Intersec 2023: A truly global event in Dubai

To anyone in the security, fire and protection industries, Intersec is a familiar exhibition and an important part of the annual calendar.

The 24^th edition of the must-attend event is taking place 17-19 January 2023 at Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai. Bringing together key players in Commercial & Perimeter Security, Homeland Security, Fire & Rescue, Safety & Health and Cyber Security, Intersec creates a unique platform for buyers, sellers and decision makers to meet, network and do business.

The exhibition brings the latest technology and innovations from around the world to Dubai. What’s more, Intersec is truly global, expecting more than 850 exhibitors from around the world – and an incredible 80% of the companies exhibiting are travelling from as far afield as the USA, Europe and Asia, in addition to the wider Middle East region.

In fact, Intersec 2023 will be almost one and a half times bigger than Intersec 2022, demonstrating that the industry’s appetite for large events is returning.

The five pillars of Intersec are Commercial & Perimeter Security, Homeland Security, Fire & Rescue, Safety & Health, and Cyber Security. One of the key reasons that Intersec remains a market leading event year after year is that every element is affiliated with the relevant government entities in the UAE, which, along with the Patronage of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, demonstrates the commitment of the UAE Government to these important industries.

Dubai Police and the Security Industry Regulatory Authority (SIRA) are affiliated with the security sector; Dubai Civil Defence with the Fire & Rescue element of Intersec; Dubai Municipality supports the safety sector and the Cyber Security Council and Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) underscores the importance of the cyber sector. It is a testament to the value that the region places on these industries and how Intersec brings them together in Dubai, that the event receives so much official patronage and affiliation.

A gathering of industry names

The exhibitor list at Intersec 2023 underscores the importance of the exhibition to all five key sectors across the entire value chain.

For the Fire & Rescue section in particular, there are over 400 fire sector exhibitors taking part at Intersec 2023 from all corners of the globe. One key exhibitor, a founding partner of Intersec 2023, will be NAFFCO – one of the world’s leading producers and suppliers of top-tier firefighting equipment, fire protection systems, fire alarms, security and safety engineering systems worldwide.

The fire industry exhibitors at Intersec 2023 span the entire spectrum of products and services in the industry, including alarm panels, smoke detection systems, extinguishers and firefighting foams, pumps and equipment, rescue equipment and hoses and nozzles, to name a few. Intersec will host exhibitors from all corners of the globe; in fact, around 70% of the industry’s global market leaders will be at Intersec 2023.

Commercial & Perimeter Security, the second largest sector represented at Intersec 2023, will feature companies such as PERCo, a leading Russian manufacturer of security systems and equipment, Traka, part of ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions from the UK – a global leader in intelligent management solutions for keys and equipment – as well as wireless electronic locking and access control smart solutions provider, Salto.

Also within the Commercial Security sector will be IDIS Global, returning for their tenth appearance at Intersec, whose primary launch at the show will be a new range of advanced and highly accurate edge AI dome and bullet cameras as well as its innovation for SMES, AI Box for Surveillance.

In addition, IDIS will also be showcasing its AI Box for Retail, the DV-1304, which will give smaller retailers all the benefits of AI-powered business and customer intelligence whilst also displaying a new comprehensive line-up of NDAA-compliant, end-to-end video solutions including network cameras, NVRs, a choice of VMS and deep learning analytics tech.

Homeland Security is dedicated to products and solutions for homeland security, law enforcement, airports and aviation security. Exhibitors in this section will include strategic sponsor SAFE, from Saudi Arabia, alongside Singapore-based global technology, defence and engineering group ST Engineering and leading developer and manufacturer of metal detectors for security applications, Garrett, from the USA. In addition, AGMC, one of the largest importers for the BMW Group in the Middle East, will be participating for the first time at Intersec and plans to launch four police bikes and two armoured cars.

The Safety and Health sector will be divided into environmental, industrial and public health and safety, with representatives including Carrington Textiles, the largest producer of workwear fabrics in the UK, producing over 55 million metres of fabric annually and exporting to more than 80 countries worldwide; joining Carrington will be exhibitors from around the globe such as Abdulshakoor Abdullah Algarawi General Trading from Saudi Arabia, Kivanc from Turkey, Arvind Limited from India and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA), from the UK.

Cyber Security will host cyber solutions and experts, from national leaders to public and private sector professionals, from cyber connoisseurs to advisors and cyber economists to corporate buyers. NX Digital Technology, a leading artificial intelligence and cybersecurity service provider in the Middle East will be exhibiting in this sector as well as FM Approvals from the USA and Cellebrite GmbH from Israel.

Dubai Electronic Security Centre (DESC), the Official Government Partner of Intersec 2023, will be running a live simulation team-based workshop. Participants will get the chance to act on both sides, first, as the attackers attempting to breach a simulation, before then switching to investigate, document and protect against a previous simulated attack.

Organisers anticipate up to 30,000 security, emergency response, safety and cybersecurity professionals attending Intersec 2023, in addition to receiving delegations of Civil Defence representatives, including Director Generals, from around the region, including other Emirates such as Abu Dhabi and Sharjah as well as Saudi Arabia and other locations within the GCC.

New features add a new dimension for Intersec 2023

The addition of fantastic new features will bring a new dimension to Intersec for the 2023 edition. These include: The Fire Fighter Challenge, in association with 911 Fighter Challenge and supported by Dubai Civil Defense; the Attack Zone, hosted by the Loss Prevention Certification Board; the Safety Walk showcase where exhibitors can showcase and demonstrate the latest safety clothing and products; the Tech Stage gathering tech disruptors, innovators and thought leaders; the Start Smart Zone, connecting start-ups directly with key decisions makers, buyers and investors.

Introducing friendly competition among the region’s firefighters, the Fire Fighter Challenge is being run in collaboration with the 911 Fighter Challenger and is supported by Dubai Civil Defence. Taking part will be firefighters from governments, civil defence, oil and gas, aviation, marine and educational institutions across the GCC and Jordan, who will showcase their real life actions through entertaining stages, demonstrate their equipment in action and draw attention to extraordinary fitness levels.

The Intersec Attack Zone, hosted by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB), is where exhibitors will put their products to the ultimate test against breaching times and breakthrough limits in live-action demonstrations. The LPCB will assess competitors on its standards and four British exhibitors – Barkers Fencing, Eagle Automation, Frontier Pitts and Sunray – have already confirmed they will take up the challenge, among others.

On day three of Intersec, DWTC’s Hall 2 will host the Safety Walk – a catwalk-style show of industrial safety gear where exhibitors will have 15 minutes to describe the features of their kit being modelled to an audience of fire and safety visitors, government officials as well as construction and oil professionals. A range of international producers have already committed to the showcase, including Germany’s Drager, the USA’s MSA Safety, UAE-based Safetix-securite and Raja International, the UK’s Centurion Safety Products and Kivanc Group of Turkey.

The Start Smart Zone will hand the spotlight over to all start-up exhibitors wanting to connect with key decision-makers, buyers and investors, as well as garner support to scale-up their businesses. The Tech Stage meanwhile will run across all three days and will be where exhibitors will unveil breakthrough innovations, including virtual reality solutions, anti-drone technology and newly formulated safety materials.

Conference streams to improve industry knowledge

Intersec 2023 will also feature a comprehensive conference stream with four dedicated segments including the Intersec Security Leaders’ Summit, Cybersecurity Conference, Fire & Rescue Conference, hosted by Dubai Civil Defense, and Safety & Health Seminars; each one has been specifically developed to bring together the best and brightest minds in their respective market sector to offer the most value to attendees. Attendees to these events will benefit from knowledge and insights from key players from around the world.

The Security Leaders’ Summit will be a high level strategic summit for the leaders and stakeholders of the security industry to collaborate, innovate and actively seek new technologies to meet the rapidly changing needs of the industry. The two-day summit will convene government officials and security leaders across industries by invitation to discuss the key themes of government strategies, homeland security and policing, commercial and perimeter security and cutting-edge technology.

The Cybersecurity Seminar will feature the latest trends, drivers, challenges and successful case studies across industries that are playing a substantial role in shaping the cybersecurity industry growth. With an increase in cyber-threats and cyber-terrorism, countries are now investing, profoundly driving the expansion of the cybersecurity industry in the Middle East and Africa; the region’s cybersecurity market size was valued at USD 5.92 Billion in 2021, projected to reach USD 19.79 Billion by 2030.

The Fire & Rescue conference at Intersec is hosted by Dubai Civil Defence and has been specifically designed to address the challenges and opportunities that are unique to the GCC region as well as introduce the latest innovative technological advancements.

The agenda for the conference focuses on several key themes: Standards & Policies, which will feature an update on the regional standards and policies and what we can learn from other countries outside the region; New Energy sources, assessing the risks associated with new and sustainable energy resources and taking measures to prevent fire breakouts; Innovation & Technology, dealing with changes in the fire environment due to innovative technologies and finding new solutions to existing and emerging challenges before an emergency response is required; Education, identifying the greatest hazards facing the communities and using that information to create education and prevention programs to reduce the effect of those hazards; Collaboration, which will examine how to adopt a collaborative plan for disaster management, working together with other nations.

The Safety & Health Conference taking place at Intersec has been designed to help attendees navigate the latest UAE and other MENA regulatory changes and align with global best practices to deliver a strong health and safety culture suitable for the current environment. This CPD-certified conference hosted by the government, associations and industry champions will ensure that safety professionals remain up to date with current market needs and how to overcome the challenges with regional and global best practices.

Awards will recognise achievement

Another key opportunity to interact with the whole industry will be the Intersec Awards – a glittering gala dinner dedicated to celebrating success and innovation. Taking place during the evening on the second day of Intersec, 18 January at the Ritz Carlton Dubai, the ceremony will recognise and reward the products and people in the industry for innovation, sustainability, commitment and achievement.

With around 350 attendees expected for the celebration, it provides a collegiate yet professional platform for networking with industry peers.

Intersec 2023 has the support of Dubai Police, the Directorate General of Dubai Civil Defence, The Security Industry Regulatory Agency and Dubai Municipality. For more information or to register to attend, please visit: https://intersec.ae.messefrankfurt.com/dubai/en.html

This article was originally published in the January 2023 edition of International Security Journal. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.