NFPA to headline Fire & Rescue Conference programme on Day 2 at Intersec

NFPA confirms Intersec Dubai participation

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has announced the line up for its participation at Intersec Dubai, scheduled to take place from Sunday 12 January 2026 to Tuesday 14 January 2026 at Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The 2026 edition of Intersec Dubai is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Ports and Border Security Council.

The event will bring together global and regional industry leaders to examine challenges and opportunities linked to rapid infrastructure growth and development across the Gulf region.

NFPA Day planned for Fire & Rescue Conference

As part of its participation, NFPA will host NFPA Day on Day 2 of the Fire & Rescue Conference.

The dedicated programme will bring together senior government officials, private-sector leaders and industry experts for a full day of panel discussions and expert-led sessions.

The agenda focuses on artificial intelligence, mega-project safety and the energy transition, with sessions framed around fire and life safety practice across the Middle East.

Leadership perspectives on Intersec Dubai

Jim Pauley, President and CEO of NFPA, said: “Intersec Dubai 2026 is a critical catalyst for advancing fire and life safety across the region.

“By convening global experts and innovators, the event fosters collaboration, drives knowledge exchange, and accelerates the adoption of cutting-edge solutions that save lives.

“This mission aligns seamlessly with NFPA’s commitment to shaping a safer future.

“As the Middle East undergoes rapid infrastructure growth, Intersec provides the ideal forum to highlight safety standards and address emerging challenges head-on.

“We are very pleased to further this dialogue by hosting NFPA Day on Day 2 of the Fire & Rescue Conference”

Mike Brunzell, Vice President, Global Business Development at NFPA, added: “NFPA Day, hosted on Day 2 of the Fire & Rescue Conference at Intersec Dubai 2026, will be an important opportunity to advance fire and life safety across the region.

“Intersec is the premier platform that brings together global experts and innovators, and NFPA is proud to contribute by delivering actionable insights and proven standards that help mitigate risks and protect lives.

“NFPA’s presence at Intersec underpins our commitment to empowering stakeholders with the knowledge and tools needed to set new benchmarks for safety.”

NFPA Day agenda in full

NFPA Day is scheduled for Tuesday 13 January and will run from late morning through to the afternoon.

The programme opens at 11:30 with opening remarks from Mike Brunzell, Vice President, Global Business Development at NFPA.

At 11:40, the Welcome Address will be delivered by Jim Pauley, President and CEO at NFPA, alongside Lt. Col. Dr Essa Ahmed Al Mutawa, Assistant Commander for Smart Services & Chief AI Officer at Dubai Civil Defence.

A panel discussion titled “Transforming Vision into Action: Advancing fire and life safety through joint initiatives” begins at 12:00.

The session will be moderated by Dana Kamal, Director, International Development MENA at NFPA.

Panellists include Major Eng. Ali Hassan Al Madfai, Head of Executive Affairs at Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority, Eng. Salma Humaid Saeed, Head of Drawings and Projects Section, Directorate General at Dubai Civil Defence, Major Mohamed Al Abbar, Head of the Inspection Division at Bahrain General Directorate of Civil Defence, and Abdurahman Al Ghanem, Mechanical & Fire and Safety Engineer at Qatar Civil Defence.

At 12:40, the programme moves to “Modernising Fire Protection with AI: What works today with NFPA 915, BFOA 72 and NFPA 4.”

The session will be delivered by Ibrahim Lari, CEO at Sibca, and Richard Peason, Chief Product Officer at Omniconn, and will focus on AI-driven tools for inspections and alarm systems aligned with NFPA standards.

A fireside chat titled “Leading with Purpose: A fireside chat with Jim Pauley, on global leadership and Impact” follows at 13:10.

The discussion will feature Jim Pauley and Olga Caledonia, Director International Business Development at NFPA.

At 13:30, attention turns to mega-project risk in a session and panel discussion titled “Building the Future: Managing Fire and Life Safety Challenges in Mega Projects.”

The session will be moderated by Sawsan Dahham, Founder & Chief Executive Officer at SIENA.

Panellists include Mohammed Al Saeefan, Fire Protection Engineering Specialist at Saudi Aramco, Khalid Al Mandil, Executive Director and Fire Commissioner at Red Sea Global, Major Mohamed Al Hanaee, Fire Protection Engineer at Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority, and Ihab Al Bairam, AVP Community Management at Damac.

At 14:30, Lorraine Carli, Vice President for Outreach & Advocacy at NFPA, will deliver a presentation titled “Facing the global challenge of energy transition.”

The agenda continues at 14:50 with a panel discussion titled “Navigating Fire and Life Safety Standards across the UAE Construction Sector.”

This session will be moderated by David Campbell, General Manager at Emirates Safety Laboratory.

Panellists include Steve Hamm, CEO at IFE, Maher AlAlam, Specification & BOQ Manager at SIENA, Lieutenant Col Dr. Hamad Abdulkarim Al Maazmi, Director of the Protection and Safety Department at Sharjah Civil Defence Authority, and Eng. Mohamed Al Marzooqi, Engineer – Civil Protection Department at Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority.

At 15:30, a panel discussion titled “High-hazard Safety Focus: Leveraging NFPA codes and standards to protect people and assets” will be held.

The session will be moderated by Zahi Daher, International Business Development Manager – KSA at NFPA.

Panellists include Jazyah AlDossary, Fire Protection Engineer and Training Supervisor at Saudi Aramco, Dr. Aissam Bouadjel, Head – HSEQ at Fujairah Oil Industrial Zone, Captain Eng. Salman Albuflasa, Protection & Safety Officer at General Directorate of Civil Defense – Kingdom of Bahrain, and Capt. Eng Abdulrahman Alghanem, Mechanical, Fire & Safety Engineer at Qatar Civil Defence.

Closing remarks are scheduled for 16:00 and will be delivered by Mike Brunzell.

How NFPA Day aligns with regional priorities

The NFPA Day programme places joint initiatives between civil defence authorities and industry stakeholders at the centre of its agenda.

Sessions focused on construction standards and mega-projects align with ongoing development activity across the UAE and wider Gulf region.

The inclusion of AI-driven inspection and alarm technologies reflects growing interest in digital tools that align with established codes and standards.

What this agenda means for safety stakeholders

Senior fire and rescue leaders and government departments can use the published agenda to understand where inter-agency coordination and shared initiatives are being discussed at Intersec Dubai 2026.

Fire engineers, consultants, architects and building services engineers may focus on sessions addressing construction-sector standards, mega-project risk and the application of NFPA codes in complex developments.

Fire safety officers, risk assessors and facility managers working in high-hazard environments may find value in discussions centred on applying NFPA standards to protect people and assets.

System installers and fire-protection contractors may track developments linked to AI-enabled inspection and alarm systems alongside any announcements made during the NFPA LiNK keynote session.