With over 2,300 exhibitors from 165 countries in attendance, the largest-ever Arabian Travel Market opened its doors on Monday in Dubai and was inaugurated by Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airlines.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, inaugurated the 31st Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in Dubai on Monday.

According to the organisers, the 31st edition is the largest-ever ATM to have taken place and it features 2,300 exhibitors from 165 countries, with around 41,000 visitors expected to attend the event. 

In a press statement, the organisers say that having launched in 1994 with 300 exhibitors and 7,000 trade visitors, ATM has now established itself as a globally renowned event integrating all travel sectors and verticals, from MICE to leisure and luxury hospitality, to corporate travel. Exhibitor participation has increased by 26 pc this year, with growth recorded across all event verticals, say the organisers.

During the opening, Al Maktoum said that the massive interest generated amongst ATM 2024 attendees reaffirmed Dubai’s standing as a major destination for tourism and travel in the region, highlighting its role in shaping the future of the industry by bringing together leaders of allied sectors from around the world.

He later toured various pavilions at the exhibition. He was accompanied by Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, Hilal Saeed Al Marri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, Danielle Curtis, Director of the Arabian Travel Market in the Middle East, and several top officials and leaders representing the travel and tourism industry at the regional and global levels.

ATM 2024 is focussing on the theme, Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship, spotlighting visionary entrepreneurs in aviation, hotels, hospitality, and public attractions, and underscoring their transformative role in the future of the sector. 

The statement adds that the four-day conference agenda features 200 speakers across more than 50 sessions on two main stages – the Global Stage and the new Future Stage. The Global Stage will host daily summits exploring entrepreneurship, developing markets, sustainability, and luxury, while the Future Stage will be the home of all innovation-related content, covering topics such as AI, NextGen destinations, travel technology, and future trend forecasts. 

The statement adds that ATM 2024 is part of Arabian Travel Week, a ten-day-long festival of travel and tourism events that take place in Dubai. In addition to ATM, other events that are part of Arabian Travel Week are the ATM Start-up competition, ATM Travel Tech, GBTA Business Travel Forums and Buyer Networking.