The shortlist of finalists for the Intersec Global Awards 2027 has been revealed, recognising the exceptional people, pioneering technologies, and landmark projects setting new benchmarks across the global safety, security, and resilience industries.

Now in its sixth edition, the prestigious awards programme features 17 diverse categories spread across three specialist sections: Technology & Product Excellence, Project & Implementation, and People & Talent.

A distinguished gala ceremony will take place on 12 January 2027 in Dubai, with the annual awards aiming to highlight organisations and individuals whose work is raising standards and helping address the industries’ evolving challenges.

Among the most anticipated accolades of the evening is the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Emirati Rising Star Award, celebrating the next generation of UAE excellence. Dubai Municipality is represented on the five-person shortlist by both Sultan AlDahmani and Ali Al Blooshi, who are joined by Khalifa Almeer of Binghatti, Shamsa Alghaithi from the Emergencies, Crises and Disasters Management Centre of Abu Dhabi, and Maryam Alharmoodi of the Telecommunications & Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). Each nominee represents the country’s ongoing investment in nurturing world-class safety and security professionals who are contributing to the UAE’s vision for sustainable growth and innovation.

Axis Communications and Dubai Municipality lead the 95 shortlisted finalists with four nominations each, while March Networks and the TDRA both appear on three shortlists. Axis has three individual nominations within the Best Surveillance & Physical Security Solution category, while its AXIS D6310 Air Quality Sensor is up for Best Health & Safety Solution.

Dubai Municipality’s Security Systems Control Centre Development Project, meanwhile, is shortlisted in the Best Systems Integration & Installation Project category and Hamad Shaker, Director of Public Beaches and Waterways at Dubai Municipality, is shortlisted for Pioneer of Tomorrow, a new category that celebrates individuals who demonstrate initiative, innovation, leadership potential and a commitment to shaping the future of their profession.

Nathan Waugh, Portfolio Director, Security, Technology and Production, Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said: “The Intersec Global Awards play an important role in recognising the progress being made across industries, while showcasing innovations that address complex challenges. This year’s finalists demonstrate how the safety, security and resilience sectors continue to evolve. As these industries adapt to changing risks and demands, recognising the organisations and individuals driving that progress is more important than ever.”

The competition continues across Woman Changemaker, which recognises the exceptional female leaders driving transformation in their fields. Bonnie Butlin of Security Partners’ Forum and Christina Alexander Alexandropoulou of Philip Morris International join Naela Afifi from PwC Middle East, Lucy Macleod of London Fire Brigade, and Salma Al Ali from the General Command of Dubai Civil Defence on the five-woman shortlist.

Honouring visionary individuals whose sustained contributions have elevated global standards of excellence, the Leader of the Year category includes, among five others, Dr Nadeem Khan of Sharjah Maritime Academy, Ohanis Kaznijian of Binghatti, and Alex Rodriguez Aparicio of ANRACI.

A quintet of categories recognising projects from specific sectors – from Cybersecurity & Resilience to Systems Integration & Installation, will also crown winners. Emirates Flight Catering’s HDD Task Force is shortlisted in the Best Safety & Wellbeing Project category alongside Workers Welfare and Wellbeing from Red Sea Global and Neom’s Awlaqi Safety Culture Framework, while, in the Best Surveillance & Physical Security Project category, PETRONAS’s Project Guard joins WSP’s Zayed National Museum and Secutel Technologies’ NoKey Mobile Access Control Rollout.

Dishan Issac, Show Director, Intersec Global, Messe Frankfurt Middle East, added: “By celebrating the achievements of this year’s finalists on the opening night of Intersec Global 2027, we aim to not only acknowledge their excellence, but also to inspire the progress needed to address tomorrow’s evolving challenges.”

This year’s finalists were selected through a rigorous judging process involving a panel of 28 international experts, including senior figures from, among others, Dubai Airports, Unilever, WSP Asia, Saudi Aramco, the National Fire Protection Association and the University of Dubai. The 95 shortlisted nominations will now undergo two months of peer voting on the awards programme’s official platform.

The Intersec Global Awards 2027 form part of the 28th edition of Intersec Global, the world’s converging platform for safety, security, and resilience, taking place from 12–14 January 2027 at Dubai World Trade Centre. For more information and to register for the show, click here.

To view the 95 finalists across all 17 categories or to secure tickets for the gala dinner, visit: intersec.ae.messefrankfurt.com/dubai/en/show-features/intersec-awards.html.