The 32nd edition of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM 2025) kicks off today at the Dubai World Trade Centre, uniting over 2,800 exhibitors and more than 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries. Highlighting its growing significance in the global tourism landscape, international exhibitors represent 67 percent of the companies showcased at the event, while exhibitors from the Middle East account for 33 percent this year.
Exploring the theme of enhanced connectivity
Under the theme “Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow’s Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity,” ATM 2025 explores how the future of tourism will be influenced by connectivity across borders, industries, and communities. The event will emphasize how connectivity fosters a more sustainable, inclusive, and globally integrated travel industry, with discussions occurring throughout the show floor, including at the insightful ATM Conference and targeted networking sessions.
Danielle Curtis, exhibition director for the Middle East at Arabian Travel Market, stated: “ATM 2025 is on track to break records in terms of both attendance and exhibitor participation. This week, we look forward to welcoming travel professionals from all travel sectors and verticals, including the leisure, business events, luxury, and corporate travel sectors.”
Expanding the event to meet growing interest
To accommodate increasing interest in ATM, two additional halls have been added this year, and the ATM Conference Programme will be delivered across three dynamic content stages: the Global Stage, Future Stage, and Business Events Stage. Curtis expressed particular enthusiasm for IBTM@ATM, a dedicated business events zone, and ATM Travel Tech, which highlights the transformative impact of technology on the future of the industry.
Asia’s rapid growth at ATM
Asia stands out as the fastest-growing region at ATM, with exhibitor participation surging by an impressive 20 percent year-on-year. This growth can be attributed to enhanced regional connectivity and strengthened relationships with international markets. ATM will showcase a diverse array of Asian destinations, including Japan, Macao, the Maldives, Mauritius, South Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, reflecting the region’s increasing influence in global travel.
Moreover, as India’s tourism industry experiences notable growth, the country’s participation at ATM has increased by 30 percent this year. This rise is driven by a strong presence from regional tourism boards including Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, as well as airline carriers such as Air India and Air India Express.
Visitor registrations highlight global appeal
International markets represent over 52 percent of visitor registrations, with UAE and GCC visitors contributing significantly, accounting for 48 percent of the total. The top five registered international markets for ATM 2025 are India, Egypt, the UK, Türkiye, and the USA, underscoring the event’s widespread appeal across key global markets.
Philip M. Barnes, chief executive officer of Rotana, remarked, “Once again, Rotana is delighted to be the official registration partner for ATM. As a homegrown brand, Rotana views ATM as an exciting opportunity to showcase the region and our strong partnerships within the industry.”
Emphasizing technology and innovation
Reflecting the travel industry’s total convergence with technology and innovation, ATM Travel Tech is larger than ever, with a 23 percent increase in the number of products presented. This rapidly growing segment runs parallel to ATM, offering valuable insights into the innovative technologies shaping the travel and hospitality sector, featuring thought-provoking discussions on the Future Stage, and spanning both Hall 1 and Za’abeel Hall 3 at this year’s event.
Keynote session by AI expert
On the opening day of ATM, Cassie Kozyrkov, CEO of Kozyr and Google’s first chief decision scientist, will lead an insightful session on the Future Stage titled “AI adoption: From Buzzwords to Business Strategy.” She will explore the challenges organizations face with AI adoption and discuss the implications of AI for the future.
Showcasing the next wave of travel innovators
ATM Travel Tech will introduce the new Start-Up and Innovation Zone, showcasing the next wave of travel pioneers and providing an immersive VR experience that promises to offer visitors a fresh perspective on industry possibilities. For the fourth consecutive year, ATM will host the Start-Up Pitch Battle, highlighting the most innovative minds in the Middle East.
Launch of IBTM@ATM
A significant highlight of ATM 2025 is the launch of IBTM@ATM, a dedicated zone designed to connect business event buyers with a variety of exhibitors, including venues, hotels, convention bureaus, tourism boards, and airlines. Central to this feature is the Business Events Stage, which will host a series of insightful sessions throughout the show, exploring strategies to unlock growth and opportunities in business events and corporate travel.
Read more | ATM 2025: Saudi Arabia to showcase record tourism growth with 16 percent more exhibitors
Delivering industry insights
More than just a networking event, the renowned ATM Conference will provide the latest industry insights from over 200 experts across three content stages: the Global Stage, the Future Stage, and the Business Events Stage.
Highlights on the Business Events Stage will include a formal welcome from Senthil Gopinath, CEO of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). This will be followed by a session on how global events and festivals drive socio-economic growth, featuring speakers from ICCA, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, and the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO).
Additionally, the Arabia China Tourism (MICE) Forum will take place on the Business Events Stage, featuring panellists from China’s outbound travel businesses and MENA DMCs, discussing the latest trends in Chinese outbound travel and the growing interest of Chinese visitors in MENA and beyond for both business and leisure.
Meanwhile, experts from Booking.com, dnata Travel Group, and Airbnb will gather on the Future Stage to outline the microtrends redefining travel. On the Global Stage, senior representatives from Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Rotana Hotels, Sabre Hospitality, and RAK Properties will discuss how top hoteliers in the region are transforming their brands to deliver meaningful, immersive experiences.
Held in conjunction with the Dubai World Trade Centre, ATM’s strategic partners include the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) as Destination Partner, Emirates as Official Airline Partner, IHG Hotels & Resorts as Official Hotel Partner, and Al Rais Travel as Official DMC Partner.
