The 8th edition of the International Exhibition for National Security and Resilience (ISNR Abu Dhabi 2018) concluded in the UAE capital, consolidating its status as the leading regional forum for homeland security.
Jointly organized by the UAE Ministry of Interior and Reed Exhibitions, ISNR Abu Dhabi 2018 took place from 06 to 08 March 2018 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
The exhibition’s success is evident from the figures indicating a significant increase in participation by public and private sector entities over the 2016 edition:
- 30% growth in government buyers
- 20% increase in participating international companies
- Exhibiting companies from five new countries: Denmark, Korea, Russia, Switzerland and Turkey
- 50% increase in information security exhibition space
- 20% increase in the number of digital technologies presented
- 15% increase in homeland security exhibition space
- 4,500 meetings facilitated between buyers and exhibitors
- 37 exhibitors specializing in artificial intelligence (AI)
Responding to evolving threats in the region and beyond, and reflecting the priorities of the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Dubai Cyber Security Strategy, ISNR Abu Dhabi 2018 placed special emphasis on current and emerging cyber threats and the high-tech security potential of AI.
H.E. Major General Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi (photo), Inspector-General of the Ministry of Interior and Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee of ISNR Abu Dhabi 2018, said: “The extremely positive outcomes achieved by ISNR Abu Dhabi 2018 validate the success of the UAE leadership’s vision for pioneering the latest sophisticated AI, as well as national and cyber security capabilities. Through its unwavering commitment to advancing technological progress in the security field, this landmark event enables government agencies and private solutions providers to develop and implement next-generation innovations that will help security practitioners combat the threats faced by nations across the globe.”
Al Raisi announced the following winners of the five-category Innovation Awards:
- Avigilon Corporation in the Artificial Intelligence category
- Estmrarya Consulting in the Virtual and Augmented Reality category
- Cognitec Systems GmbH in the Digital Crime Management and Forensics category
- Azur Drones in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics Category
- DarkMatter in the Smart and Connected Security Category
Al Raisi also honored the participants of the UAE Firefighter Challenge 2018 and officials from the Government Buyers Program.
Spanning the entire scope of homeland security activities, ISNR Abu Dhabi 2018 featured the Critical Infrastructure Protection, Future of Policing, and InfoSecurity Exchange forums, as well as the second editions of two co-located events - Infosecurity Middle East and Major Events Safety and Security Summit (ME3S).
The event has drawn the participation of government delegations from friendly countries and prominent national security firms from the US, the UK, France, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, Turkey and South Korea.
UAE-based international cyber security firm DarkMatter supported the exhibition as its strategic partner. In addition, Safe City Group, a homegrown turnkey solutions provider for smart and safe cities, was the innovation partner, while the Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Agency (CICPA) and Signals Intelligence Agency (SIA) assumed the roles of associate partners.
Renowned supplier of geographic information system (GIS) software Esri supported the event as GIS partner, while satellite imagery and GIS solutions provider Space Imaging Middle East was crime prediction partner. In addition, US multinational technology company Microsoft assumed the role of artificial intelligence partner.
