Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, visited the Arabian Travel Exhibition 2026 in Dubai on Monday, reviewing advancements in artificial intelligence, smart transportation, and sustainable tourism. This visit highlighted the UAE's efforts to strengthen its global leadership in travel and tourism and demonstrated Dubai's determination to revitalize its tourism economy as the industry moves towards technologies that will impact travel by 2040.
The Arabian Travel Exhibition and Its Role in the Tourism Industry
The four-day exhibition examines how artificial intelligence, smart transportation, and sustainability will influence global tourism in 2040. This event serves as a platform for networking among tourism officials, airlines, hotel operators, technology companies, and investors.
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Sheikh Mohammed, accompanied by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and other senior officials, visited booths representing airlines from Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, and major hotel companies like Marriott and IHG Hotels & Resorts.
Technology Production and Enhancing the Tourism Experience
The technologies showcased at this exhibition include artificial intelligence applications, digital travel services, and smart transportation systems aimed at creating more sustainable tourism experiences. Sheikh Mohammed emphasized during this visit that the UAE continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for travel and tourism, with Dubai pursuing a strategy based on innovation, transparency, international collaboration, and quality visitor experiences.
The Arabian Travel Exhibition 2026, taking place from September 14 to 17, operates under the theme “Travel 2040: Advancing New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology.” The conference program focuses on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, changing traveler expectations, and sustainable growth.
This event comes as Dubai's tourism economy is significantly improving. In August, Dubai welcomed approximately 869,000 international visitors, the highest monthly figure since February, bringing the total arrivals in the first eight months of the year to 6.97 million.
Hotel occupancy rates rose from 36% in March to 66% in August, with hotels recording 21.61 million room nights from January to August. This improvement occurred as the Dubai government provided a support package of 2.5 billion dirhams for tourism, hospitality, and entertainment businesses. In 2025, Dubai welcomed 19.59 million international visitors, and Dubai International Airport set a new record with 95.2 million passengers.
Tourism remains a key driver of the UAE's economy. The World Travel and Tourism Council estimates that this sector contributed $68.5 billion to the UAE's GDP in 2025. Additionally, international visitor spending reached $56.9 billion. Overall, tourism economic growth in the Middle East is projected at 5.3%, surpassing the global average of 4.1%.
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