As this edition of Gulf Fire goes to press, the world is still recovering from the devastating pandemic caused by the Covid 19 virus. Amongst one of the effects of the virus has been the widespread disruption it has caused through the cancellation or postponement of major annual events across the globe, including those mainlining fire protection and safety, firefighting and rescue and the technology of the fire industry.
Gulf states have not escaped the disappointment of such disruption to the regular round of exhibitions and conferences. One such major fire-related event in particular, the 10th Annual Fire Safety Forum UAE held in Dubai, has suffered a double blow.
Originally scheduled for the 8th April 2020, this date fell within the early days of the restrictions of Covid 19 and was re-scheduled for the 8th December 2020. This gathering normally includes representatives of the Civil Defence services of the all GCC countries, plus international uniformed fire services and global fire industry manufacturers and others with an interest in fire safety.
However, as the months of lockdown and other restrictions continued into the early autumn, this flagship Forum has been cancelled for this year, and will now be staged on 31st March 2021 at the same venue, the Palazzo Versace, Dubai.
All eyes must now be on Intersec 2021 and its organiser Messe Frankfurt Middle East to provide a safe and vital environment to reconnect and restart business in 2021. The 23rd edition will take place from 24th to 26th January 2021 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), as global players look to get the New Year off to a bright start and re-establish strong business networks.
Intersec 2021 will also signify an important milestone; it will be the first major international security, safety, and fire exhibition to take place since Covid 19 forced countries to shut their borders and impose nationwide lock-downs, leading to the postponement of live events worldwide.
Now, global travel restrictions are easing, and events have ‘relaunched’, both internationally, and in the UAE, which in July 2020 hosted the AI Everything Conference at DWTC, the first physical event at the venue since March 2020.
Intersec’s Patron His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum offered a heartfelt message for participants to the annual three-day event: “For more than 20 years, Intersec has played a pivotal role in the development of the international security, safety, and fire protection industries, and its relevance only grows stronger as we together chart a course toward a post-pandemic world.
“We welcome attendees from across the globe to Intersec’s 23rd edition at the Dubai World Trade Centre, where they can reconnect and position themselves for a commercially successful start to the year.
“Dubai is Safe, Dubai is Secure, Dubai is Open, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to their second home in January 2021,” said His Highness Sheikh Mansoor.
Intersec 2021’s revamped conference line-up includes the technical Fire Summit, which has been created to not only cover a wider range of essential topics including passive fire learnings, but also to allow professionals to delve deeper into industry specific fire challenges and trends such as the energy and utilities industries.
Intersec will have a fresh look to it next year, with a number of new developments. Firstly, the event will adopt a hybrid format in 2021, meaning visitors and exhibitors can participate physically or virtually. By introducing virtual elements to the event – live streaming conferences with full two-way interaction – this can serve a valuable and enjoyable experience to an even larger audience. And most importantly for those who cannot physically get to the venue.
Rounding off the new advances for Intersec 2021 will be its co-location with three other Messe Frankfurt Middle East-organised shows: Light Middle East, the region’s dedicated exhibition for lighting design and technology; Intelligent Buildings; and Middle East Cleaning Technology Week, an exhibition for the commercial cleaning and hygiene industries.
Gulf Fire has been a Key Media Partner of Intersec Expo since the launch of the magazine in 2016, and the January 2021 edition of Gulf Fire will showcase the 2021 Intersec event.
For more information, go to www.intersecexpo.com
About the Author
Neil Wallington is a former British Chief Fire Officer, a Past International President of the Institution of Fire Engineers, and a holder of the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct. He is the author of 17 books on the work of the fire service, and acts as a consultant with extensive experience in the Gulf on a range of projects.
