As geopolitical tensions ripple across regions and global security challenges grow more complex, Intersec Saudi Arabia 2025 opened with a powerful call for international cooperation. Security leaders and academics gathered in Riyadh for the Future Security Summit, where panelists emphasized the urgency of cross-border collaboration to combat transnational crime, safeguard maritime routes, and protect critical infrastructure.
According to Intersec Saudi Arabia, the high-level panel titled “Beyond Borders: Regional and Global Security Cooperation in a Shifting Geopolitical Climate” featured representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, and National Security Services Company (SAFE).
The discussion addressed critical issues including maritime security in the Red Sea, disaster risk management, and transnational crime prevention. Experts stressed that today’s threats require more than border checkpoints—they demand intelligence-driven networks that allow nations to share data, coordinate investigations, and respond collectively.
Ali Younes, Country Manager and Chief of the Center of Excellence at UNODC, highlighted the importance of treating borders as intelligence hubs rather than static lines on a map. “By linking firearms tracing databases with financial intelligence units, we can connect a seized pistol in one country to an entire trafficking network,” he explained. This collaborative approach, he added, enables countries to tackle organized crime more effectively.
The urgency of this cooperation is amplified by Saudi Arabia’s rapid development of giga-projects and smart cities such as Neom and Qiddiya, which introduce new security and cybersecurity challenges. At the summit, Mansoor Ahmad Khan of IHS Towers outlined the need to secure next-generation critical infrastructure, while Andrey Reis of FIFA shared insights into risk assessment and crisis management for major global events.
Intersec also explored forward-looking topics such as ethical AI, mission-critical control rooms in the GCC, and designing future cities for safety and resilience. As Riham Sedik, Exhibition Director at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, noted, “Intersec Saudi Arabia plays a vital role in connecting decision-makers with global innovators to ensure these projects are secure, resilient, and future-ready.”
With over 400 exhibitors and 27,000 visitors expected, the 7th edition of Intersec Saudi Arabia, held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, underscores the Kingdom’s ambition to position itself as a hub for global security dialogue and innovation.
10 Best Practices for Security Teams:
- Adopt intelligence-sharing frameworks to improve detection and disruption of transnational threats.
- Secure maritime and trade routes, focusing on Red Sea stability.
- Integrate disaster risk management into national and corporate security strategies.
- Strengthen cross-border investigative collaboration with shared case files and databases.
- Develop robust crisis management playbooks for giga-projects and smart city ecosystems.
- Leverage AI responsibly, ensuring ethical use in security and surveillance.
- Invest in awareness and training via platforms like Saintynet Cybersecurity and training.saintynet.com.
- Enhance supply chain resilience against third-party security risks.
- Promote public-private partnerships to foster collective resilience.
- Regularly test and audit systems to maintain readiness against evolving threats.
Conclusion:
The opening of Intersec Saudi Arabia 2025 made one message clear: in a volatile geopolitical landscape, security is no longer a local matter. From maritime stability to smart city resilience, nations must treat borders as intelligence networks and embrace collaboration to counter converging threats. For Saudi Arabia and the wider MEA region, the summit is both a stage for innovation and a reminder that the path to security lies in cooperation, not isolation.
