Arabian Travel Market pushed back due to Iran conflict

• Postponed to August 17-20
• Attracts 55,000 travel professionals
• More than 100 Gulf events cancelled

The 2026 edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai has been postponed due to the ongoing conflict in Iran.

The 33rd edition of the ATM will now be held from August 17-20 instead of May 4-7 at Dubai World Trade Centre, London-based events and exhibitions organiser RX said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The safety and wellbeing of our customers, partners and colleagues remains our highest priority,” said Danielle Curtis, exhibition director Middle East for ATM.

The US-Israel and Iran conflict has continued to escalate, with Tehran launching retaliatory strikes targeting Gulf countries. The UAE’s defence ministry confirmed on Wednesday morning that its air defences were again responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran.

ATM has grown by 16 percent annually, attracting more than 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries.

Additionally, the second edition of WTM Spotlight Saudi Arabia, an event to grow the Gulf nation’s tourism sector, will be held from September 8-10 in Riyadh.

Further reading:

• Gulf cruise season run aground by Iran conflict
• Middle East tourism losing $600m a day in Iran war
• Mishal Kanoo: War won’t break Dubai’s economic model

This week, AGBI reported that the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Grands Prix highlighted a broader challenge facing Gulf economies as the Iran war affects a key pillar of their economic diversification plans.

The two Formula One races are among more than 100 events cancelled, suspended or postponed across the Gulf, according to consultancy Northbourne Advisory. 

They include Token2049 Dubai, a cryptocurrency conference that was set to host 15,000 attendees next month. 

Smaller corporate events have also been scaled back.