Rebecca Spayne of Security Buyer speaks with Dishan Isaac, Show Director of Intersec. about how government collaboration and technology convergence are shaping the 2026 event
Please introduce yourself and give us a brief background into the history and heritage of Intersec?
As the Show Director for Intersec, I have the privilege of leading the event into its 27th edition and guiding its ongoing strategic evolution. Intersec is one of Messe Frankfurt Middle East’s flagship events and plays a vital role in shaping the global security, safety and fire protection landscape.
Intersec’s journey began in 1999 in Dubai, during a period when the region was rapidly advancing its national infrastructure, safety systems, and technological abilities. Over nearly three decades, the event has evolved from a product-oriented exhibition into the world’s leading and most comprehensive industry platform, uniting government authorities, international manufacturers, technology innovators, first responders, cybersecurity leaders, and academia.
Across its 26 editions, Intersec has mirrored the evolution of the sector, transitioning from siloed disciplines into an interconnected ecosystem where national security, cyber resilience, commercial security, fire and rescue, and occupational health and safety converge.
The event’s heritage is deeply rooted in long-standing collaboration with key UAE authorities, particularly the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA). Their continued strategic support has helped position Intersec as an essential meeting point for international decision-makers and elevated Dubai’s role as a global hub for security innovation.
Intersec’s timing in January has made it the first major global gathering of the year for the security industry. It is where leading brands debut cutting-edge technologies, where governments set new agendas, and where the industry collectively aligns its priorities for the year ahead.
What are your growth targets for Intersec 2026 versus the previous edition, across exhibitor numbers, international representation and verified visitor footfall?
This year, the event marks its largest and most globally representative edition in our 27-year history, and our growth targets reflect both unprecedented demand and the rapid transformation across the security sector.
For the upcoming edition, we are targeting 50,000 visitors, building on last year’s strong performance and supported by deeper government participation, enhanced buyer engagement, and a much stronger international presence. The introduction of our new Hosted Buyers Programme, which will welcome 100 pre-qualified procurement leaders, will further strengthen the quality of business opportunities by providing interest-based matchmaking and a direct pathway for solution sourcing.
On the exhibitor side, we expect to welcome more than 1,400 exhibitors from over 60 countries, occupying 67,000 sqm of gross exhibition space, including 13 halls and more than 1,500 sqm of outdoor demonstrations, enabling us to address record demand across major security segments.
International participation remains a defining strength of Intersec. For 2026, 82% of exhibitors are projected to be global, with strong representation from Europe, Asia, North America and the wider Middle East. We also anticipate that 40% of all visitors will come from outside the UAE, demonstrating Dubai’s status as a global gateway and the region’s increasing influence on international security agendas.
This growth is being driven by an expanded and more clearly defined set of product categories, coupled with a more sophisticated content strategy across cybersecurity, surveillance and physical security, and homeland security.
How are strategic partnerships, associations and government relationships shaping the 2026 programme and exhibitor mix?
Its partnership ecosystem has always defined Intersec. For the 2026 edition, these relationships play an even more pivotal role in shaping both the programme and the calibre of exhibitors joining us.
The event continues to be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, reaffirming our alignment with the UAE’s national priorities in resilience, public safety, and future-ready infrastructure. This support underscores the strategic importance of Intersec as a platform advancing the country’s vision for global leadership in security.
Deeper collaboration with the Dubai Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management and the Dubai Ports and Borders Security Council is central to shaping the event’s direction. These partnerships strengthen government engagement across the show floor and ensure the content programme remains aligned with regulatory developments, national strategy, and emerging operational realities.
Partners such as the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) remain at the heart of Intersec’s regulatory insight and sector leadership. Their involvement in 2026 goes beyond advisory input; they are curating experiential zones and activations that demonstrate how regulation, readiness, enforcement and innovation connect in real-world environments.
A significant development for 2026 is our Memorandum of Understanding with UXE Group, which strengthens Intersec’s role in advanced urban security, digital twins and next-generation command-and-control systems. UXE Group will deliver an immersive activation featuring live demonstrations and digital experience layers that align with Dubai’s vision for smart, resilient and interconnected cities.
These combined partnerships have a clear impact on the exhibitor community. They attract solution providers operating at the cutting edge of integrated security systems, urban resilience, digital infrastructure, AI-enabled technologies, and high-consequence risk environments.
Which new features or zones will launch or scale in 2026, and what industry gaps are they intended to address?
One of the most significant new initiatives is the Innovation District, a cross-sector platform that connects industry leaders, government authorities, research institutions and high-potential startups. Its purpose is to close critical gaps in innovation, commercialisation, cross-disciplinary collaboration and early access to emerging technologies.
Another significant enhancement is the launch of the SIRA Hub, now an official feature of Intersec 2026. Positioned as a physical and digital gateway for global business enablement, the Hub offers an immersive journey into SIRA’s leadership in licensing, regulation, training, compliance and innovation. It is designed to support international companies entering the Dubai market by providing on-the-spot guidance on SIRA approval pathways.
In response to the growing importance of integrated operations, the show will debut the Control Room Innovation Theatre. This new platform explores cognitive operations, unified command centres, operator wellbeing and human-factor engineering, areas that have become mission-critical as organisations face increasingly complex, data-driven environments.
The Access Control Theatre also expands in 2026, addressing the convergence of physical and digital identity, biometrics, cloud-based access systems and the fast-evolving relationship between cybersecurity and physical security.
Meanwhile, the InCyber Briefing evolves into an even more strategic programme, delving into regulatory compliance, adversarial AI, post-quantum readiness, cyber metrics and supply-chain resilience.
Collectively, these features address some of the biggest challenges facing the security sector: integration across physical and digital domains, future-readiness, and the need for multidomain collaboration.
How will the awards programme contribute to recognition, community building and year-round engagement?
The Intersec Awards play an increasingly important role in strengthening industry recognition and community engagement. This year’s programme features categories spanning security, cybersecurity and team excellence, judged by international experts to ensure global credibility and alignment with best practice.
For 2026, we are extending the Awards onto the show floor. Shortlisted entrants will be visited onsite by the Jury to assess breakthrough solutions in real time. This approach increases visibility for finalists and deepens participation from exhibitors and visitors alike.
Beyond the ceremony itself, the Awards provide a year-round engagement platform through nomination campaigns, interviews, jury collaboration and ongoing promotion of finalists and winners.
What is the content strategy for 2026 to connect conferences with the show floor in a measurable way?
For 2026, our content strategy is built around creating a direct, measurable connection between the conference programme and the show floor. All content theatres are embedded within their respective product zones, ensuring immediate visitor flow into exhibitor areas and reinforcing relevance for security professionals seeking practical, deployable solutions.
