $2.5 billion and $3 billion in commercial contracts and bilateral tourism deals annually.

4. Traditional Venue

ATM is held annually at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), located on Sheikh Zayed Road in the commercial heart of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

5. Signature Pillars and Highlights

  • The Future Stage & Travel Tech: A massive technology pavilion dedicated to the digital architecture of travel. It showcases generative AI, biometric boarding, predictive passenger booking, blockchain hotel distribution, and automated guest service solutions.

  • Travel 2040 Vision: High-level ministerial sessions where aviation authorities, transport heads, and global hotel CEOs outline the next 20 years of infrastructure, smart airports, high-speed rail, and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).

  • ATM Buyers Club: A vetted VIP network of elite corporate buyers, luxury travel designers, and meeting/event planners who conduct pre-scheduled, closed-door B2B deal-making sessions.

  • ILTM Arabia (International Luxury Travel Market): An exclusive show-within-a-show focusing strictly on ultra-high-net-worth travel, private aviation, luxury retreats, and bespoke experiential hospitality.

  • Sustainability & Net-Zero Pledges: Extensive tracking of eco-friendly hospitality, carbon-neutral resorts, and sustainable destination governance across the Middle East and beyond.

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