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WBTF Dubai 2027 · Fourth edition

Business Travel Reimagined

AI, Experience and the Future of Corporate Mobility. Wednesday 3 February 2027, Dubai.

88Days
14Hours
00Minutes

The 2027 agenda

One day to set the agenda for the year.

Artificial intelligence is changing how trips are sourced, booked, paid for and supported. Travellers expect a better experience. Boards expect proof of value. Sustainability targets are tightening. The fourth edition brings these questions to the buyers who hold the budgets and the leaders who set the strategy.

Date
Wednesday 3 February 2027
Time
09:00 to 16:15 Gulf Standard Time
City
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Format
Keynotes, executive conversations, buyer roundtables, a live debate and hosted networking
Registration
Open now

Draft programme · 3 February 2027

The shape of the day

Every session puts corporate buyers in the conversation, from the region and from our international hosted buyer programme, and every session asks the sustainability question. Speakers will be announced once confirmed.

Registration, networking coffee and the WBTF Insight Wall

Arrive, meet fellow delegates and explore the latest data and trends in business travel.

Networking · 60 min

Welcome: The Future Moves Through Dubai

The Forum's founders open the fourth edition.

Opening remarks · 10 min

Opening keynote: Connecting the UAE for business

How new national rail infrastructure will change the way people travel for business across the UAE.

Keynote · 20 min

The Big Conversation: What will business travel look like by 2030?

Airline leaders and corporate buyers from the region and abroad on how demand, networks and expectations will change.

Executive conversation · 35 min

Networking coffee and partner experience

Break · 25 min

The Corporate Buyer's Boardroom: Cost, control and traveller experience

Senior corporate buyers from the region, joined by an international hosted buyer, on balancing budgets, policy and the traveller.

Executive buyer roundtable · 40 min

The UAE's AI ambition and what it means for business travel

Technology and government leaders on the UAE's AI strategy and its impact on how companies plan, book and manage travel, with a buyer's perspective.

Moderated leadership conversation · 30 min

WBTF Connections Lunch

Hosted tables led by airlines, hotels and payment, technology and mobility providers.

Hosted networking · 70 min

The Seamless Journey: AI, payments and personalisation

Case studies on how commercial payments and AI are creating a more personal, frictionless trip, tested by regional and international buyers.

Case-study conversation · 35 min

The Travel Management Showdown: Digital challenger vs global TMC

A head-to-head debate between a digital travel platform and a global travel management company, moderated by a corporate buyer. A jury of international hosted buyers scores each round.

Buyer-led debate · 30 min

Coffee, networking and partner experience

Break · 25 min

Door to Door: The future of ground mobility

Fast-paced showcases from ground transport providers, with a regional buyer putting the questions.

Lightning showcase · 20 min

The Accommodation Strategy Boardroom: Rethinking corporate stays

Corporate accommodation buyers, booking platforms, hotel groups and specialists on the future of corporate hotel programmes.

Strategic leadership conversation · 30 min

WBTF Commitment and closing

The Forum's commitments for the year ahead and closing remarks from the founders.

Closing remarks · 5 min

Draft programme, subject to change. Speakers will be announced once confirmed.

Hosted Buyer Programme 2027

Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific

Are you a corporate travel buyer based in Europe, the Americas or Asia Pacific? Apply for one of a limited number of hosted places.

  • Travel and accommodation support
  • Full access to the Forum day and a place in the WBTF Buyer Community
  • Pre-arranged meetings with leading airlines, hotels, payment and technology providers
  • Lower-carbon routing where possible, including rail within the UAE
  • Places allocated through a short online application
Two executives meeting in an airport lounge

Why take part

Two communities. One agenda.

The Forum is built so that both sides of the business travel market leave with more than they came with.

For corporate leaders

Procurement, finance, HR, travel, security and facility directors, and executive assistants.

  • Exclusive corporate-only sessions and a buyers' lounge
  • Free participation for corporate buyers, with your data never sold or shared
  • Scheduled meetings with the suppliers you choose
  • Best practice from peers and industry thought leaders
  • New solutions for travel, meetings and mobility programmes

For the travel industry

Airlines, hotel chains, TMCs, GDS, payment and expense providers, car rental, ground transport, insurance, safety, security and visa services.

  • Position your brand as a thought leader on the main stage
  • Meet qualified corporate decision-makers who have chosen to meet you
  • Showcase products and launch innovations
  • Coverage from local, regional and global media

The WBTF year

Dubai is our home. The world is our agenda.

One flagship Annual Meeting in Dubai every November, with smaller regional editions through the year. The regional editions travel, starting in the region, and in time move on to Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific.

  1. Q1

    Dubai, 3 February 2027

    The fourth edition of the Forum: Business Travel Reimagined.

    Registration open
  2. Before summer

    Regional edition

    A one-day edition in a host city in the region.

    City to be announced
  3. September

    Regional edition

    A second one-day regional edition after the summer.

    City to be announced
  4. November

    The Annual Meeting

    The flagship gathering in Dubai, every year. Launch of the annual research and the Dubai Declaration commitments.

    2027 date and venue to be announced

Cities, dates and the name of the regional series will be announced in 2027. Destinations interested in hosting a regional edition can contact the Secretariat.

A lower-impact forum

We hold our own events to the standard we ask of the industry.

Measured

Every edition publishes its travel and venue footprint after the event, and the figures are reported again a year later.

Low-carbon

Hosted buyers are routed the lower-carbon way where possible, and venues and hotels are chosen on credible environmental standards.

The 2025 meeting

Sofitel Dubai Downtown, 26 November 2025

The previous edition opened with a corporate-only session on the challenges of travel management, followed by a keynote on the role of AI and data in corporate sourcing.

See the 2025 programme
  • Untangling Travel: challenges and opportunities of corporate travel management

  • Opening keynote: the role of AI and data in corporate sourcing

  • Uber for Business: smarter mobility solutions

  • WegoPro: emerging markets, the next frontier for corporate travel innovation

  • Nomadic | Fragomen: beyond the visa, cross-border travel compliance

Join us in Dubai on 3 February 2027.