Preparedness and multilateral collaboration were at the top of the agenda on the opening day of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, as policymakers from the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe and the United Nations (UN) examined the resilience and long-term trajectory of the GCC’s tourism industry. The 33rd edition of ATM is being hosted at Dubai World Trade Centre until Thursday 17 September. H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Cabinet Member and Minister, Economy and Tourism, and H.E. Shaikha Al Nuwais, Secretary-General, UN Tourism, took to ATM 2026’s Global Stage to deliver welcome addresses on day one of the event, following opening remarks from Hugh Jones, CEO, RX Global.

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 officially opened its Future Stage today, with industry leaders examining how artificial intelligence (AI) is moving beyond personalisation, chatbots and automated customer service to reshape the underlying systems on which the global travel industry operates. Located within the Tech & Innovation Hub at the newly launched ATM Travel Tech, Rachel Travers, President, UK Hub at RX Global, officially opened the Future Stage and welcomed attendees to four days of discussions on the technologies, ideas and innovations transforming the global travel industry.

The German National Tourist Office GCC (GNTO GCC) has today announced that the number of overnight stays by GCC visitors to Germany has grown steadily since 2022 to 1.2 million in 2025, an increase of 9%, while GCC travellers spent a total of €3 billion, over 30% more than the average expenditure of all overseas visitors to Germany in 2025.  The announcement was made during a press conference on the opening day of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, taking place from 14–17 September 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

Marking its 16th consecutive year at the Arabian Travel Market, Hospitality Management Holding (HMH) continues to demonstrate that cultural authenticity and sharp operational discipline are the true cornerstones of sustainable hospitality. In a regional market marked by rapid transformation and shifting traveller expectations, our sustained presence at ATM represents more than institutional longevity, it reflects an enduring commitment to authentic Emirati hospitality paired with the commercial precision required to lead in a dynamic industry.

There are few places in the United Arab Emirates where the landscape still seems to belong to the birds, the fishermen and the tides. In Umm Al Quwain, the pace changes almost immediately. The towers recede, the roads become quieter and the coastline opens into a world of lagoons, mangroves and islands, where the Gulf seems less like a backdrop and more like the reason for being here. It is precisely this sense of escape that makes Umm Al Quwain increasingly intriguing — and at the 2026 World Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony in Dubai, the emirate received an important vote of confidence when Flamingo Beach Hotel was named Umm Al Quwain’s Leading Hotel 2026.

There is a different rhythm to Fujairah. Beyond the glass towers and manicured avenues of the UAE’s better-known cities, the landscape rises dramatically into the Hajar Mountains, while the Gulf of Oman stretches out towards the horizon. It is a side of the Emirates that feels wilder, more elemental and, increasingly, rather irresistible. At last night’s World Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony at One&Only One Za’abeel in Dubai, Fujairah received international recognition for precisely those qualities, collecting five emirate-level awards across its hotels, resorts and travel industry. The ceremony, held on 13 September, brought together the region’s leading tourism and hospitality names, with Fujairah emerging with a particularly compelling collection of victories.

For years, Ajman was the emirate that many travellers passed through rather than travelled to. Smaller, quieter and considerably less showy than Dubai, it occupied a curious place in the UAE’s tourism story: close enough to the country’s major attractions to be convenient, yet sufficiently removed from the international spotlight to retain a character of its own. That perception is changing. At the World Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony, held at One&Only One Za’abeel in Dubai on 13 September, Ajman was named Middle East’s Leading Emerging Tourism Destination 2026 — a prestigious regional accolade that places the emirate firmly among the destinations to watch.