Fire safety in airports, among the most complex and high-stakes environments in the built world, will be a focal point at the Fire Protection and Technology Summit during Intersec Saudi Arabia. The event, scheduled from 29 September to 1 October at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center (RICEC), will gather global experts to address the latest innovations and challenges in fire protection.
The summit will open with a session led by representatives from King Fahd International Airport (KFIA), one of Saudi Arabia’s busiest hubs, which handled more than 12mn passengers in 2024. Senior Manager for Fire Prevention, Eng. Hussein Mohammed Rajab, alongside his colleague Mohamed, will present strategies designed to protect both airside and landside operations. Their discussion will emphasise how systematic fire prevention measures not only mitigate risk but also safeguard operational continuity and reduce the heavy costs associated with emergencies.
From a landside perspective, KFIA has invested in passive fire protection, advanced suppression systems for retail areas, and comprehensive evacuation planning. Airside, the focus is on the deployment of foam deluge systems, high-reliability detection technologies, and rapid-response firefighting units, ensuring readiness for incidents in highly sensitive zones.
The session will also address the importance of integrating international fire codes with local regulatory requirements. By blending global best practices with the realities of Saudi operations, airports can achieve what speakers describe as “hybrid compliance,” offering both safety assurance and adherence to regulatory frameworks while accounting for the unique risks posed by individual facilities.
Expanding the discussion beyond aviation, the summit will showcase expertise from leading fire safety professionals worldwide. Terrance Tsang, Chief Fire Officer of the Hong Kong Fire Services Department, will deliver a keynote on raising fire safety standards in super high-rise buildings under construction—an area of growing relevance in the Kingdom’s rapidly urbanising landscape. Meanwhile, Abdullah Abdulrahman Alrommani, Assistant Director of Quality and Safety Management at SASCO, will share insights on strengthening fire protection across fuel stations, a critical component of national infrastructure.
The second day of the summit will be led by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a key driver of global fire and life safety standards. The NFPA programme will demonstrate how international codes can be adapted to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, particularly in ensuring resilient infrastructure and safer communities.
Intersec Saudi Arabia will also feature the Future Security Summit, powered by ASIS International Dhahran Chapter. This segment will bring discussions on emerging global threats, crisis response strategies, critical infrastructure protection, responsible AI integration in security, and the importance of diversity in building robust security frameworks.
By convening leaders from aviation, construction, and critical infrastructure, Intersec Saudi Arabia underscores its role as a platform for knowledge exchange and innovation. With airports like KFIA setting the standard for fire prevention and emergency readiness, the summit promises to highlight how proactive safety measures can help meet the Kingdom’s growth ambitions while protecting lives and assets.
