Middle East Tourism Shifts From Resilience to Rebound at Arabian Travel Market 2026
Tourism leaders at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 in Dubai said the region is moving past a difficult year into a new phase of growth. UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri summed up the mood as the show closed: “We’re taking off.” He said hotel occupancy across the seven emirates had climbed to around 68% by the end of August, and credited hotel operators with holding prices steady during the uncertainty.
The ATM Travel Trends Report backs this optimism. It forecasts that international visitor spending across the wider MENASA region will rise by US$116 billion, or 57%, between 2025 and 2030, with international travel in the region growing 17% in 2027 against 8% globally.
Domestic travel has supported the recovery. Abu Dhabi reported more than 3.4 million hotel guests through August, with occupancy around 70%. Airlines are also expanding. Etihad said it had hired more than 600 people this year, added aircraft and raised capacity by 15%. It plans four new destinations in China and four in Africa, with another 15 aircraft due in the second half of 2026.
