HH Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan inaugurates ISNR Abu Dhabi

ISNR (International Security National Resilience) is taking place 2-5 March, 2008 under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces. ISNR Abu Dhabi is dedicated to homeland security systems and services and is of particular interest to governments as well as the private sector in the region.

After inaugurating the event, His Highness Sheikh Saif toured the exhibition halls and interacted with participants at the show. He was accompanied by senior sheikhs, ministers, ambassadors and other VIPs as well as by Brigadier Matar Salem Bin Mesayed Al Neyadi, Chairman - ISNR Abu Dhabi Organizing Committee and Frederic Theux, President of Reed Exhibitions Middle East.

Addressing a press conference after his tour of the show, His Highness Sheikh Saif said that the UAE had become a top destination for investments and was one of the first countries to recognize the importance of establishing programmes to ensure security of its residents. Noting that events such as ISNR are an ideal platform to showcase the latest technologies in the field, he said that such events would play a leading role in boosting investments into the sector thereby ensuring security and safety.

ISNR Abu Dhabi has attracted strong participation from governments in the region and the global security industry and is organized by Reed Exhibitions Middle East with the support of the UAE Ministry of Interior. The exhibition features 147 specialist companies from 20 countries displaying a range of equipment and technology aimed at counter terrorism, intelligence and threat assessment, border and transport security, critical infrastructure protection, emergency preparedness, and crisis management and response.

Occupying 13,400 square meters of gross space, the exhibition features four national pavilions from the US, the UK, Switzerland and Germany. Exhibitors from 16 other countries including the UAE, Bahrain, Lebanon, France, Bulgaria, Norway, Austria, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa, India and Singapore are also taking part.

Among the top international names exhibiting at ISNR Abu Dhabi are EADS, Thales, Boeing, ICx Technologies, Raytheon, Sagem, Smiths Detection, CAE - Aviation, Honeywell, Allen-Vanguard, Britten-Norman, Plextek, IBCOL, Denel, Dallmeier, Luminox Switzerland and Siemens. Major local and regional players such as CARACAL, ADCOM, Al-Nabooda, EAE, Advanced Integrated Systems, Falcon Eye Technology, International Golden Group, Al Hamra Group and Al Acera Technologies are also participating. The UAE's Critical National Infrastructure Authority (CNIA) is the official sponsor of ISNR Abu Dhabi.

Official delegations from Italy, France, Lebanon, Yemen, Egypt, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Tanzania, Oman, Jordan, Syria, Kuwait, Iraq and Qatar are attending the show. The delegations are led by top officials such as the Ministers of Interior, Chiefs of Defense & Security, and Heads of National Security Organizations, and include senior officials involved in the development, selection and procurement of security systems and equipment in their respective organizations.

Over 8,000 trade visitors are expected at ISNR over the four-day exhibition. These will include officials from the interior and defense ministries from the region, staff involved in management of security and emergency planning for ports, airports, borders, urban transport systems and government facilities, and facilities directors.

The ISNR Abu Dhabi Conference was also held today and featured expert speakers including top police and security officials from the UAE, the UK, France, Germany, the US and Canada. The conference is being organized along side the exhibition by the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis (INEGMA), in close cooperation with UAE's Ministry of Interior and Reed Exhibitions Middle East.