His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, toured the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025. He was accompanied by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, peesident of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chairman of Dubai Airports, and chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group.
Vision for a global hub
Speaking on the occasion, His Highness emphasized that the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, have established a solid foundation. This foundation strengthens the UAE’s status as a global hub for shaping the future, driving innovation, and forging partnerships that fuel sustainable growth across vital sectors.
During the visit, His Highness received a briefing on the highlights of the 2025 edition of ATM, which opened yesterday at the Dubai World Trade Centre and runs until May 1, 2025. As a leading global event for the travel and tourism industry, this year’s ATM has attracted approximately 2,800 exhibitors from 161 countries.
Bridging global markets
“The Arabian Travel Market has firmly established itself as a key event on the global tourism calendar. This year’s ATM once again reflects the UAE’s role in bridging global markets and shaping the future of global travel,” said His Highness Sheikh Hamdan. He noted that the exhibitions and conferences sector acts as a vital engine of the UAE’s economy, playing a crucial role in attracting investment, enabling knowledge exchange, and creating high-value opportunities across diverse industries.
“By continuing to invest in world-class infrastructure, fostering an agile legislative environment, and strengthening international partnerships, we are empowering this sector to accelerate sustainable economic growth and reinforce Dubai’s global competitiveness. We remain committed to positioning Dubai as a global hub for ideas, talent, and innovation, a place where visionary thinking creates new opportunities and drives progress,” he added.
Exploring opportunities
During his tour, His Highness visited several international pavilions, where participating countries showcased their tourism and travel offerings, as well as hospitality services. He noted that the Arabian Travel Market provides a platform for stakeholders across the travel and tourism ecosystem to explore collaboration opportunities and build partnerships that support industry growth.
Also accompanying His Highness on the tour were His Excellency Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications; His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, director general of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism; and His Excellency lieutenant general Mohammed Ahmed Almarri, director general of Dubai’s General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs.
Themed focus on connectivity
This year’s ATM has recorded a significant increase in international exhibitor participation, with a 20 percent rise from Asia, a 15 percent increase from the Middle East, more than 12 percent growth from Europe, and continued growth from Africa and the Americas.
Moreover, themed ‘Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow’s Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity’, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 spotlights the role of innovation, startups, and cross-sector collaboration in shaping the future of global tourism.
Bringing together professionals and leaders from across the global travel sector, including leisure, business events (MICE), luxury, and corporate travel, ATM 2025 features a record 2,800 exhibitors from 161 countries and is expected to welcome 55,000 attendees.
Arabian Travel Market 2025 is organized in partnership with the Dubai World Trade Centre, supported by key partners: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (Destination Partner), Emirates (Official Airline Partner), IHG Hotels & Resorts (Official Hotel Partner), and Al Rais Travel (Official Destination Management Partner).
Diverse topics addressed
The event features more than 200 speakers leading over 70 sessions across the Global Stage, Future Stage, and the newly launched Business Events Stage. The conference program will explore emerging trends, share global best practices, and discuss strategies to unlock new opportunities while addressing key industry challenges.
This year’s program covers a diverse range of topics, including the future of aviation, emerging trends in hospitality, climate action initiatives, and the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the sector.
