Ahmed bin Saeed opens Arabian Travel Market 2021

- This year’s ATM is world’s first in-person international travel trade event in 18 months
- Being held from 16 - 19 May, this year’s event has attracted 1,300 exhibitors from 62 countries

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group and Chairman of Dubai World, officially inaugurated Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2021 today, marking the start of the 28th edition of the Middle East’s largest travel and tourism exhibition.

Speaking on the occasion of the event’s opening, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed said: “The exceptional response that this year’s in-person Arabian Travel Market has received from the international travel and tourism industry is a testimony to its confidence in Dubai’s ability to ensure the highest global benchmarks of health and safety. The organisation of the event is aligned with the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to provide a focal point for markets across the world to engage in industry dialogue and knowledge exchange. ATM 2021 further raises Dubai’s profile not only as a safe destination for international industry events but also as a key player in shaping the future of the travel and tourism sector in a post-pandemic world.”

HH Sheikh Ahmed was joined by Claude Blanc, WTM & IBTM Portfolio Director; Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director Middle East ATM; HE Helal Saeed Al Marri, CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Director General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), and other dignitaries who embarked on a tour of the show floor as the four-day event got underway at DWTC.

Taking place from 16 - 19 May, this year’s event has 1,300 exhibitors from 62 countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Germany, Cyprus, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, the Maldives, the Philippines, Thailand, Mexico and the US.

Themed ‘A New Dawn for Travel & Tourism’, ATM 2021’s show is spread across nine halls of the Dubai World Trade Centre. Consistent with existing density restrictions and social distancing guidelines and regulations, there will be a maximum of 11,000 people in the halls at any given time.

The event will once again play an integral role in Arabian Travel Week, a 10-day long festival of travel and tourism events taking place physically in Dubai and online. In addition to the in-person Arabian Travel Market, the travel events that are part of Arabian Travel Week include the travel technology exhibition Travel Forward, ARIVAL Dubai for the tours and attractions sector, GBTA’s half day virtual business travel conference, ITIC’s Middle East Tourism Investment Summit and regionally focused buyer groups including China, in addition to ATM Virtual, the online edition of the ATM exhibition.

This year, for the first time in ATM history, as part of a new hybrid format, a virtual ATM running a week later, from 24-26 May, will help the event reach a wider audience than ever before. ATM Virtual, which made its debut last year, proved to be a resounding success attracting 12,000 online attendees from 140 countries.