14 – 17 September 2026, DWTC
ATM 2026 set to strengthen partnerships, reinforce confidence
and shape the future of global travel when it returns to Dubai next week
RX Global hosted the official press conference for Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 alongside its strategic partners, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Emirates, IHG Hotels & Resorts and Al Rais Travel, ahead of the 33rd edition taking place 14–17 September 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai.
Held under the theme “Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology,” ATM 2026 will bring together destinations, tourism authorities, airlines, hotels, travel technology companies and industry professionals to explore the future of global travel, strengthen commercial relationships and address the sector’s evolving priorities following a period of disruption and uncertainty.
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director – UAE, RX Global, highlighted the importance of flexibility, collaboration and supporting customers and partners as the industry adapts to changing circumstances. H.E. Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), part of DET, emphasised Dubai’s role as a global meeting point and the importance of ATM in strengthening international partnerships, accelerating innovation and supporting the goals of Dubai’s D33 economic agenda.
Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates, underlined ATM’s role in deepening partnerships, creating new business opportunities and developing joint tourism initiatives and specialised traveller segments. Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG Hotels & Resorts, highlighted the Middle East’s strong tourism and hospitality fundamentals, stressing the growing importance of technology and data in understanding travellers, reducing friction and creating more relevant experiences.
Mohamed Al Rais, Executive Director of Al Rais Travel, highlighted the company’s nearly five decades of experience and its focus on combining personal service with technology. At ATM 2026, Al Rais Travel will launch its new AlRaisTravel.com platform, incorporating Voice AI and Chat AI, while also expanding its medical-tourism offering through connections with healthcare providers worldwide.
The event will also place a major focus on technology through the launch of ATM Travel Tech, a dedicated co-located exhibition with Sabre as its strategic partner, alongside the Tech & Innovation Hub, showcasing developments in artificial intelligence, immersive technology, robotics, fintech and smart mobility. Ramzi Al-Qassab, Managing Director for META, EE, CIS and PK at Sabre, highlighted the need for the industry to balance current economic and geopolitical uncertainty with the opportunities created by technology and data.
The ATM 2026 conference programme, across the Global Stage, Future Stage and Experience Hub, will bring together policymakers, tourism leaders, researchers and technology specialists to discuss artificial intelligence, destination resilience, hospitality, aviation, luxury travel, accessibility, sustainability, investment and business events. Research from official knowledge partners including Tourism Economics, Euromonitor International and Dragon Trail International will support the programme.
Jonathan Heastie, Portfolio Director – Travel Sector at RX Global, reinforced ATM’s commitment to evolving with the travel industry and delivering value to its customers, with the 2026 theme reflecting the sector’s focus on both immediate challenges and the innovation and opportunities shaping travel towards 2040.
