Fire protection lessons emerging from Saudi Arabia’s giga-project boom
Iain Hoey
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Giga-project security and fire protection under discussion at Intersec Saudi Arabia
Industry experts at Intersec Saudi Arabia gathered on Tuesday 30 September 2025 to discuss specialised security frameworks for the Kingdom’s giga-projects.
The panel, titled “Giga-Projects Security: Specialised Protection Frameworks for Sustainable Development,” examined how customised safety and security systems are supporting Saudi Arabia’s large-scale developments while advancing environmental goals.
Speakers included Rasheed Alzahrani, Safety & Security Director at King Salman Park Foundation, and Thamer Alsufiani, Senior Director – Security Operations at Red Sea Global.
Both highlighted the importance of building protection systems that align sustainability, innovation and resilience within the Kingdom’s future cities.
Integrating sustainability into security and fire protection
Alsufiani said: “The keyword is balance, security has to be the bridge between why sustainability, innovation, and resilience.
“It also has to be a mandate to fulfil the sustainability environment across the board, and that is why we embed security into green design.
“Sustainable security is innovative, and innovative security must be resilient, and that is the key.”
He explained that effective security governance depends on measuring performance beyond incident rates.
He said security KPIs should also reflect the broader sustainability matrix, allowing stakeholders to see security as a trust enabler.
Calls for early security and fire planning in new developments
Panel discussions emphasised that security measures must be embedded from the earliest design stages of development projects.
Speakers called for closer collaboration between departments to ensure integrated approaches to safety and sustainability.
Advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), facial recognition, drones, video analytics and automation were identified as essential to future security planning.
Alsufiani added that resilience remains a defining factor in developing effective systems for Saudi Arabia’s mega-projects.
Event growth highlights regional focus on safety and fire protection
Intersec Saudi Arabia is taking place this week at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center (RICEC).
According to organisers, the 2025 edition is the largest to date, with a 47% increase in exhibition space compared with 2024.
The event runs until Thursday 2 October and features more than 400 exhibitors across five key sectors: Commercial & Perimeter Security, Homeland Security & Policing, Fire & Rescue, Safety & Health and Cybersecurity.
Bilal Al Barmawi, CEO and Founder of 1st Arabia Trade Shows & Conferences, said: “Saudi Arabia’s giga-projects demand security strategies that are as forward-thinking as the developments themselves.
“The panel discussions and presentations at the Future Security Summit at Intersec Saudi Arabia this week provide an important platform for knowledge exchange around the evolving needs of the Kingdom.”
Fire and security discussions expand across summit programmes
Riham Sedik, Exhibition Director – Intersec Saudi Arabia at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said: “This week, the Future Security Summit and Fire Protection and Technology Summit have tackled a wide variety of topics, from AI and cybersecurity to fire protection in airports and the importance of international codes and standards.
“These forums continue to attract the most respected voices in the industry, providing invaluable insights and setting the agenda for the sector’s future.”
The summits, which are now CPD-certified, form part of the wider Intersec Saudi Arabia 2025 programme.
The event occupies Halls 1–7 at RICEC, as well as a purpose-built outdoor area.
Intersec Saudi Arabia is organised by 1st Arabia and licensed by Messe Frankfurt.