History of the Show

ATM launched with 2,000 square metres of floor space covered in its first year. The show was attended by 300 exhibitors and 7,000 visitors – including 2,500 consumer

ATM moved to Bahrain International Exhibition Centre - this was the only time the show was staged outside Dubai.

ATM launches the hosted Meridian Club, an exclusive club for senior travel buyers. Meridian Club is now called ATM Buyers' Club.

ATM celebrated the 10th anniversary edition of the show with 783 exhibitors and 12,111 visitors. A total of 695 journalists covered the show along with 982 VIP guests arriving onsite.

ATM 2007 featured a host of initiatives, including an expanded seminar programme, an upgraded media centre and a new dedicated area for travel technology. The show occupied 24,600 m2 and boasted nearly 2,600 exhibitors.

The launch of the ATM and UNWTO Industry Forum took place. Over 17,500 visitors attended the show with Buyers Club attendance increasing by 38%.

A milestone year for ATM which recorded a 14% increase in total overall attendance.

The 22nd edition of Arabian Travel Market was the most successful to date. ATM goes from strength to strength with 2015 recording a 15% increase in influential visitors and generating $2.5 billion in industry deals.

Arabian Travel Market celebrated its 25th anniversary at the show in 2018.

Addressing the opportunities and challenges directly impacting the travel and tourism industry amid the COVID-19 global health pandemic and beyond, ATM VIrtual is launched, attracting 12,000 attendess from 140 countries around the world with over 11,000 video meetings and more than 24,000 webinar views over the course of three days.  

The theme for ATM 2021 was Reuniting the Travel Trade Industry 2021 saw us launch our first ever hybrid Arabian Travel Market event, with an in-person show successfully taking place in Dubai from 16 -19 May and then ATM Virtual taking place the following week from 24 - 26 May, so that people who couldn’t travel could still experience the show.

ATM ran a hybrid event once again in 2022 with the live event taking place from the 9 – 12 May and the virtual event taking place from 17 – 18 May 2022. The tourism destinations from around the world once again united in Dubai to showcase their brand and exhibit at the show along with the biggest names in accommodation and hospitality, renowned tourism destinations and attractions, innovative travel technology providers and airlines.

More than 40,000 people attended the 30th edition of Arabian Travel Market from 1 – 4 May, establishing a new record for the show and demonstrating that the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector is booming. In line with ATM 2023’s theme, ‘Working Towards Net Zero’, more than 2,100 exhibitors and representatives from over 150 countries gathered at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) to explore how the industry can ensure sustainable travel for future generations.

Arabian Travel Market highlighted the theme "Empowering Innovation - Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship," emphasising the evolution of sustainable travel trends and strategies for growth. The event attracted over 47,000 attendees from 161 countries, underscoring its international influence. The focus on innovation and entrepreneurship served as catalysts for sustainable initiatives, reinforcing ATM's pivotal role in shaping the future of the travel industry through dynamic engagement and forward-thinking strategies, showcasing 2,600 Exhibitors.