AI travel planning grows in the UAE, yet human connection remains vital for personalised and meaningful travel experiences.
UAE: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming travel, with 60% of UAE travellers now relying on AI travel planning to organise their trips—higher than the global average of 48%. This surge reflects growing consumer trust in AI to provide personalised recommendations and seamless booking experiences.
The Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 brought together experts from technology, hospitality, and events sectors to discuss the evolving role of AI and digital platforms in travel. As AI adoption rises, human insight remains essential in creating smarter, guest-focused services.
Amy Read, VP Innovation at Sabre Hospitality, highlighted that “human connection is at the core of hospitality,” emphasising that technology should enhance, not replace, meaningful staff interactions. Innovations like Sabre’s SynXis Concierge AI offer 24/7 personalised responses, freeing staff to focus on deeper guest engagement.
Similarly, Miral’s AI concierge Majd Al at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Bay Waterfront and Ferrari World offers tailored visitor suggestions, showing how AI complements human service. Expedia TAAP and Almosafer exemplify human-centric innovation by developing tools rooted in customer and travel agent insights.
The meetings and events sector also benefits from AI, with the global market expected to reach USD 2.3 trillion by 2032. AI enhances attendee engagement by automating sourcing, translating content, and personalising experiences.
Despite AI’s advantages, ATM experts stress that authentic human interaction remains irreplaceable. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME at ATM, said the best technologies amplify human connections and address customer needs responsibly.
As AI travel planning advances, the industry continues to prioritise genuine human touch, ensuring that technology and personal service work hand in hand to enrich travel experiences.
