In short
Arabian Travel Market stands combine destination showmanship with serious meeting space: a striking entrance or feature, hospitality with seating, and enough tables for hotel groups and tourism boards to meet buyers from the Gulf and beyond. Start a custom stand about 6–9 months ahead and confirm dates, height limits and rules in the exhibitor manual.
Key points
- Where and when: Dubai, annual, in spring.
- The audience is mostly travel trade buyers.
- An iconic entrance or destination feature.
- Hospitality lounge with seating and refreshments.
- Plan a custom stand about 6–9 months before the show.
Arabian Travel Market for exhibitors
Arabian Travel Market at the Dubai World Trade Centre covers inbound and outbound travel for the Middle East, with destination pavilions, hotel groups, airlines and travel technology.
| Arabian Travel Market | |
|---|---|
| City | Dubai |
| Venue | Dubai World Trade Centre |
| Sector | Travel and tourism |
| Cycle | Annual, in spring |
| Main stand activity | Pre-booked meetings |
| Custom stand lead time | 6–9 months |
Who you are designing for
Travel trade buyers, hotel and airline partners, government tourism bodies and press.
What matters most on a Arabian Travel Market stand:
- An iconic entrance or destination feature.
- Hospitality lounge with seating and refreshments.
- Meeting tables for co-exhibitors.
- High-quality materials and finishes; the audience expects polish.
Layouts for pre-booked meetings, by stand type
Most Arabian Travel Market exhibitors build around pre-booked meetings. How that works depends on how many sides of your plot are open. If you are unsure which type you have, see exhibition stand types.
| Stand type | Open sides | What works |
|---|---|---|
| Row (inline) | 1 | A welcome counter at the front and two bar tables; book longer meetings in the venue's meeting rooms. |
| Corner | 2 | Reception at the corner where the aisles meet, with a semi-open lounge along the closed walls. |
| Peninsula | 3 | Reception on the main aisle and a slatted or glazed meeting room against the back wall. |
| Island | 4 | Meeting rooms in a central core or on an upper deck, with reception and a short demo on the busiest aisle. |
Stand ideas for Arabian Travel Market
- A dramatic entrance arch or gateway.
- A seated hospitality lounge with refreshments.
- Meeting tables in a calm area behind the lounge.
Planning, approvals and logistics
Dubai builds are fast; approvals and contractor lead times still need planning.
Allow about 6–9 months for a custom stand. The exhibitor manual sets height limits, open-side rules and service deadlines; see venue approval and technical drawings.
Mistakes we see at Arabian Travel Market
- Under-investing in hospitality in a market that values it.
- A dark, closed stand with no clear way in.
Try your Arabian Travel Market layout in 3D
ExhibitionBase Studio turns your plot size, open sides and a brief about pre-booked meetings into an editable 3D stand for 5 credits, renders it and exports a plan for your builder. New workspaces get 5 free credits.
Frequently asked questions
01When is Arabian Travel Market?
Annually in spring at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Confirm dates on the official site.
02How much hospitality space should I plan?
In this market, more than at European shows: a seated lounge with refreshments is expected on mid-size and large stands.
03How early should I start designing a Arabian Travel Market stand?
For a custom stand, about 6–9 months ahead: long enough for design, organiser approval, production and shipping. Shell scheme stands can be planned in weeks.
04Can I reuse my Arabian Travel Market stand at other shows?
Often, if it is modular. Design the core (walls, counters, pre-booked meetings area) to work on several plot sizes, and swap graphics per show. See [modular vs custom stands](/guides/modular-vs-custom-exhibition-stands).
Put it into practice
From a client brief to a 3D stand concept in minutes
An editable 3D exhibition stand concept from a written brief and the brand's website, at your exact size.
Guidance here reflects common practice. Venues, organisers and countries set their own rules: always check the exhibitor manual and work with a qualified stand builder and engineer for structures.
