Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 kicked off today, uniting travel leaders to examine how major events and festivals are driving socio-economic growth in the UAE.
Experts from the UAE were joined by representatives from the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) on the Business Events Stage to explore how events are fostering socioeconomic growth and enhancing destination appeal across the Middle East region.
Key events shaping UAE’s cultural and economic landscape
Opening the session at Arabian Travel Market 2025, Ahmed Al-Khaja, CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, Dubai Economy and Tourism, elaborated on the pivotal role that festivals in Dubai have played in shaping the city’s cultural and economic landscape. Notably, he highlighted the Dubai Shopping Festival, which was launched in 1996, as a particularly influential event that not only attracts local residents but also draws tourists from around the world each year.
Commenting on the events strategy for Abu Dhabi, Mubarak Al Shamsi, director of Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Department of Culture and Tourism, said: “In recent years, Abu Dhabi has achieved remarkable success in hosting major exhibitions, conferences and events, delivering clear economic benefits. However, our strategy extends beyond numbers and is focused on creating a long-lasting legacy that aligns with Vision 2030, with a focus on advancing key sectors including healthcare, innovation, sustainability and energy.”
MICE segment drives surge in Ras Al Khaimah
Meanwhile, Iyad Rasbey, VP of destination tourism development, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, noted that events have been key to Ras Al Khaimah’s rising prominence: “Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) is an important segment and has contributed significantly to our growth. Last year, Ras Al Khaimah achieved 40 percent growth, with MICE being the fourth largest segment contributing to this.”
Rasbey added that it is vital for Ras Al Khaimah to secure events that contribute to growth and development. Examples of past events include the Global Citizen Forum, which attracted investors and high-net-worth individuals to the emirate. In terms of tourism growth, hosting the Arab Aviation Summit enabled the authority to connect Ras Al Khaimah International Airport with 11 cities globally.
Microtrends redefining travel
Elsewhere today, Arabian Travel Market 2025 featured Fouad Talat, regional manager at Booking.com, John Bevan, CEO of dnata Travel Group and Amani O’Neill, senior public policy manager of Middle East at Airbnb, who discussed the microtrends redefining travel.
During the engaging session, the speakers covered trends including sleep tourism, dark tourism and coffee tourism, outlining how these trends are impacting global travel behaviours and shaping the way destinations evolve and adapt.
During the discussion, the speakers discussed how tourism providers should adjust their marketing strategies to align with these trends and provided practical applications for incorporating microtrends into long-term planning.
Read: Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 opens with AI and luxury focus, 55,000+ expected
Business Events Stage to host exclusive networking session
Tomorrow at Arabian Travel Market 2025, the Business Events Stage will host an exclusive networking session where participants will have the opportunity to engage with prominent international and regional associations to foster strategic relationships, unlock collaboration opportunities and exchange high-value business leads.
This week, Arabian Travel Market 2025 will showcase 2,800 exhibitors and is expected to host 55,000 attendees from around the world. Attendees will have the opportunity to gain insights from over 200 high-profile speakers across more than 70 conference sessions on the Global Stage, Future Stage and the new Business Events Stage and connect with industry professionals from over 161 countries.
