Attendance at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 in Dubai grew by 16% year-on-year, with more than 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries attending the event held from September 14 to 17 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The trade show featured over 210 government and private-sector speakers participating in more than 80 sessions across sectors including airlines, destinations, hotels, and travel technology.
Gulf airlines are actively restoring their networks following months of disruptions caused by regional conflict. Emirates operated at approximately 93% of its pre-disruption capacity after transporting over 8.6 million passengers in July and August 2026, with stronger
demand noted from markets such as India, South Africa, Brazil, and Egypt. Flydubai was at about 85% network capacity and aims to reach full operational capacity by the end of 2026, while Etihad Airways reported available seat kilometres 15% to 17% higher than the previous year and an August load factor of 92%.
Dubai’s tourism metrics reflect recovery momentum. The city welcomed around 869,000 international overnight visitors in August 2026, its highest monthly total since February 2026, contributing to a total of 6.97 million international visitors during the first eight months of the year. Hotel occupancy in Dubai rose from
36% in March to 66% in August, supported by a room inventory of approximately 149,000 across the emirate. Hotels recorded 21.61 million occupied room nights in the first eight months of 2026. Dubai International Airport handled 31.5 million passengers in the first half of 2026, with monthly passenger volumes increasing from 3.5 million in April to 5 million by June. Dubai Airports has adjusted its full-year passenger forecast to about 70 million due to ongoing disruptions.
The disruptions that led to these recovery efforts stem from regional conflict, which caused flight network interruptions and airspace restrictions. Originally scheduled for May,
ATM 2026 was postponed to September by organiser RX to ensure participant safety and provide certainty amid unstable conditions. Travel advisories and operational constraints persist, impacting airline scheduling and travel planning.
ATM 2026 also emphasized technology advances in the tourism sector. The event’s Travel Tech segment hosted over 180 exhibitors from 30 countries across two halls and included an 850-square-meter Tech & Innovation Hub featuring artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, robotics, fintech, and green technology. The focus has shifted toward integrating AI-driven distribution, automation, payments, and personalisation as standard operational tools rather than experimental technologies.
Trade professionals continue to
navigate challenges from late booking patterns and ongoing travel restrictions. Airlines report increased passenger bookings closer to departure dates, reflecting uncertainty in regional conditions. Forecasting and contract negotiations for travel agencies and corporate clients remain complicated due to these factors, despite gradual improvements in connectivity and capacity.
