Arabian Travel Market: Hotels & Where to Stay
14 Sept – 17 Sept 2026 Dubai World Trade Centre 55,000 attendees
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- Pay over up to 16 weeks
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Arabian Travel Market 2027 at the Dubai World Trade Centre is the Middle East's flagship travel trade show, drawing around 55,000 industry professionals — hoteliers, tourism boards, airlines, DMCs, travel-tech firms and buyers — from more than 150 countries for four intense days of appointments. ATM's venue is unusually central: the DWTC complex sits on Sheikh Zayed Road at the edge of the financial district, with its own metro station, which means the surrounding Trade Centre and Sheikh Zayed Road hotel towers absorb enormous demand from exhibitors wanting a two-minute walk to their stands. Downtown Dubai, one or two metro stops away, follows close behind. Because attendees are travel professionals themselves, they book early and they book well — inventory near DWTC tightens faster than for almost any other Dubai event. This page pairs that reality with metro and visa specifics and live, bookable rates around the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Popular areas for attendees: Sheikh Zayed Road · Trade Centre District · Downtown Dubai.
- Hotels curated around the DWTC complex and its metro corridor, ranked by genuine walking distance to the halls
- Live 4–5 star rates for the ATM 2027 dates from connected suppliers — the same live pricing travel professionals expect
- Free-cancellation rates surfaced first so you can secure Sheikh Zayed Road towers before stand allocations settle
- Instant tax invoice at checkout, including VAT details for reclaim where applicable
Event at a glance
- Dates
- 14 Sept – 17 Sept 2026
- Venue
- Dubai World Trade Centre
- City
- Dubai, UAE
- Airport
- DXB
- Attendance
- 55,000
Recommended Hotels for Business Travellers
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Stay close to the venue
Hotels ranked by walking distance.
Flexible bookings
Pay Weekly available on free cancellation rooms.
Rates shown for the event window, Sun, Sep 13 → Fri, Sep 18 (arrive the day before, leave the day after) — or choose your own dates above.
Hotel rates near major event venues rise as the dates approach and the closest hotels sell out first. Booking a free-cancellation rate early locks the price with no downside.
On the map
The venue, your hotel options and where to eat — all in one view. Tap the map to explore it full screen.
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- The best hotels within walking distance of the venue
- Where to host clients for dinner near the halls
- How to beat the sold-out fair-week rooms
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Need to expense this trip? Business invoices available at checkout.
Where to eat during Arabian Travel Market
DWTC empties into DIFC and Satwa at night — book the flagship dinners before you fly and keep the 24-hour institutions for the late build-up shifts.
Trèsind Studio
Progressive Indian tasting menu
Palm Jumeirah — ~25 min by car from DWTC
The world's first Indian restaurant to hold three Michelin stars — an intimate ~20-seat rooftop studio. The definitive close-the-deal dinner if you can secure seats.
Tip: Book weeks ahead; the tasting runs ~3 hours — pick a night with no early hall access.
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Zuma Dubai
Contemporary Japanese izakaya
DIFC — one metro stop from DWTC
The default client-dinner room for Dubai's finance and trade-fair crowd — robata grill, polished service, minutes from DWTC.
Tip: The business set lunch is a fast, high-impression option between sessions.
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Ravi Restaurant
Pakistani · since 1978
Al Satwa — ~6 min by car from DWTC
A Dubai institution, open 24 hours — benchmark karahi and tandoor bread at canteen prices. Cab drivers and visiting CEOs at the same tables.
Tip: Chicken karahi and butter naan — and it never closes after late build-up shifts.
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Al Ustad Special Kabab
Iranian kebabs · since 1978
Bur Dubai — ~12 min by car from DWTC
Family-run, photo-plastered Persian kebab house — one of old Dubai's most beloved rooms, famous for yoghurt-marinated chicken kebab.
Tip: Open until ~3:30am — handy after late networking.
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Al Mallah
Lebanese street food
2nd December St, Al Satwa — ~5 min from DWTC
Dubai's benchmark shawarma — decades-old Satwa cafeteria open until ~2am. The quick, reliable bite after a long exhibition day.
Tip: Chicken shawarma with extra toum, pavement seating.
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The Sum of Us
Specialty coffee · bakery
Sheikh Zayed Rd — walking distance from DWTC
In-house roastery and sourdough bakery — effectively DWTC's nearest serious specialty coffee, good for a pre-show flat white or informal first meeting.
Tip: Arrive before 9am during GITEX week to beat the badge crowd.
Open in Google MapsAfter the halls close: Dubai
Client dinner, team night out or a free day after Arabian Travel Market — bookable experiences in Dubai, same account, same checkout.
While you're in Dubai
Dubai's winter season packs world-class horse racing, rugby, tennis and stadium concerts around its year-round business calendar.
Dubai World Cup horse racing
One of the world's richest race days turns Meydan Racecourse into a major social occasion that pairs perfectly with a spring trip.
Find ticketsEmirates Dubai 7s rugby
The Dubai Sevens weekend mixes international rugby with music and a festival atmosphere, and is hugely popular with expat business crowds.
Find ticketsDubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
Top ATP and WTA players compete in an intimate stadium in Garhoud, minutes from the airport and major business districts.
Find ticketsCoca-Cola Arena concerts
Dubai's main indoor arena in City Walk draws global touring artists and comedy acts, especially through the cooler months.
Find ticketsAbu Dhabi Grand Prix (F1)
The season-closing F1 race at Yas Marina is about an hour's drive from Dubai and comes with headline after-race concerts.
Find ticketsFixtures recur each season; exact dates for your fair week are confirmed at ticket search.
Getting there
From Dubai International Airport (DXB)
- The Red Line metro runs from Terminals 1 and 3 directly to World Trade Centre station in roughly 20 minutes with no changes
- You need a Nol card or Nol ticket before boarding; machines and counters at the airport stations accept cards
- Metered taxis from DXB reach the DWTC in 10–20 minutes off-peak; Careem and Uber operate citywide with clear airport pickup points
- Avoid landing-to-venue dashes between 7.30–9.30am — Sheikh Zayed Road inbound traffic is at its worst then
From Al Maktoum International (DWC) and other emirates
- DWC, Dubai's second airport, is about 45–60 minutes from the Trade Centre by taxi depending on traffic; there is no direct metro link
- From Abu Dhabi, the E11 highway drive takes roughly 75–90 minutes; intercity buses also connect to Dubai's Ibn Battuta and Al Ghubaiba stations
- Sharjah-based attendees should allow generous margins — the Sharjah–Dubai commute can exceed an hour at peak
- Some long-haul carriers and low-cost airlines use DWC or Sharjah (SHJ), so check your arrival airport before planning transfers
Getting around during Arabian Travel Market
Getting to Dubai World Trade Centre daily
- World Trade Centre station on the Red Line connects to the exhibition complex via walkways — by far the most reliable arrival at opening time
- Hotels along the Trade Centre stretch of Sheikh Zayed Road put you within a 5–15 minute walk of the halls
- Taxi and ride-hail drop-offs at the DWTC gates queue badly around 9–10am during ATM; being dropped a block away and walking is often faster
- The metro gets crowded at show close around 5–6pm — either linger for a meeting or leave slightly early
Around Dubai
- A rechargeable Nol card covers metro, tram and buses; the Red Line spine links DWTC to Downtown, DIFC, Business Bay and Dubai Marina
- Careem and Uber are ubiquitous and reasonably priced; RTA street taxis are metered and plentiful outside peak periods
- Sheikh Zayed Road congests severely at rush hours during ATM week — for evening events in Downtown or DIFC, the metro usually wins
- Dress is business-standard at the show; modest attire is appreciated in malls and public areas, and summer-grade heat can arrive early in the year
Visa & entry
Visa-free / visa on arrival
- GCC citizens (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar) enter the UAE freely with no visa
- Nationals of the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore and many others receive a free 30-day visa on arrival; most EU/EEA citizens get 90 days in 180
- Since June 2026, nationals of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa also qualify for visa on arrival if they hold a valid residence permit from the US, UK, EU, and certain other developed countries
eVisa / visa required
- Nationals not on the on-arrival list — including most Indian passport holders without qualifying foreign residence permits — need a pre-arranged UAE visit visa, usually processed through airlines, hotels or licensed agents
- UAE eVisas are typically issued within days, but ATM week sees heavy volume, so apply at least 2–3 weeks ahead
- Indian citizens holding residence permits or visas from the US, UK, EU and several other countries qualify for visa on arrival — check the current list
Documents to carry
- Passport with at least six months' validity — the UAE enforces this strictly at check-in and immigration
- ATM registration or exhibitor confirmation, and a hotel booking covering your stay
- Return or onward ticket; overstays are fined per day, so know your permitted duration
UAE visa policy is updated frequently, so confirm your nationality's current entry rules with the UAE embassy or official government channels before booking.
First time at Arabian Travel Market?
- Pre-register and load your badge before you fly — ATM entry gates move quickly for pre-registered visitors and slowly for everyone else
- Arrive the day before the show opens: day one at ATM is the busiest on the floor and the worst for hotel check-in queues along Sheikh Zayed Road
- The DWTC complex is a maze of interconnected halls — memorise your key stand numbers and use the hall entrance nearest your first appointment
- Hotels physically attached to or across from the DWTC sell out months out; Downtown Dubai one metro stop away is the strongest fallback
- Carry a light layer — hall air conditioning is fierce even when it is hot outside
Insider tips from repeat attendees
- The final afternoon is the quiet window — regional buyers thin out and exhibitor teams finally have time for unscheduled conversations
- The real dealmaking happens at hosted evening events in Downtown and DIFC hotels; ATM days are for appointments booked weeks in advance, so build your diary before you land
- Hall catering is adequate but slow at 1pm — the food courts and restaurants across Sheikh Zayed Road are a 10-minute walk and twice as fast
- Take the metro one stop rather than a taxi for nearby evening events; during ATM week the Trade Centre roundabout traffic is slower than walking to the station
Arabian Travel Market travel FAQs
Where should I stay for Arabian Travel Market?
The Trade Centre District itself is unbeatable — several towers sit within walking distance of the halls. Sheikh Zayed Road hotels between the World Trade Centre and Financial Centre metro stops are next best, and Downtown Dubai offers the deepest choice one or two Red Line stops away.
How much do hotels cost during Arabian Travel Market?
Rates around the DWTC climb steeply during ATM — the walkable towers can run at double their normal levels or more, since exhibitors and hosted buyers concentrate demand in a small radius. Prices soften noticeably a few metro stops out.
How early should I book hotels for Arabian Travel Market?
Earlier than for most events — ATM's attendees are travel professionals who lock in rooms as soon as dates are announced. Four to six months out is realistic for the Trade Centre District; free-cancellation rates make committing early painless.
Which airport do I fly into for Arabian Travel Market?
Dubai International (DXB) — the Red Line metro runs from Terminals 1 and 3 straight to World Trade Centre station in about 20 minutes. Al Maktoum (DWC) and Sharjah (SHJ) serve some carriers but involve 45–75 minute road transfers.
What should I wear to Arabian Travel Market?
Business attire is the norm on the show floor — suits are common despite the climate, helped by strong air conditioning. Outside the venue, lightweight modest clothing is the practical choice, and smart-casual is fine for most evening industry events.
EventEscapes is an independent travel platform and is not affiliated with Arabian Travel Market or its organizers. Dates and venues can change — verify with the official event site before booking travel.