Sunday 13 / September / 2026
SALALAH: From the heritage of frankincense to the technologies shaping the future, the Governorate of Dhofar hosted its first dedicated Security and Safety Exhibition from 7 to 9 September 2026, held alongside the fifth Symposium on the Security and Safety of Critical Facilities.
The inaugural exhibition added a significant new dimension to one of Oman’s leading specialised gatherings in the security and safety sector, bringing together local and international companies, technology providers, government and private-sector institutions, experts and industry professionals under one roof.
More than a showcase of products and equipment, the exhibition presented a broader vision of modern security — one built around prevention, preparedness, intelligent response and the integration of people, technology and decision-making.
Its visual identity, inspired by the iconic frankincense tree of Dhofar, captured that philosophy. Frankincense has long been a symbol of the region’s history, economy and cultural influence, travelling from Dhofar to markets and civilisations far beyond Oman.
In much the same way, the exhibition sought to connect established local capabilities with global knowledge, emerging technologies and international expertise.
The message was clear: the future of security does not mean leaving the past behind. It means building on strong foundations while embracing innovation.
‘Security begins before the Threat’
The modern security landscape is increasingly defined not by how effectively organisations respond after an incident, but by how successfully they anticipate and prevent it. That shift was evident throughout the exhibition.
Advanced solutions on display covered a broad spectrum of capabilities, including vertical aviation and rescue operations, intelligent surveillance, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, unmanned aerial systems, command-and-control centres, integrated security platforms and technologies designed to strengthen emergency and disaster response.
Together, they reflected a fundamental transformation in the sector: from reactive security to predictive, data-driven and increasingly interconnected systems.
Today, security begins long before an incident occurs — with the collection of information, the analysis of indicators, the detection of vulnerabilities and the identification of emerging threats. The objective is ultimately to transform intelligence into timely decisions and effective action.
The first Security and Safety Exhibition provided a practical demonstration of that transition.
A platform where security, technology and investment converge
The exhibition attracted a specialised group of local and international companies showcasing technologies and solutions aligned with the rapidly evolving security and safety sector.
Among the prominent participants was Al Sharqiya Aviation, which showcased advanced helicopter capabilities for rescue, transportation, rapid response and emergency operations.
The presence of vertical aviation highlighted the increasingly important role of helicopters in search-and-rescue missions and emergency response, particularly in challenging geographical environments where speed, mobility and operational flexibility are critical. But the significance went beyond the aircraft themselves.
Modern emergency response depends increasingly on the integration of aerial capabilities with command centres, field teams, communications networks and real-time information. When these elements operate as one system, response times can be reduced, resources deployed more effectively and crisis management significantly strengthened.
The exhibition also featured companies specialising in smart solutions, advanced security technologies and cybersecurity, alongside providers of unmanned aerial systems — or drones — which have rapidly become important tools for surveillance, reconnaissance, surveying, monitoring and emergency support.
Aspar, a company specialising in drone technologies, presented applications illustrating the expanding role of unmanned systems in security and field operations, reflecting the rapid evolution of autonomous and remotely operated technologies.
The Central Operations Centre: The intelligence behind the system
One of the exhibition’s most compelling concepts was presented by the Central Operations Centre, demonstrating how traditional monitoring rooms are evolving into intelligent operational hubs capable of collecting, analysing and connecting information from multiple sources.
The concept brings together data from surveillance systems, sensors, cameras, digital platforms and communications networks, creating a unified operational picture for decision-makers.
The value of such a system lies in its ability to provide a real-time understanding of an incident — from identifying the nature and severity of a threat to directing resources, coordinating specialised teams and monitoring the response until the situation is resolved.
This represents one of the most important global shifts in the security sector: moving beyond observation and reaction towards proactive risk management supported by data and intelligence.
Exhibition opens a window on the future: Governor of Dhofar
The exhibition received strong support from His Highness Sayyid Marwan bin Turki Al Said, Governor of Dhofar, who highlighted the importance of hosting specialised events of this nature in the governorate.
He said the exhibition represented a valuable addition to the fifth symposium, providing a platform that brings together expertise, technology and specialised companies in a field directly connected to the protection of people, critical facilities and national assets.
“The advanced solutions and technologies showcased here confirm that the future of security and safety rests on innovation, preparedness and integration across sectors. The exhibition also creates opportunities for cooperation, investment and partnership, while strengthening Dhofar’s position as a destination capable of hosting specialised events that support development and align with Oman’s future ambitions.”
His remarks reflected a broader objective behind the exhibition: positioning Dhofar not simply as a host for specialised events, but as a meeting point for technology, expertise, investment and national priorities.
‘Building a sustainable platform’
For Brigadier General Eng. Saeed Al Asimi, Chief Executive Officer of the Security and Safety Foundation, the launch of the exhibition was driven by the need for a practical platform capable of keeping pace with rapid developments in the sector.
He stressed that the objective was never simply to display products.
“We wanted the Security and Safety Exhibition to be more than a showcase for products. We wanted it to be a platform for shaping the future — bringing decision-makers together with experts and specialised companies, and enabling organisations to identify technologies that can be transformed into practical solutions that strengthen preparedness, prevention and response.”
Al Asimi noted that the range of participation, agreements and partnerships demonstrated an important principle: the priority is no longer technology for its own sake, but the effective integration of technology into comprehensive security and safety systems.
“We look forward to developing the exhibition into a sustainable event that grows from one edition to the next and attracts an increasing number of regional and international companies and experts to the Sultanate of Oman.”
He also emphasised the importance of cooperation between government institutions, private-sector organisations, technology companies, academia and specialists, noting that modern security and safety challenges are increasingly multidimensional and cannot be addressed from a single perspective.
From Exhibition Floor to Business Platform
The exhibition’s impact extended beyond technology demonstrations.
Its halls became a forum for commercial dialogue, professional networking and the development of new relationships, with participants signing a number of agreements among themselves, as well as agreements with government entities and partnerships with the Security and Safety Foundation.
The agreements underscored the growing role of specialised exhibitions in creating business opportunities, facilitating technology transfer and building long-term partnerships.
Direct engagement between companies and government and private-sector organisations also provided an opportunity to identify local market requirements, explore areas of cooperation and open new channels for investment and specialised technical services.
Ultimately, the value of a specialised exhibition is measured not simply by the number of products displayed, but by its ability to turn conversations into projects, ideas into solutions and professional relationships into sustainable partnerships.
Local and international participation reflects a diversifying security ecosystem
The exhibition was supported by a broad group of institutions, companies and economic and media organisations, reflecting the importance of cross-sector cooperation in advancing Oman’s security and safety capabilities.
Among the supporting organisations and sponsors were Al Sharqiya Aviation, represented by Tamer Al Jundi, Vice President of Vertical Aviation; Barrick Group, represented by Chief Executive Officer Mohammed bin Ali bin Sulaiman Al Ghailani; Ford Oman, represented by Dinadayakaran Jeevamanikam, Head of Business; Hikvision Oman, represented by its factory head from China; Tubar Smart Buildings Group, represented by Group Chief Executive Officer Malik Al Yahmadi; and Al Anqa, represented by Engineer Issa Al Saqri, Adviser and Board Member, and Salem Al Habsi, Adviser to Muscat Media Group and Impact Maker.
The supporting network also included Muscat Media Group, National Bank of Oman, the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Dhofar Branch, Dhofar Municipality, Amwaj Technology Services, and Aspar, the specialist drone technology company.
The diversity of participants — spanning security systems, aviation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, smart infrastructure and advanced technologies — gave the exhibition an integrated character that mirrors the increasingly interconnected nature of modern security and safety.
Technology Is No Longer an Option. It Is the First Line of Defence.
Perhaps the strongest message emerging from the exhibition was the extent to which digital transformation has become fundamental to modern security and safety.
Artificial intelligence, data analytics, intelligent surveillance, unmanned aerial systems, cybersecurity and central operations centres are no longer isolated technologies.
Increasingly, they function as interconnected components of a single preparedness ecosystem.
Their strategic value lies in reducing the critical gap between detecting a threat, understanding it, making a decision and deploying an effective response.
Data-driven security also allows organisations to develop more accurate risk models, identify vulnerabilities, allocate resources more efficiently and strengthen preparedness before an incident occurs.
This is the essence of preventive security: replacing reaction with readiness.
Frankincense as the Exhibition’s Signature
The decision to draw inspiration from the frankincense tree was more than a visual choice. It provided the exhibition with a powerful narrative connecting heritage with innovation. Frankincense represents Dhofar’s history and its ability to generate value that travelled far beyond the region.
That legacy resonates with the exhibition’s ambition to connect Oman’s local capabilities with international technologies, knowledge and expertise. The visual identity therefore carried a simple but powerful message: progress does not require abandoning one’s roots. The most sustainable future is often built by combining identity, heritage and local knowledge with innovation.
In that sense, frankincense became a symbol of continuity, global reach and connection between cultures, while the technologies displayed throughout the exhibition represented the other side of the equation — intelligence, innovation and preparedness. A New Chapter for Security and Safety in Oman As the fifth Symposium on the Security and Safety of Critical Facilities concluded in Salalah, the inaugural Security and Safety Exhibition emerged as one of its most significant additions.
Its importance lay not only in the diversity of exhibitors and technologies, but in the role it played in bringing together knowledge, technology, business and decision-making. The experience demonstrated that security and safety are becoming a growing market for advanced technologies and specialised solutions, while Oman is well positioned to serve as a regional platform connecting international technology providers with government institutions and national organisations.
The agreements signed, business meetings held, international participation, technology demonstrations and government presence all pointed to an event with the potential to grow substantially beyond its first edition.
More importantly, the exhibition offered a new model for specialised events — one that does not simply display technology, but explores its impact; does not merely present solutions, but connects them to real-world needs; and does not simply bring companies together, but creates the conditions for meaningful partnerships. In a world where the nature of risk is changing at unprecedented speed, investment in security and safety is ultimately an investment in the continuity of development and the protection of national assets.
And from Salalah, amid the fragrance of frankincense, the message was unmistakable:
Security is no longer about waiting for danger to arrive.
It is about predicting it, detecting it, anticipating it and building the partnerships and capabilities needed to respond.
With that vision, the first Security and Safety Exhibition has laid the foundations for what could become an annual specialised gathering and a regional platform for expertise, technology and investment — strengthening Oman’s position in the development of intelligent, integrated and sustainable security and safety systems.
The story began in Dhofar. Its identity was inspired by the frankincense tree. Its future is being shaped by technology. And the destination is clear: a safer, smarter and more resilient Oman.
