·
Affluent travellers in the Middle East are fuelling
record growth in luxury tourism by seeking experiences that combine innovation,
sustainability, and cultural significance
· At ATM 2026, ultra-luxury goes
beyond hospitality to showcase innovations in private aviation, yachting, and
lifestyle design, reflecting
the blurring of lines between travel, lifestyle, and technology
· The ATM Ultra Luxury Lounge will
create an exclusive environment for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth
individuals to connect with prestigious world-class travel brands
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 28 October 2025:
Advanced technology, cultural authenticity and hyper-personalisation are coming
together to create experiences that transcend traditional definitions of
luxury. Once synonymous with comfort and exclusivity, today’s ultra-luxury offers
transformation through access and meaningful experiences, blending technology,
privacy and sustainability.
This evolution will be explored in detail at Arabian Travel Market
(ATM) 2026, taking place at the Dubai
World Trade Centre from 4–7 May. Under the theme ‘Travel 2040:
Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology’, the event will
explore how innovation and individuality are redefining the global ultra-luxury
travel landscape. Central to this conversation will be the debut of the ATM
Ultra Luxury Lounge, an exclusive space that will connect buyers that focus on
ultra-high-net-worth travellers with prestigious, world-class travel brands.
Research from Fortune Business Insights indicates that the
value of the global luxury travel market, characterised by premium and
tailor-made experiences focused on exclusivity, luxurious comfort, personalised
service, and enhanced privacy – trademarks of ultra-luxury travel – will grow from
US$2.7 trillion in 2025 to US$4.8 trillion by 2032.
Reflecting these trends, the ATM Ultra Luxury Lounge marks
the beginning of a multi-year focus on the evolving intersection between ultra
luxury, technology, and sustainability. It will bring together leading global
brands and specialists in high-end travel, including bespoke tour designers,
private jet operators – a market expected to top US$943 million by 2029
according to advisory firm Creative Zone.
The dedicated space will serve as a showcase for
ultra-luxury experiences, enabling suppliers to meet qualified luxury travel
buyers through an exclusive appointments programme.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME,
Arabian Travel Market, said: “While luxury travel
remains one of ATM’s strongest growth pillars, ultra-luxury is emerging as the
next frontier, reflecting the region’s maturing market and high-spending
audience. To meet this growing demand, we have created the ATM Ultra Luxury
Lounge, an exclusive space designed to connect ultra-luxury brands with buyers
serving high-net-worth travellers, elevating their ATM experience through
curated, high-value networking and collaboration opportunities.
“Ambitious projects such as Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea
developments, the forthcoming Cheval Blanc in Dubai, which will be located on Naïa
Island, and the private island-based Bvlgari Resort & Mansions in Abu
Dhabi, combined with increasing interest in private jet purchases and rentals
in the region, all underscore the demand within this sector.”
In addition to a keen focus on the ultra-luxury segment, ATM
2026 will continue to shine a light on luxury hospitality brands such as Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts,
Jumeirah International, and One & Only, as well as some of the world’s
top-rated luxury destinations, such as the Maldives and Mauritius, who have
become a prominent part of the growing segment amongst the hospitality brands
on showcase at ATM.
According to the ATM Travel Trends Report 2025,
developed in partnership with Tourism Economics, luxury travel remains robust,
with high-end and experiential segments outperforming global growth. Outbound
regional luxury travel is rising at twice the global average, while Tourism
Economics’ datasets show that travellers from the Middle East spend 50% more
per trip than the global average, reinforcing the region’s position as both a
key luxury destination and source market.
The trends that are positively impacting the sector have
been outlined by luxury DMC, Experium, in their Top 10 Luxury Travel Trends
Transforming the Middle East in 2025. At the core of this is sustainability,
wellness, and tech-enhanced luxury, which are all reshaping the definition and
consumption of luxury. Today’s travellers are moving beyond opulence to seek purpose-driven,
conscious luxury that connects them with destinations, communities, and
personal wellbeing.
“Luxury travel is no longer defined by opulence alone, but
by purpose, connection, and transformation. Today’s discerning travellers are
seeking experiences that are not only exclusive but also meaningful, journeys
that enrich their wellbeing, reflect their values, and deepen their connection
with the world around them. As this evolution continues, the Middle East stands
at the forefront of this shift, shaping a new era of luxury that balances
innovation, authenticity, and conscious design,” added Curtis.
As the region continues to elevate global travel standards,
the 33rd edition of Arabian Travel Market will reinforce Dubai’s
position as a hub for innovation, collaboration and investment in the future of
tourism. Through features such as the Ultra Luxury Lounge, IBTM@ATM and ATM
Travel Tech with its new Tech and Innovation hub, ATM 2026 will showcase
how the industry is evolving to meet the needs of new traveller segments, while
strengthening connections between destinations, buyers and brands that are
shaping the next chapter of global travel.
The latest ATM
news stories are available at https://hub.wtm.com/category/press/atm-press-releases/.
Register
your interest to attend: Register for ATM updates.
Enquire
to exhibit: Exhibitor Enquiry for Arabian Travel Market.
For more information, log on to wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html.
About
ATM
Now
in its 33rd year, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is the leading global
platform driving growth and innovation across every sector of the travel and
tourism industry. Held annually in Dubai – the gateway to global travel and
tourism with its unmatched connectivity – ATM is where the energy of
opportunity comes to life.
More than just an event, ATM is a dynamic hub for
industry communities, featuring forums, experiences, and networking
opportunities that continue well beyond the show floor throughout the week. Now
in a period of rapid expansion, ATM has grown 16% year-over-year, attracting
over 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries.
About
IBTM @ ATM
IBTM
@ ATM is the dedicated business events hub within Arabian Travel Market (ATM),
connecting the global meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE)
community with the Middle East’s rapidly expanding meetings and mega events
sector.
The
feature brings together association planners, conference organisers, corporate
buyers, and incentive agencies with destinations, venues, DMCs, and business
event suppliers specialising in world-class events. With a comprehensive hosted
buyer programme, targeted networking, pre-scheduled appointments, and a
dedicated Business Events Stage featuring expert-led sessions, IBTM @ ATM is
the essential platform for driving innovation, collaboration, and growth across
the global meetings industry.
About
ATM Travel Tech
ATM
Travel Tech is the premier co-located technology event within Arabian Travel
Market (ATM), dedicated to showcasing the groundbreaking innovations set to
transform global travel by 2040.
ATM
Travel Tech will feature more than 180 exhibitors from 30 countries across two
dedicated halls, providing a dynamic platform for the technologies,
partnerships, and ideas shaping the future of travel.
At
its core, the Tech & Innovation Hub spans 850m², offering immersive demos
in AI, VR and AR, robotics, fintech, and green technologies. The Future Stage
will bring together global tech leaders, entrepreneurs, and futurists to
discuss artificial intelligence, immersive commerce, cybersecurity, and
sustainability, alongside the Start-up Pitch Battle. Evolving from ATM’s
fastest-growing sector, ATM Travel Tech provides a dynamic platform driving the
future of travel technology.
The next edition of ATM will take place in Dubai from 4–7
May 2026.
https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html
About RX
RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging
industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals,
communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 42
industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually.
RX is committed
to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers
businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions.
RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and
decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information,
visit www.rxglobal.com.
About RELX
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and
decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers
in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs
more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of
RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York
stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam:
REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at http://www.relx.com/investors
World
Travel Market
(WTM)
portfolio comprises leading travel events and online portals across four
continents. The events are:
WTM
London
is the world’s most influential travel & tourism event for the global
travel community. The show is the ultimate destination for those seeking a
macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces
shaping it. WTM London is where influential travel leaders, buyers and
high-profile travel companies gather to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and
accelerate business outcomes.
Next
event: 4 to 6 November 2025 at ExCel London.
http://london.wtm.com/
WTM Latin America takes place annually in the
city of São Paulo and attracts around 20,000 tourism professionals during the
three-day event. The event offers qualified content together with networking
and business opportunities. In this its ninth edition – there have been eight
face-to-face events along with a 100% virtual one, which was held in 2021 – WTM
Latin America continued to focus on effective business generation, and achieved
the advance booking of six thousand meetings that were held between buyers,
travel agents and exhibitors in 2022.
Next event: 14 to 16 April 2026
– Expo Center Norte, SP, Brazil.
http://latinamerica.wtm.com/
WTM Africa launched in 2014 in
Cape Town, South Africa. In 2022, WTM Africa facilitated more than 7
thousand unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 7%
compared to 2019 and welcomed more than 6 thousand visitors (unaudited), the
same number as in 2019.
Next event: 13 to 15 April
2026 – Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town http://africa.wtm.com/
About ATW Connect: Africa Travel Week’s digital arm, is a
virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and
insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in
our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim to keep all of us in the
travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and
outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the
MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology.
https://atwconnect.com/
WTM Global Hub, is the WTM Portfolio online portal
created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world.
The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors,
buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global
coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of
experts to create content for the hub. https://hub.wtm.com/