International visitor spending in the Middle East is forecast to increase by $116 billion, or 57%, between 2025 and 2030, according to the newly unveiled ATM Travel Trends Report 2026, produced by Arabian Travel Market in association with Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company.

The findings were presented by Dave Goodger, Managing Director EMEA at Tourism Economics, during the ATM Annual Trends Report: Middle East Momentum & Market Shifts on the Global Stage at ATM 2026, which is taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre until Thursday 17 September.

The report highlights strong global growth in travel during 2025, with total visitor nights reaching a record 24 billion, 16% above 2019 levels. In-destination visitor spending also rose 26% compared with 2019, reaching $7.2 trillion, while international arrivals surpassed 1.5 billion for the first time.

The Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region has emerged as a major contributor to the expansion. Total travel volumes across MENASA in 2025 were almost 50% above 2019 levels, three times the rate of growth recorded globally. The region also accounted for more than half of the worldwide increase in international travel compared with 2019.

Despite expectations that geopolitical disruption will weigh on Middle East travel in 2026, Tourism Economics forecasts a strong rebound in 2027. International travel is projected to grow by 8% globally next year, compared with 17% across MENASA.

The report also points to a significant reduction in the time required for tourism markets to recover from major disruptions. Recovery periods have shortened from approximately 24 months in the early 2000s to around 10–12 months in recent years.

By 2030, international travel across MENASA is forecast to reach 316 million arrivals and 2.3 billion visitor nights, generating $408 billion in spending. Compared with 2025, these figures represent increases of 36%, 46% and 55%, respectively.

Speaking during the session, Goodger said: “We are indeed optimistic about growth. Over the next five years we see travel expanding on a structural basis rather than just a cyclical rebound. International travel has never mattered more, 2026 is building on a record 2025, and MENASA is outpacing the world.

“This year is disrupted by an uncertain economic and geopolitical backdrop, but consumers are treating travel as essential. People are prioritising experiences over things, and that, combined with favourable demographics, rising wealth and sustained investment in capacity, underpins our confidence in the region’s long-term momentum.”

Technology is expected to be another important factor shaping the region’s tourism industry. According to research cited in the report, 91% of Middle East travel businesses are piloting or operating artificial intelligence within their organisations, while 85% report measurable cost savings.

The use of AI is also increasingly influencing travellers. Prospective visitors to the Middle East are more than twice as likely to have used an AI chatbot to plan a trip, at 28%, compared with 12% among travellers interested in other regions.

The findings were further discussed during the Travel Trends Panel: Why Travel Will Win in the Middle East, which featured Eddy Tannous, Chief Operating Officer of Rotana Hotel Management Corporation PJSC; Tarik Fadil, Vice President of Supply at Agoda; and Goodger.

Tannous pointed to the region’s expanding hotel capacity and argued that its future potential should be viewed against global tourism markets rather than historical regional benchmarks.

“I find the growth discussion very interesting. In 2008, the market changed drastically. We went into a recession, and everyone was asking: Is this it? Have we reached maximum capacity? At the time, Dubai had around 45,000 keys; today it’s closer to 160–170,000 keys.

“We’re hearing a similar story now in Abu Dhabi, which is at around 55,000 keys: Are we at full capacity or not? Personally, I don’t like comparing ourselves to what we were five or ten years ago. I prefer to compare the Middle East to major cities around the world. Dubai has seen substantial growth over the last 10–20 years, but the region’s potential is still far bigger than we think.”

Fadil highlighted the Middle East’s position as both a tourism destination and a major international connectivity hub linking Asia, Europe and Africa. He also stressed the importance of AI and localisation as the region attracts increasingly diverse traveller markets.

He said: “The Middle East is two things at once: a destination in its own right and a hub connecting Asia, Europe and Africa. Serving it well comes down to leveraging AI and deepening localisation. Delivering an AI-powered travel experience will help sharpen every step of the journey, from pre-booking inspiration to post-booking support. We want the customer to have a local experience when they book with Agoda, no matter where they’re from.”

Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director – UAE at RX Global, said: “The findings presented at ATM demonstrate the strength of the Middle East’s long-term tourism opportunity. Bringing research and industry perspectives together on the Global Stage gives our community valuable insight into where demand is moving and the opportunities that will shape the sector’s future.”

Now in its 33rd edition, Arabian Travel Market remains a major international travel and tourism event in the Middle East, bringing together the global travel community to develop partnerships, share knowledge and explore business opportunities across the sector. -TradeArabia News Service