The Arabian Travel Market 2026, scheduled to take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 4 to 7, will highlight both the aviation and cruise sectors within the Middle East as they experience significant global expansion, further establishing the region as a key hub for international travel.
According to the Travel Trends Report for 2025, released by the Arabian Travel Market in collaboration with Tourism Economics, part of Oxford Economics, there is an anticipated growth in air travel demand in the Middle East by 23% between 2025 and 2030, driven by ambitious national tourism strategies, record airport performance, and unprecedented investments in aircraft across Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Middle East airlines collectively account for 12% of the total global orders for new, undelivered aircraft, with carriers from GCC nations making up 93% of these orders, as per the report.
Daniel Curtis, the Exhibition Director for the Middle East at Arabian Travel Market, stated that airlines in the region connect hundreds of destinations across six continents, cementing its status as one of the most strategically connected aviation hubs in the world.
This unique connectivity is expected to accelerate the growth of inbound and outbound tourism, enhance global trade corridors, support business events, and deepen cultural exchanges among markets.
Furthermore, the Arabian Travel Market 2026 will showcase the full extent of this global network, providing an ideal platform for aviation leaders to outline the next phase of fleet expansion, smart mobility, and sustainable growth, expressing anticipation for a new era in travel.
The session titled “Aviation Outlook 2030: Networks, Fleet Future, and Mobility” will delve deeper into the aviation sector’s prospects, alongside another discussion titled “The State of Travel: Inflation, Multiple Crises, and the New Travel Reality.”
Future-focused sessions on topics such as “Automation in Aviation: A Smarter Sky, Enhanced Cabins, and Lounges” and “The Business Case for Flexible Booking” will explore how advancements in artificial intelligence, biometric data, and next-generation aircraft are transforming the traveler experience.
According to the event organizers, the cruise sector is also witnessing remarkable growth. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) forecasts that global cruise passenger numbers will reach 42 million by 2028, up from 34.6 million in 2024.
Insights into the cruise sector will be shared during the global platform through events like “Cruise Insights: Implications for the Blue Economy” and the panel discussion “Cruise Leaders: Mapping the Industry,” featuring contributions from Oxford Economics, Ian Consulting, Celestial Cruises, Inship Shipping Services, and TUI Cruises.
Expecting to attract over 55,000 travel professionals and more than 2,800 exhibiting companies from 166 countries, the Arabian Travel Market 2026 aims to explore the future of travel under the theme “Travel 2040: Leading New Horizons Through Innovation and Technology,” highlighting growth trends and innovations that will shape the next chapter of the sector.