Arabian Travel Market 2027 transport guide: getting to ATM at Dubai World Trade Centre
Arabian Travel Market 2027 runs 3–6 May at Dubai World Trade Centre. Official taxi drop-off points, metro, parking and car plans for travel-trade teams.
Chauffeur operations specialist, Dubai · Updated · 6 min read
Arabian Travel Market 2027 (ATM) runs Monday 3 to Thursday 6 May 2027 at Dubai World Trade Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road. The organiser’s official taxi drop-offs are opposite the ibis hotel and in front of the Za’abeel Hall entrance, and World Trade Centre metro station gives direct access. Print your badge before you leave the hotel.
ATM is back in its usual May slot after a 2026 edition that moved twice. We run exhibition and conference transport for hotel groups, airlines, tour operators and destination teams, and this guide covers the practical side of ATM week: drop-off points, the hours, and the other big show running across town the same week.
When is Arabian Travel Market 2027?
The organiser, Arabian Travel Market, lists 3–6 May 2027 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), with these hours:
| Day | Date | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 3 May 2027 | 11:00–18:00 |
| Tuesday | 4 May 2027 | 10:00–18:00 |
| Wednesday | 5 May 2027 | 10:00–18:00 |
| Thursday | 6 May 2027 | 10:00–17:00 |
ATM editions: 2026, 2027 and 2028
| Edition | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| ATM 2026 | 14–17 September 2026 (held; moved from May, then from August) | Dubai World Trade Centre |
| ATM 2027 | 3–6 May 2027 | Dubai World Trade Centre |
| ATM 2028 | Not announced yet; usually late April or early May (2025 ran 28 April to 1 May) | Not announced |
The 2026 move confused a lot of diaries. ATM 2026 was first set for May, moved to 17–20 August in a March announcement, then moved again. The organiser’s revised-dates release confirmed 14–17 September 2026 after consultation with exhibitors and industry partners. For 2027 the show is back in the first week of May, at the venue where it first opened in 1994.
What is ATM Dubai, and who can go?
ATM is the Middle East’s big travel-trade show: hotels, airlines, destinations, tour operators, travel tech and the buyers who contract with them. It’s a business event, not a holiday fair, and the rules show it:
- Under-18s aren’t admitted to the exhibition halls.
- Dress code is business attire.
- Registration is free online before the deadline. After that a fee applies, and there’s no registration at the door.
- Print your badge before you arrive. The organiser emails it closer to the show, and the venue doesn’t print badges.
That last one is the transport point. If a colleague’s badge is still in their inbox at 10:30, the car goes back to the hotel business centre and the morning is gone.
Where do taxis and chauffeurs drop off at ATM?
ATM’s venue and travel page names two taxi drop-off points: opposite the ibis hotel, and in front of the Za’abeel Hall entrance. Taxi pickup is opposite the ibis. Bookings for Dubai Taxi run 24 hours on 04 208 0808.
Which one you want depends on the halls. In September 2026 ATM used Halls 1–8, The Pavilion, Sheikh Saeed Halls 1–3, Trade Centre Arena and Za’abeel Halls 2–3, according to DWTC. The 2027 floor plan hasn’t been published as we write, but if your stand is in the Za’abeel Halls, the Za’abeel drop-off on the western side saves a long walk through the concourses. For any other hall, check the floor plan in the ATM app and give the driver the hall number, not just “Trade Centre”.
A chauffeured car uses the same lanes, drops you and then moves to parking or a holding area. Drop-off lanes at DWTC are stopping-only, and at ATM they’re busy from 10:00. Our DWTC parking guide shows each gate, car park and the taxi rank.
Metro and parking
World Trade Centre station on the Red Line gives direct access to the venue, says the organiser. If you drive, DWTC has free and paid parking: 7,530 spaces across six paid and two free car parks, plus valet. All car parks in and around the venue have bays for people of determination.
Which other shows run in ATM week?
May 2027 is crowded, and two of the big shows sit at Expo City, not DWTC:
| Show | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Arabian Travel Market | 3–6 May 2027 | Dubai World Trade Centre |
| GISEC Global | 4–6 May 2027 | Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City |
| Middle East Energy | 11–13 May 2027 | Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City |
Two big shows at once means more delegations chasing the same cars and drivers that week, so confirm your bookings early. If your company exhibits at both, see our GISEC Global transport guide; DWTC and Expo City are at opposite ends of the city, so nobody should plan to cover both on foot and metro in one afternoon. Our Dubai events calendar has the rest of the season.
By early May, Dubai’s daytime heat is back. Short walks between the car and the gate matter more than they did in winter, so be dropped at the right entrance rather than the nearest one.
Car plans for travel-trade teams
ATM is a meetings show. Many exhibitors run back-to-back appointments on the stand, then dinners, hotel site inspections and partner events across the city in the evening.
- Stand team. Fixed morning and evening transfers. A van with driver moves a team of up to six with brochures and stand kit in one trip.
- Senior executives. Hourly hire (minimum three hours) for the day, with a Mercedes S-Class for hosting partners between meetings.
- Evening programme. Book the evening car in advance. The 18:00 close meets the Sheikh Zayed Road evening peak, and the first hour after closing is the slowest.
- Departures. Thursday 6 May closes at 17:00. If you fly that night from DXB, plan to leave the venue straight from the stand.
Frequently asked questions
What is ATM Dubai?
ATM is Arabian Travel Market, the travel and tourism trade show held at Dubai World Trade Centre. It brings together hotels, airlines, destinations, tour operators and travel buyers. It first opened at DWTC in 1994. The 2027 edition runs 3–6 May.
When is Arabian Travel Market 2027?
Arabian Travel Market 2027 runs 3–6 May 2027 at Dubai World Trade Centre. Hours are 11:00–18:00 on Monday 3 May, 10:00–18:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday, and 10:00–17:00 on Thursday 6 May, according to the organiser.
Why was ATM 2026 held in September?
ATM 2026 was first planned for May, then moved to 17–20 August, and finally to 14–17 September 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre. The organiser said the September dates followed consultation with exhibitors and industry partners. ATM 2027 returns to its usual May slot.
Can children attend Arabian Travel Market?
No. The organiser doesn’t allow anyone under 18 into the exhibition halls. Students can’t register individually either; they register as a group through a tutor or lecturer. The dress code for all visitors is business attire.
Where is the taxi drop-off at Arabian Travel Market?
The organiser lists two taxi drop-off points at Dubai World Trade Centre: opposite the ibis hotel and in front of the Za’abeel Hall entrance. Taxi pickup is opposite the ibis. Pick the drop-off nearest your hall to keep the walk short.
Written by
Arshad HussainArshad Hussain has run chauffeur and limousine operations in Dubai since 2014: dispatch, fleet allocation, airport pickups and event transport.
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