Enabling cooperation between security experts

SIRA played a key, participating role at the ISJ Leaders in Security Conference 2023.

SIRA (Security Industry Regulatory Agency) recently joined senior security leaders from the Middle East & Africa at the ISJ Leaders in Security Conference 2023 as a supportive governmental partner.

The conference – once again organised by International Security Journal after its successful launch in Dubai in 2022, the capital of security leadership in the region – focussed on the latest security challenges on a global level, enabling participants and delegates to share experiences and create cooperation and communication opportunities between security experts from several countries at the level of private security in all its fields.

Additionally, this conference is an awareness and educational event that contributes to informing experts and personnel working in the security sector about the latest technologies; this is in line with SIRA’s vision and its leadership role as a unique organisational body for the private security sector.

This year’s event was held at the Grosvenor Hotel, Dubai Marina, in the presence of H.E. Khalifa Ibrahim Al Saleis, CEO, SIRA as well as directors of the various departments who joined many discussions on the main stage whilst also spending the day meeting with the agency’s clients of security companies and security professionals in attendance.

The conference was opened by Ian Stokes, CEO, Centurian Media Ltd. and John Cowling, Conference Chair and District Security Manager Middle East & CIS, Caterpillar; both pointed out that launching the conference first from Dubai is one of the most important grounds for success and continuity, commending the role of strategic and supportive partners.

H.E. Khalifa Ibrahim Al Saleis delivered the Keynote Address at the conference entitled “Security Industry Between Present and Future”, in which he laid out the significant data regarding the challenges of developing AI mechanisms and the role thereof in present security threats around the world – as well as the key axis of their proactive preparation and response.

H.E. also pointed out the position held by the Arab Gulf in general, and the United Arab Emirates in particular, and its prominence in global security according to the Gallup World Poll’s report, adding that this is due to the Gulf Governments’ investment in the development of the security sector’s infrastructure and being constantly up to date with the latest modern technologies, particularly AI, its concern for community welfare as well as happiness; this was reflected in the growth of the Gulf market’s security sector at higher rates than the global growth rates.

As a specialist and expert body in Dubai, SIRA contributed to discussions by further enriching some of the most important sessions. Engineer Arif Al Janahi, Director of the Department of Security Engineering, participated in a discussion about the key pillars to be considered by security leaders, such as technology, security cadres and professional security training.

Eng. Khalid Alhamadi, Director of the Department of Standardisation and Metrology, participated in the discussion about securing the tourism and trade sector as well as events, assessing their impact on economic stability. Asma Abdulhamid Mohammed Gabanji also took part in the interactive panel discussion titled: ‘Cybersecurity and Information Management in a Changing World’.