Alex Nicholl, Show Director of Intersec, gives the rundown on everything to expect for fire and safety professionals at the 25^th edition of Intersec

How will Intersec 2024 build upon previous years in terms of scale and offerings?

Intersec 2024 will be the 25^th edition of Intersec and we are celebrating 25 years of innovating security tech.

The show will be a celebration of the history of the event, of the milestones that have been achieved and of course look to the future of security in the region and beyond.

Over the years, the exhibition has developed a reputation for being an unmissable part of the industry calendar, and this Silver Jubilee edition is on course to be the biggest event yet.

Currently we are expecting a 20% increase in exhibitors from around the world, with many joining for the first time in 2024.

Intersec 2024 is also very fortunate that the UAE Government bodies in the respective sectors place a huge value on the event for what it brings to the region, and each aspect finds strong affiliations with the respective UAE government bodies, showcasing the resolute commitment of the UAE Government to these critical industries.

The security sector aligns with Dubai Police and the Security Industry Regulatory Authority (SIRA), while the Fire & Rescue division enjoys close ties with Dubai Civil Defence.

Simultaneously, the safety sector receives backing from Dubai Municipality, and the cyber sector’s significance is highlighted by the presence of the UAE Cyber Security Council and Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC).

Can you highlight some of the standout features or innovations attendees can expect?

Attendees to Intersec 2024 can anticipate a myriad of standout features and innovations – and many of the popular features from previous years will be returning even bigger.

These include the ‘Attack Zone’ – a cutting-edge platform for attendees to explore and experience real-world demonstrations, offering invaluable insights into the most innovative and effective security solutions, and the ‘Safety Walk’ providing attendees with a firsthand look at state-of-the-art firefighting and rescue equipment, the latest safety solutions, and emerging trends in this critical sector.

New for this year will be the ‘Technical Rescue Pavilion’, a specialised zone catering to attendees with a focus on technical rescue and emergency response, and explore the latest equipment, methodologies, and best practices in the field of technical rescue.

The ‘in{cyber}’ feature at Intersec 2024 is a dedicated area for attendees to delve into the world of cybersecurity.

Attendees will have the opportunity to explore state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions, engage with industry experts, and stay at the forefront of safeguarding digital assets and critical information.

In addition, this feature will host the Future Defenders Hack Arena, a purpose-built feature delivering specific tracks for school students, universities and CISOs.

Teams and individuals can participate through registration on the Intersec website and winners will receive prizes and recognition from industry’s leading bodies.

All of these features at Intersec 2024 have been specially designed to offer attendees an engaging and informative experience, fostering a deeper understanding of the future of safety and security in various industries.

In addition, the Intersec Awards will return during the event, to shine a spotlight on the best and brightest achievements within the safety and security industry.

This popular event is a celebration of innovation, excellence, and industry leadership, acknowledging organisations and individuals who have made outstanding contributions, highlighting the dedication and ingenuity that drive our industries forward.

How is this year’s event facilitating networking opportunities?

Intersec 2024 really is the platform for networking and building relationships for anyone who is anyone in the fire, safety and security industries.

With over 1000 exhibitors on the exhibition floor and more than 150 expert speakers across all of the conference streams, the number of experts and decision makers in one place for three days is unmatched.

On top of that, the incredible support from the UAE government for Intersec means that there will be a significant number of key players in attendance too.

For networking, one of the most important features of Intersec is the Premium Club, a dedicated hosted space for qualified buyers to meet, network and do business on the show floor.

There are also many other opportunities, from exhibitors hosting events on stands and of course to the Intersec Awards ceremony – a chance for attendees to celebrate while rubbing shoulders with the innovators and industry leaders in attendance.

Business in the Middle East in particular places a premium value on face-to-face networking, and Intersec really is the industry’s largest platform in the region for the industry to forge lasting connections and to get business done.

What themes or trends are driving the direction of Intersec 2024?

The theme this year is “Innovating security tech for a quarter of a century” – as it is the 25^th edition of Intersec.

With this incredible heritage, Intersec 2024 will build on this while also looking to the future, with dedicated conference streams, including the exclusive Security Leaders’ Summit (ISLS) exploring trends in sustainable security and geopolitical risk intelligence, the Cyber Security Conference, hosted by the UAE Cybersecurity Council, delving into metaverse security and Zero Trust Architecture, and the Safety & Health Conference emphasising workplace safety and well-being.

The Fire & Rescue Conference hosted by the Dubai Civil Defence will discuss strategies and best practices across topics such as emergency response planning, fire safety and compliance and community engagement.

At the same time, the Thought Leadership Pavilion, hosted by the Access Control Executive Brief, will address a range of topics across a central theme of the future of the access control and smart lock industry.

What is on the agenda for fire and safety professionals at Intersec 2024?

Fire and safety professionals attending Intersec will benefit from the chance to meet and interact with a huge number of exhibitors, from the biggest industry names to new and innovative start ups, to discover opportunities and innovations as well as forge relationships for the future.

In addition, the dedicated Fire and Rescue conference, hosted by Dubai Civil Defence, will address issues as wide ranging as critical infrastructure, climate change and hazmat response, plus focusing on topics including innovations in fire protection and detection as well as advanced firefighting technologies, the Fire & Rescue Conference at Intersec will create a pivotal meeting point for global leaders in fire and emergency services.

Given the pivotal role of the Fire & Rescue industry, can you highlight any advancements or state-of-the-art solutions that attendees from this sector should look out for?

The beauty of Intersec is that is creates a focal point for the industry to come together – with thousands of products across the whole supply chain on display at Intersec, it’s impossible to pick just a few to focus on.

 The five pillars of the exhibition are Commercial & Perimeter Security, Homeland Security, Fire & Rescue, Safety & Health, and Cyber Security, and each section includes an incredible number of exhibitors who will be displaying the latest innovations, trends and technologies.

Finally, how is Intersec 2024 fostering collaborations and discussions around global fire and safety standards?

It’s so difficult to select just a few examples – Intersec attracts exhibitors from around 60 countries from all regions of the world.

With exhibitors travelling from as far afield as the USA, Japan, India and much of Europe, one of the aspects of Intersec that make it such an attractive event is the global representation seen each year.

I would certainly encourage anyone who is looking to discover the latest advancements and innovations in fire and safety to attend in order to interact with exhibitors from around the world – Intersec is the region’s leading platform for the industry.

This article was originally published in the December 2023 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.