Artificial intelligence, drones, and biometric systems will be among the technologies under the spotlight at Intersec Saudi Arabia 2025, where industry leaders will debate how best to secure the Kingdom’s booming hospitality sector. With Saudi Arabia welcoming a record 116 million visitors in 2024, according to the Ministry of Tourism, the need to balance seamless guest experiences with robust safety measures has never been more pressing. Intersec is part of the Future Security Summit, running from 29 September to 1 October at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center (RICEC).
One of the headline speakers will be Tawfeeq Alsadoon, Group Head of Security at Red Sea Global, who will deliver a keynote entitled “Securing the Tourism Renaissance: Integrated Physical Security Solutions for the Hospitality Sector.” Alsadoon argues that Saudi Arabia’s giga projects—including NEOM, the Red Sea Project, Amaala, AlUla, and Diriyah—demand smarter, more integrated approaches to security. “Technology is not just a supporting tool but a critical enabler of proactive and intelligent security,” he explains. AI-driven video analytics, drones patrolling coastal perimeters, and biometric systems securing staff and VIP access zones are just some of the innovations already reshaping operations on the ground.
Yet technology, Alsadoon insists, is not enough on its own. He points out that human-centred and culturally sensitive protection is essential if the Kingdom is to deliver the guest experience envisioned under Vision 2030. “The true measure of security in hospitality is its invisibility,” he says. “Guests must feel comfortable, welcomed, and safe without ever sensing they are under surveillance.” That means well-trained teams capable of discretion, empathy, and rapid de-escalation are as important as the latest digital tools.
Looking further ahead, Alsadoon foresees hospitality operators adopting sustainable, intelligent, and experience-focused models of security. Digital twins, integrated command centres, and predictive analytics will allow hotels and resorts to anticipate risks before they arise, while also protecting privacy and inclusivity.
The Future Security Summit’s scope extends beyond hospitality, with sessions also covering aviation resilience and entertainment venue design. FIFA’s Director of Security Operations, Andrey Reis, will give a keynote on global risk management, while other sessions will examine how to embed security into the DNA of modern entertainment spaces. Running in parallel, the Fire Protection Summit will bring together regulators, international experts, and industry leaders to review the region’s evolving fire safety standards.
Organised by 1st Arabia and licensed by Messe Frankfurt, Intersec Saudi Arabia is now in its seventh edition and is recognised as the Kingdom’s leading exhibition for safety, security, and fire protection. The 2025 event will host more than 27,000 industry leaders, policymakers, and buyers across 30,000 sqm of exhibition space, covering commercial and perimeter security, cybersecurity, homeland security and policing, fire and rescue, and health and safety.
“Intersec Saudi Arabia is where global expertise meets local ambition,” says Bilal Al Barmawi, CEO and Founder of 1st Arabia. Exhibition Director Riham Sedik of Messe Frankfurt Middle East adds that each edition reflects the rapid pace of transformation in the Kingdom and provides unmatched opportunities for collaboration and growth.
For Saudi Arabia’s hospitality leaders, the message emerging from this year’s Summit is clear: security and guest experience must go hand in hand. With technology, cultural sensitivity, and human expertise working together, the Kingdom is setting new benchmarks for safeguarding the future of one of the world’s most dynamic tourism landscapes.
…
Photo top of page: Future Security and Safety Summit 2024. Image Courtesy: 1st Arabia
…
Read also: Cristiano Ronaldo headlines Saudi’s new “Unreal Calendar” campaign
