His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister, emphasized that under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, the nation continues to play a pivotal role in fostering connections between global markets, building partnerships, and shaping the future of travel and tourism worldwide.
Photo by Khalifa Al Yousuf, Ali Essa, and Mohamed Hisham
This statement was made during his visit to the “Arabian Travel Market 2025,” alongside His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and the Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline.
During the visit, he explored the features of this year’s exhibition, which commenced recently at the Dubai World Trade Centre and is set to continue until May 1. This edition is notable for its record participation, gathering around 2800 exhibitors from 161 countries.
He noted that the vision and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum form the solid foundation for all efforts aimed at enhancing the UAE’s stature as a key center for future industries and consolidating its global leadership in identifying opportunities and building partnerships that support sustainable growth across vital sectors.
Photo by Khalifa Al Yousuf, Ali Essa, and Mohamed Hisham
Effective Organization
Sheikh Hamdan praised the effective organization of the international event, which opens new avenues for growth and prosperity for participants involved in various travel and tourism fields, providing opportunities for constructive partnerships that bolster this critical sector.
He stated, “The Arabian Travel Market has become a pivotal point on the global agenda for the tourism and travel industry, reflecting the UAE’s leading role in bridging global markets and actively contributing to shaping the future of travel worldwide.”
Moreover, he remarked that the exhibitions and conferences sector is a crucial contributor to Dubai’s economy, significantly impacting investment attraction, knowledge transfer, and the generation of quality opportunities in all sectors.
Through continuous investment in infrastructure, creating a flexible legislative environment, and enhancing international partnerships, we aim to empower this sector to contribute effectively to achieving sustainable economic development goals for the UAE and strengthening Dubai’s competitiveness on the global stage.
Photo by Khalifa Al Yousuf, Ali Essa, and Mohamed Hisham
The efforts are relentless to ensure that Dubai remains an inspiring platform for ideas, a catalyst for talent, and a contributor to discovering new potentials that will lead to a positive change towards a better future for all.
In a message shared via social media, he remarked: “During my visit to the Arabian Travel Market 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, I explored various national and international pavilions participating in the event, which is attracting 2800 exhibitors from 161 countries in this edition. Under the directives of the President and his brother Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE continues to play a leading role in connecting global markets and building partnerships to shape the future of travel and tourism.”
Exhibits
Throughout his visit, Sheikh Hamdan explored various international exhibits aiming to promote their tourism products, showcasing diverse options for travel and highlighting various programs, while the Arabian Travel Market serves as a beneficial space for all stakeholders in travel operations, including airlines, travel agencies, hotel chains, and global resorts, to discuss collaboration opportunities and build partnerships that support growth.
Photo by Khalifa Al Yousuf, Ali Essa, and Mohamed Hisham
He was joined on the visit by His Excellency Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and His Excellency Hala Saeed Al Merri, Director General of the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai.
Sheikh Hamdan focused on the event’s offerings that meet the needs of both participants and visitors, ensuring the highest success levels for this year’s largest edition, which has witnessed an increase in international participation.
Notably, the Asian participation has risen by 20% compared to the last edition, with a 15% increase in contributions from the Middle East and a 12% increase from European participants.
The Future of Tourism
The current edition of the Arabian Travel Market is themed “Global Travel: Shaping the Future of Tourism through Enhanced Connectivity,” highlighting the importance of linking borders, sectors, and communities to redefine the tourism landscape and promote sustainable practices fundamental to the future of travel.
The “Arabian Travel Market Conference” is set to feature over 200 speakers through more than 70 discussion sessions, hosted by prominent leaders in the tourism and travel sector worldwide, to present the latest trends, best practices, and global strategies to enhance opportunities and find effective solutions to challenges directly impacting a wide audience.
Key topics include the future of aviation, hospitality trends, climate action initiatives, and the application of artificial intelligence in the travel and tourism sectors.
The Arabian Travel Market is held in partnership with the Dubai World Trade Centre and its strategic partners: Dubai Tourism as the destination partner, Emirates Airline as the official airline partner, IHG Hotels and Resorts as the official hotel partner, and Al Rais Travels as the official destination management partner.