The History of Arabian Travel Market

Arabian Travel Market first opened its doors in 1994 at the Dubai World Trade Centre with 52 nations, 300 exhibitors and 7,000 trade visitors. 26 years later, ATM now facilitates $2.5 billion in industry deals and attracts 2,500 exhibitors from 153 countries and over 28,000 influential visitors.

1994 - Arabian Travel launch event at Dubai World Trade Centre

ATM launched with 2,000 square metres of floor space covered in its first year. The show was attended by 300 exhibitors and 7,000 visitors – including 2,500 consumers.

1995 – ATM moved to Bahrain

ATM moved to Bahrain International Exhibition Centre - this was the only time the show was staged outside Dubai.

2002 – Launch of Meridian Club

ATM launches the hosted Meridian Club, an exclusive club for senior travel buyers. Meridian Club is now called ATM Buyers' Club.

2003 – 10th Anniversary of ATM

ATM celebrated the 10th anniversary edition of the show with 783 exhibitors and 12,111 visitors. A total of 695 journalists covered the show along with 982 VIP guests arriving onsite.

2005 - New Frontiers Award created

The 2015 series will be hosted in various international locations throughout the year. The programme which visits Moscow, Beijing and Cape Town continues to deliver the ultimate learning experience and unrivalled networking opportunities. Industry leaders will focus on regional-specific and outbound markets and what the future for those sectors might be.

2007 – ATM is growing

ATM 2007 featured a host of initiatives, including an expanded seminar programme, an upgraded media centre and a new dedicated area for travel technology. The show occupied 24,600 m2 and boasted nearly 2,600 exhibitors.

2012 – ATM & UNWTO Industry Forum

The launch of the ATM and UNWTO Industry Forum took place. Over 17,500 visitors attended the show with Buyers Club attendance increasing by 38%.

2013 – ATM’s 20th Anniversary

A milestone year for ATM which recorded a 14% increase in total overall attendance.

2015 – The biggest ATM to date

The 22nd edition of Arabian Travel Market was the most successful to date. ATM goes from strength to strength with 2015 recording a 15% increase in influential visitors and generating $2.5 billion in industry deals.

2018 - 25th Anniversary

Arabian Travel Market celebrated their 25th anniversary at the show in 2018.

History of the show