DUBAI // With Dubai’s Expo 2020 four years away, the UAE is increasing its security and is calling on the experts in the UK who have years of experience with major events such as the Olympic Games.
On Sunday, the UK Trade and Investment’s Defence and Security Organisation – an arm of the British government – brought companies to Intersec, the three-day security, safety and fire protection expo in Dubai in the hope of landing lucrative contracts in cybersecurity, infrastructure and transport.
“There is talk about establishing a large rail network in the UAE [between Abu Dhabi and Dubai] which, security-wise, will always require cybersecurity,” said Simon Everest, a senior adviser at the organisation. “There are big opportunities [for British businesses] in the Gulf, and this week will be a key time for these companies.”
Two years ago, the UK announced that it would be prepared to help the UAE prepare its security for Expo 2020, including police training and surveillance equipment.
“The growth rates in security over the next four years range from 11 to 15 per cent,” he said. “We have a large team based in the UAE and we work together on a number of large infrastructure projects such as rail and aviation.”
From the 2012 London Olympics to the Commonwealth Games staged in three of its cities in the past 30 years, the UK has an extensive amount of knowledge in the field.
“We provide training across the Middle East and consultancy in terms of planning major events,” said Richard Freeman, a police and security adviser at the organisation.
“We see this amount of security knowledge and understanding we can share to make Dubai Expo 2020 a safe event.”
One of the products includes a powerful loudspeaker which would send a message to large crowds of people with a range of up to 250 metres. “There is a strong interest from Dubai police,” said Glyn Buckler, director at Cerberus Black. “It’s a brand new product to the market and it is an acoustic communications and warning system.”
Another product is a hardware security system for prisoners. “We provide the control system to the Metropolitan Police who will provide more than 1,000 systems to the Emirates’ police department,” said Peter Jarvis, senior executive vice president at Storm Interface.
“The system is used when criminals are arrested and have to be brought in to a secure room.
cmalek@thenational.ae
