Preparedness and multilateral collaboration dominated the opening day of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 in Dubai, as policymakers and tourism leaders from the Gulf, Europe, Central Asia and the United Nations examined the resilience and long-term prospects of the region’s tourism industry.

The 33rd edition of ATM is being held at Dubai World Trade Centre through September 17 under the theme “Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology”, focusing on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, smart mobility and changing traveller expectations.

UAE Cabinet Member and Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla Al Marri and UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nuwais delivered opening-day addresses on the Global Stage following remarks by Hugh Jones, CEO of RX Global.

Discussing the UAE’s response to recent geopolitical challenges, Al Marri said: “Everyone talks about tourism resiliency; I talk about tourism foundations. Because what has been built over the last 50 years is the foundation of what we [have seen in recent] months. We saw the storm, we were in the middle of the storm, and we managed to manoeuvre ourselves perfectly.”

Al Nuwais stressed the importance of preparation and cooperation in managing future crises. “The countries that handle crises best are the ones that prepare before they happen, and I’m sure you will all agree with me on that. They build relationships early, they share information and they build trust – and that matters enormously.”

“When the next challenge comes, we are ready,” Al Nuwais continued. “Ready because we learned. Ready because we already knew who to call. Ready because we built [resilience] together long before we needed it. And that is the resilience I believe this region can show the world.”

The opening addresses were followed by a ministerial debate featuring Al Marri, Bahrain Tourism Minister Fatima Jaafar Al Sairafi, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas and Uzbekistan Tourism Committee Chairman Abdulaziz Akkulov. The discussion was moderated by Khanh Linh Vu, Principal Advisor to the Secretary-General of UN Tourism.

Tzitzikostas reaffirmed the European Union’s support for Gulf countries, saying: “I’m here to convey a very strong message today. The European Union stands by its friends, its allies and its partners, and for us, the UAE and Gulf countries are indeed partners and allies. And I’m here to support you in this difficult time. I’m happy to see that this difficult time is almost over – that the numbers are showing us that there is a turnaround, and that we are going back on track. And please know that the European Union is here to make sure that this path for you will continue to be successful.”

Al Sairafi highlighted tourism’s growing contribution to Gulf economies and its potential for further expansion. “The global average [GDP] tourism contribution is around 10%, and when you look at the [GDP] tourism contribution in Gulf countries, it’s more than 11%. That number on its own solidifies the Gulf countries’ positioning in the tourism landscape, and it also shows you the potential – not just the current potential but also the future potential – of enhancing tourism in our countries.”

Akkulov highlighted parallels between Uzbekistan and GCC countries, pointing to partnerships with Azerbaijan and UN Tourism and efforts to establish Uzbekistan as a regional hub for tourism collaboration.

Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director – UAE at RX Global, said: “The insights shared by policymakers on the opening day of ATM 2026 demonstrate the pivotal nature of travel and tourism to the region’s economy. Gulf countries have offered a united and robust response to global geopolitical challenges, with preparedness and collaboration underpinning market resilience. We are extremely grateful to this year’s panellists, who brought to life the immense potential of the GCC’s tourism future.”

The opening day featured seven Global Stage sessions addressing topics including live experiences and technology-driven luxury tourism. ATM 2026 continues to bring together the international travel community to build partnerships, exchange knowledge and explore new business opportunities across the sector. -TradeArabia News Service