News DeskDubai: Global leisure travel spending is set to triple to $15 trillion by 2040, up from $5 trillion in 2024, according to new projections released ahead of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026. The Middle East is forecast to record a 7% annual rise in leisure expenditure, placing it among the fastest-growing travel regions worldwide—second only to Asia Pacific over the next five years.
ATM 2026, scheduled to run from 4 to 7 May at Dubai World Trade Centre, will gather destinations, hotels, airlines and travel industry leaders from around the world to explore the opportunities emerging from this unprecedented sector growth. The event will take place under the theme “Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology.”
Middle East Tourism Set for 90% Growth by 2030
Insights from the ATM Travel Trends Report, produced in partnership with Tourism Economics, show that international tourism nights in the Middle East will reach 1.5 billion by 2030, marking a 90% jump from 2024. Of these, around 15% will be contributed by leisure travellers from outside the region.
European travellers currently represent half of all leisure arrivals to the Middle East, but stronger growth is expected from Africa and Asia Pacific markets in the years ahead.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME for ATM, said the region continues to benefit from extensive infrastructure development and a rapidly expanding tourism offering.
“By 2030, there are expected to be nearly 30 billion tourism nights globally, with the Middle East accounting for about 8% of them,” she said. “Leisure nights in the region are projected to grow by 87%, reflecting the Middle East’s transformation into a global tourism powerhouse.”
New Traveller Segments Reshaping Demand
The ATM–Tourism Economics analysis highlights that Millennials and Gen Z are driving a rise in trip frequency and adopting digital tourism tools faster than any other group. Meanwhile, multigenerational travel and solo travel—once niche categories—have now entered the mainstream.
Industry experts surveyed identified leisure events as the single biggest opportunity for tourism expansion. Within the Middle East, beach holidays, city escapes and nature experiences remain popular, while demand for sports tourism, cultural travel, and health and wellness retreats is rising rapidly.
“Today’s travellers are seeking authentic, personalised experiences,” Curtis added. “The Middle East is ideally positioned to shape the next era of global tourism, and ATM 2026 will serve as the platform to explore this $15 trillion opportunity.”
Record Participation Expected for ATM 2026
The 33rd edition of ATM is expected to welcome more than 47,000 attendees and over 2,600 exhibitors from 161 countries. The showcase will place particular emphasis on travel trends across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region, reinforcing Dubai’s role as a global hub connecting more than 240 destinations across six continents.
Key features will include the ATM Ultra Luxury Lounge, IBTM @ ATM, and the expanded ATM Travel Tech, which will occupy two dedicated halls to highlight emerging technologies transforming the travel sector.
For more information, readers can access the latest ATM updates via the event’s press portal.
