Eleven Emirates partnerships, a world-debut Etihad cabin backed by a 20 billion dollar investment and the Maldives arriving in force. Day 2 of ATM 2026 did not slow down.
- Emirates signed 11 more partnership agreements on Day 2 bringing its ATM 2026 total to 18
- Etihad unveiled the Beyond Borders A330 cabin with four First suites and lie-flat Business seats
- The Maldives brought its largest ever tourism industry delegation to ATM 2026 this year
- flydubai confirmed its network is now 85 percent operational with 2,200 flights weekly
If Day 1 of ATM 2026 set the tone, Day 2 on September 15 turned up the volume considerably. The Dubai World Trade Centre floor was moving at full pace yesterday, with ministerial visits, a world-debut cabin reveal backed by a 20 billion dollar investment, a record Maldivian delegation signing MoUs on the spot, and Emirates adding eleven more partnerships to the seven it signed on Monday. The 33rd edition of Arabian Travel Market is proving that the travel industry did not just survive the disruptions of the past year. It arrived at ATM 2026 with something to prove.
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, visited Emirates’ stand during the second day of ATM, touring the airline’s product showcases on display. The ministerial attention on Day 2 reinforced the sense that ATM 2026 is being treated not just as a trade event but as a strategic platform for the UAE’s broader tourism and aviation ambitions.
Emirates Doubles Down With 11 More Partnerships
Emirates signed eleven partnership agreements on the second day of Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, deepening its collaboration with seven destinations and opening access to and supporting new customer segments across its global network, as well as expanding codeshare agreements for deeper cooperation with partner airlines. That brings the airline’s total ATM 2026 partnership count to eighteen across two days, a number that makes a very clear statement about how aggressively Emirates is pursuing destination connectivity as travel demand rebuilds.
The agreements include renewed tourism partnerships with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation. Emirates and the Japan National Tourism Organization have also signed an MoU to promote travel between Japan, Dubai and the wider Middle East. The Japan partnership is particularly notable: Japan has been one of the strongest inbound markets for Gulf-based travellers in recent years, and formalising the promotional relationship between Emirates and the JNTO signals a serious commitment to growing that corridor further.
Etihad’s Beyond Borders: The Aviation Moment of ATM 2026
Etihad Airways unveiled its new Beyond Borders product and experience at Arabian Travel Market 2026, introducing a new design and service concept that will progressively shape the airline’s cabins, lounges and wider guest journey. The centrepiece of the launch is the new Airbus A330 cabin, featuring redesigned First, Business and Economy interiors.
The new A330 is scheduled to enter service from September 2027, with 15 aircraft planned to join the fleet over five years. The First cabin will feature four private suites, each with a closing door, 32-inch screen, wireless charging and dedicated storage. Business will offer 24 forward-facing, fully lie-flat seats with direct aisle access, sliding doors and 17.3-inch screens. Economy will feature 252 seats, including 32 Extra Legroom seats, alongside 13.3-inch 4K touchscreens and personal charging.
The investment behind Beyond Borders is substantial. The airline said the new experience will eventually extend beyond aircraft cabins to lounges, dining, amenities, wellbeing and connectivity as part of a wider investment of 20 billion dollars in new aircraft and customer experience, including a 1 billion dollar fleet retrofit programme. Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves was clear about the ambition: Beyond Borders is not a cabin refresh. It is a complete reimagining of what an Etihad journey feels like from the moment a passenger steps into an airport.
The Maldives Arrives in Record Numbers
The Maldivian tourism industry contingent is represented through a 517.5-square-metre double-decker stand designed to support B2B engagement while showcasing the Maldives’ tourism offering. The destination brought its largest ever industry delegation to ATM 2026, with representatives from Visit Maldives Corporation, the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and the Embassy of the Maldives in the UAE joining resort operators, travel agents and hospitality brands for four days of B2B meetings and partnership conversations. Memoranda of Understanding are scheduled to be signed with Emirates, Qatar Airways and dnata, supporting destination promotion across multiple networks.
The Maldives participation at this scale reflects the destination’s strategic importance to the Gulf travel market. The UAE is consistently among the top source markets for Maldivian tourism, and the presence of the country’s largest ever ATM delegation signals confidence that the post-disruption period will see that demand strengthen rather than weaken.
flydubai Back in Force
flydubai is highlighting the restoration of its network, now around 85 percent operational, with about 2,200 flights a week to more than 125 destinations. Bangkok has increased to three daily services, while a new route to Pokhara, Nepal, is due to begin on September 23. For travellers in the UAE who rely on flydubai for regional and medium-haul connectivity, the network restoration news is a direct and practical signal that the disruptions of the past year are substantively behind them.
Day 3 of ATM 2026 is underway today, with further announcements expected from Miral and a packed conference programme continuing across the Global Stage, Future Stage and Experience Hub!
