Intersec 2026: Inside Messe Frankfurt’s largest Intersec yet
Iain Hoey
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Intersec returns to Dubai in January 2026 for its 27th edition, during a period of rapid transformation across the global safety, security and fire protection sectors
Intersec Dubai 2026 will take place from 12 to 14 January at the Dubai World Trade Centre, marking the 27th edition of the international security, safety and fire protection exhibition.
The 2026 event is set to be the largest in Intersec’s history, spanning 67,000 m² of exhibition space, a 13 percent expansion on the previous year.
More than 1,400 exhibitors from over 60 countries are expected, alongside an anticipated 50,000 trade visitors.
Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and supported by Dubai Civil Defense and the Security Industry Regulatory Agency, Intersec continues to reflect the UAE’s emphasis on safety, resilience and infrastructure protection, with the country having been ranked the world’s safest in 2025.
Dishan Isaac, Show Director at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said the scale of the 2026 edition reflects Intersec’s role as a convening point for industry and government.
“Intersec continues to set the benchmark for advancing global dialogue and partnerships in security, safety and fire protection,” he said.
“The growth of the 2026 edition reinforces the event’s role as a platform where industry leaders, innovators and government stakeholders come together to shape the future of emergency response and infrastructure protection.”
Fire and rescue at the centre of the programme
Fire and rescue remains one of Intersec’s five core sectors, alongside commercial security, cybersecurity, homeland security and policing, and health and safety.
For 2026, the fire strand places strong emphasis on operational technology, emergency response capability and system-level integration.
Across the exhibition floor, fire professionals can expect large-scale showcases of firefighting equipment, new product launches and live demonstrations covering suppression, rescue and incident response.
Major international manufacturers and solution providers will be present, including NAFFCO, which continues as a strategic partner of the event.
Eng. Khalid Al Khatib, CEO of NAFFCO, described Intersec as a key forum for both technical development and sector engagement.
“As a global leader in fire safety solutions and a trusted strategic partner of Intersec, NAFFCO values the event as a driving force for innovation, visibility and industry-wide engagement,” he said.
“Intersec stands out as a global premier event where next-generation technologies are unveiled, decision-makers connect and the future of fire protection is actively shaped.”
That focus on launch activity and live demonstration is likely to make Intersec particularly relevant for operational leaders and procurement teams seeking to compare apparatus, systems and supplier capability within a single environment.
Fire and rescue conference programme
Running across all three days, the Fire and Rescue Conference forms a central part of Intersec’s professional programme.
The agenda brings together fire officers, policymakers, engineers and researchers to examine developments across emergency management, life safety systems and operational decision-making.
Sessions will address applications of AI in fire prediction, building life safety system design, firefighter decision-making under pressure and human behaviour in crisis conditions.
Wider themes include advances in passive fire protection, evolving fire codes and standards, and the influence of climate change on fire dynamics.
The conference positions innovation alongside lived operational experience, drawing on regional and international expertise to explore how emerging research and technology can be applied in real-world fire and rescue contexts.
The programme is supported by an expert advisory committee and sponsored by organisations including NFPA, Fike and FM Approvals, reinforcing its technical credibility and global relevance.
Fire apparatus, data and future fleet direction
Intersec 2026 also reflects growing regional interest in how fire service fleets are evolving.
Dubai Civil Defense has been at the forefront of this shift, integrating AI-assisted dispatch and navigation systems to optimise response routing and deploying electric fire vehicles as early as 2021.
Other services in the region are now assessing hybrid and electric platforms with fast-charging capability, balancing sustainability objectives with the performance demands of frontline response.
Connected vehicles, drone-supported incident intelligence and predictive analytics are increasingly part of this conversation.
Gulf civil defence agencies have also been examining platforms such as the Rosenbauer RT electric fire engine, already in operational use in cities including Berlin and Los Angeles, as potential models for future deployment.
At Intersec, these developments are expected to feature both on the exhibition floor and within conference discussion, reflecting a broader shift towards intelligent, data-driven emergency response aligned with smart city infrastructure.
Passive fire protection moves into focus
One of the most significant developments for Intersec 2026 is the attention given to passive fire protection.
On 14 January, the exhibition will host Passive Fire Day, powered by the Association for Specialist Fire Protection.
The programme is linked to the ASFP’s initiative, “From Trade to Profession – A Professional Future for Passive Fire Protection”, which aims to reposition passive fire protection as a defined professional discipline.
Passive fire protection elements such as firestopping, fire doors, fire-resistant materials and coatings have historically been treated as secondary considerations in many projects.
Passive Fire Day is designed to address that gap through structured discussion around early design integration, installer competency, inspection regimes and regulatory compliance.
Sessions will explore building regulation developments, case studies, fire door installation best practice and emerging competency frameworks for installers and inspectors, with the stated aim of reinforcing the role of passive measures in maintaining life safety.
PFPCon ’26 Dubai and professional certification
Intersec’s passive fire programme is extended through the introduction of the FCIA-NFCA Passive Fire Protection Conference 2026, co-located with the exhibition.
PFPCon ’26 Dubai marks the first dedicated passive fire protection conference of its kind in the Middle East, delivered by the Firestop Contractors International Association and the National Fireproofing Contractors Association.
The conference offers technical workshops, panel discussions and peer networking, alongside the opportunity for attendees to sit FM and UL Firestop certification exams during the show.
By combining conference content with accessible certification routes, Intersec 2026 positions itself as a focal point for contractors, inspectors, engineers and consultants seeking to strengthen professional credentials alongside technical knowledge.
Health and safety and the wider protection ecosystem
Beyond fire response and building safety, Intersec continues to position health and safety as a connected discipline.
The Health and Safety Conference 2026, powered by IOSH, will run on 12 and 13 January, bringing together safety managers, industry leaders and specialists to examine workplace protection and worker wellbeing.
Agenda topics include AI-enabled risk assessment, occupational health and mental wellbeing, and safety challenges in high-risk sectors such as construction and transport.
IOSH’s involvement is further reflected in governance, with its President, Richard Bate, serving on the Intersec Awards judging panel.
On the exhibition floor, PPE and frontline protection will be highlighted through the return of the Safety Walk, a live feature that combines product demonstration with on-stage presentation.
Suppliers will showcase helmets, protective clothing, gloves, harnesses and other equipment, with interactive elements allowing attendees to assess comfort, functionality and design improvements.
Smart safety technologies and training tools
A broader theme running through Intersec 2026 is the integration of smart safety technologies.
Wearable sensors, biometric monitoring and VR-based training tools are increasingly being adopted to improve hazard awareness and reduce injury risk.
Industry analysis cited ahead of the show projects the global smart PPE market to exceed $8 billion by 2030, driven by investment in connected safety equipment.
Examples include biometric wearables that monitor fatigue and strain risk, and immersive training simulations that improve emergency response readiness.
For fire and safety professionals, Intersec provides a setting to assess how these tools can be integrated into operational programmes, training environments and prevention strategies.
Awards, recognition and sector leadership
The Intersec Awards 2026 will take place on the evening of 13 January, recognising achievement across fire, safety and security.
Now in their fifth edition, the awards include dedicated fire and safety categories such as Best Active Fire Safety Product, Best Passive Fire Safety Product and Best Fire Safety Project – Middle East & Africa, alongside awards that recognise organisational impact and professional leadership.
NAFFCO serves as Founding Partner for the 2026 awards, with additional category sponsorship from organisations including Fike.
The awards are judged by a panel that reflects the breadth of the sector, combining regulatory, operational, technical and professional expertise.
Judges include Lt. Col. Dr. Essa Almutawa of Dubai Civil Defense, Olga Caledonia, Director of International Operations at NFPA, Mike Ward, Managing Director of the ASFP, and Terry Johnson, Regional President of the Institution of Fire Engineers, alongside senior consultants from across the Middle East and international markets.
For attendees, the awards programme provides more than ceremony.
Shortlisted projects, products and organisations offer a practical reference point for how fire safety, life safety and protection systems are being delivered, assessed and governed across different jurisdictions, highlighting approaches that have translated technical intent into measurable outcomes.
A multi-dimensional event for the sector
Intersec Dubai 2026 brings together exhibition scale, professional discussion, training and recognition within a single programme, creating multiple entry points for fire and safety professionals with different responsibilities and priorities.
For operational leaders, the exhibition offers direct access to apparatus, systems and technologies that can be evaluated side by side, supported by live demonstrations and technical engagement with manufacturers and suppliers.
For engineers, consultants and regulators, the conference programmes and passive fire protection focus provide structured discussion around standards, design integration, competency and compliance, supported by international perspectives and regional case studies.
Professional development is embedded throughout the event, from technical workshops and certification exams to CPD-accredited conference sessions.
At the same time, networking remains a central function, with opportunities to engage informally on the show floor and through curated business matchmaking programmes.
Taken together, Intersec 2026 positions itself as a working environment for the sector, where strategy, practice and professional standards are examined in parallel rather than in isolation.
