A travel-trade week, four days at DWTC.

What the organiser says

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is run by WTM, and its own site lists the 2027 show for 3 to 6 May at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) on Sheikh Zayed Road. Press reports of an organiser release in October 2026 call it the 34th edition and agree on the dates. The organiser’s home page quotes headline figures from its last edition: more than 55,000 attendees, more than 2,800 exhibitors and more than 6,600 buyers. The page does not say which year that was, so treat the figures as the organiser’s claim. They are not ours.

We are not the organiser’s transport provider, and we do not sell badges, passes or stands. Register with the organiser. Check the organiser’s notices before you book transport, and if the dates change we adjust a quote to match.

The numbers: hours and taxi points

The organiser’s venue and travel page gives opening hours that differ by day. Plan around these, not around a flat four-day routine.

The same page says the venue has two taxi drop-off points, one opposite the ibis hotel and one in front of the Za’abeel Hall entrance, and one taxi pick-up point, opposite the ibis. It also says the World Trade Centre Metro station gives direct access and that free and paid parking exist. The wording looks generic, so check it again in April.

The numbers: modelled drive times

These are our modelled figures: OpenStreetMap routing, free-flow, no traffic, no stops, measured to a point at DWTC. They are approximate, and a show morning on Sheikh Zayed Road will take longer.

Our hotel drive times guide covers other areas, and the DWTC event transport page explains how the venue’s Metro, parking and taxi points work across the year.

What is not published

We found no delegate shuttle, no hotel-partner transport, no bag rules and no coach or minibus drop-off point. We also found nothing on whether a pre-booked vehicle may use the taxi pick-up. The organiser lists hotel and ride offers on its page, and we leave those with the organiser. We agree a drop-off and a collection point with you once the organiser publishes them, and we cannot promise a stop at any entrance.

The other May shows

The show does not sit alone. Two other events overlap or follow it, and the organisers’ own sites give their dates. GISEC Global is listed for 4 to 6 May at the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) in Expo City, and Middle East Energy for 11 to 13 May at DEC. Neither was on the DEC events list when we checked, so confirm with the organisers.

DEC is a long way from DWTC. Our model gives 40.4 km and about 36 minutes between the two, before traffic. A delegation with people split across both shows needs two plans, or a clear rule on who goes where. Our DWTC to Expo City two-venue day guide shows how that kind of day is built for another show.

Planning four days: an example

This is an example only. A team of twenty buyers and sellers staying in Dubai Marina has a 27-minute modelled drive. On Monday, with an 11:00 opening, a 09:45 departure leaves a margin. On Tuesday and Wednesday, with a 10:00 opening, they need to leave about 08:45, which is earlier than Monday and means a breakfast rule for the group. On Thursday the hall closes at 17:00, so a 17:30 collection leaves time to gather people.

Thursday is the day to check against flights. The modelled drive from DWTC to the airport is about 31 minutes, so a late-evening departure has room, and an early-evening one does not. Write down who flies when, and tell us when you ask for a quote.

If your group is split between trade-show days and meetings in the city, you may not need the same vehicle every day. Our hotel group transfers guide and trade mission transport guide show the options, and the multi-hotel shuttle loops guide helps when delegates sleep in several hotels.

Choosing the vehicle

Travel-trade delegates carry brochures, laptops and cabin bags more often than large suitcases, but arrivals and departures are different. Our guide figures:

• Mercedes V-Class: up to 7 passengers and 6 bags.
• 13-seater HiAce: up to 13 passengers and about 10 suitcases.
• Mercedes Sprinter: up to 16 passengers and up to 12 suitcases.
• 30-seater mini coach and 50-seater coach for larger delegations.

We supply the vehicle and a driver. A licensed guide can be arranged for a fee: ask when you request a quote. For a delegation of 100 or more, read the conference airport shuttle plan first.

How a booked vehicle fits

1. Send the plan. Dates, hotel area, party size, which days you attend and your flights.
2. Ask for a fixed written quote. Nothing is charged until you confirm.
3. Read the meeting and drop-off arrangement. The quote states it, and we update it when the organiser publishes its notices.
4. Agree the return time. We plan the margin and tell you what is not yet published.
5. Tell us if plans change. We adjust where we can, and cannot promise to beat queues or traffic.

Related: DWTC event transport · Group transfers for tour operators · Trade mission ground transport · Gulfood 2027 two-venue day · How far is Dubai Airport from your hotel area · Multi-hotel shuttle loops · Get a quote

Keep reading

• GISEC Global and Middle East Energy 2027 transport: GISEC Global (4 to 6 May 2027) and Middle East Energy (11 to 13 May 2027) at Dubai Exhibition Centre: the organisers’ dates and hours, modelled drive times and the overlap with Arabian Travel Market.
• Senior travel groups in Dubai: For organisers of over-60s groups: how long a day on the road can be, how many stops to plan, where rests go and which vehicle fits the group.
• DWTC event transport: Getting to Dubai World Trade Centre for a show: Metro, taxis, parking, and when a pre-booked shuttle for exhibitor crews and delegates is the better plan.
• Ramadan 2027 in Dubai: group transport: Ramadan 2027 in Dubai is expected to start around 8 February. What the UAE government says changes for visitors, last year’s RTA hours as a precedent, and how to plan transfers.
• Eid Al Adha 2027 and Whitsun in Dubai: Eid Al Adha 2027 is expected around Whit weekend. The holiday rule, the expected dates, the German and Dutch May breaks and what past RTA notices suggest, for a group from Europe.
• WHX Dubai 2027 transport guide: WHX Dubai 2027 runs at two venues, Expo City and the World Trade Centre. How the Red Line and the free venue shuttle work, and where a private vehicle fits.