With AI spending projected to exceed US$2 trillion in 2026, speakers at the 2026 Intersec Health & Safety Conference emphasised that it is no longer confined to “deep tech” but is now embedded in safety‑critical frontline roles
Boards and executives were urged to implement human-centred AI safety strategies, establishing clear boundaries for AI decision-making
Intersec 2026, the world’s leading business event for security, safety and fire protection, continues until 14 January at the Dubai World Trade Centre
Dubai, UAE: As global spending on artificial intelligence (AI) is projected to exceed US$2 trillion in 2026 (Gartner, 2025), senior government and industry leaders at a high-level panel discussion at the 27th edition of Intersec discussed how AI is quickly transitioning from “deep tech” to everyday frontline operations in safety-critical environments.
During a session titled “AI & Safety 4.0: Rethinking Human Risk,” the panel discussed how AI is transforming safety practices, ethical decision-making, and risk management culture. They emphasised that intelligent tools should enhance rather than replace human responsibility and leadership.
Panellists observed that AI is currently used to develop predictive analytics, identify risk patterns, and trigger early warnings in complex operations. When deployed correctly, this technology has significant potential to reduce incidents and enhance efficiency.
Dr Waddah S. Ghanem Al Hashmi, Chairman, Federal Committee for OSH, emphasised that companies cannot outsource accountability to algorithms, drawing a comparison with human employees.
He said: “We delegate responsibility, but we do not delegate accountability. In all cases, I delegated that responsibility, but I remain accountable. So, the employer, anybody who engages with AI or uses AI, continues to carry the accountability.”
Speakers also pointed to real-world refinery cases where the introduction of AI-based predictive tools led to a drop in manual inspections, raising questions about over-reliance on technology and the possibility of creating new blind spots in safety systems.
Dr Islam Adra, Vice President, HSE MENA & SCO, DP World, explained why trust is a significant challenge when it comes to integrating AI into the workplace: “When you put ‘trust’ and ‘AI’ in the same sentence, it’s kind of an oxymoron. There’s a contradiction there, because AI has done a very good job building a [very] bad reputation. When we think of AI, especially in the workplace, we think of surveillance, we think of control, we think of monitoring, and even the replacement of workers.”
The panel, which was moderated by Isaac Ochulor, Senior QHSE Engineer and Digital Transformation Strategist | Suhail Almazroui Transportation (SMGT), and also included Hari Kumar Polavarapu, Director – Group HSE Assurance, Emirates National Oil Company Limited (ENOC), urged boards and executives across the region to integrate AI into their safety strategy rather than treating it as a standalone technology project.
The panel was part of the Intersec Health & Safety Conference 2026, powered by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), which brings together global thought leaders, innovators, and HSE professionals for an immersive two-day programme focused on emerging technologies, occupational health and mental wellbeing, and critical challenges across road, construction, and industrial safety.
Commenting on the conference, Dishan Isaac, Show Director of Intersec at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said: “Intersec has always been a platform for the region’s safety community to unite to address future risks. This year, artificial intelligence (AI) is a key focus of that agenda. Our objective is to assist governments and industries in leveraging these powerful technologies to enhance safety, protect individuals, and foster trust across every sector.”
The opening day of the Health & Safety Conference covered a range of important topics, including workplace safety strategies, risk assessment techniques, emergency response planning, mental health and well-being, compliance and regulations, training and development programs, safety technology innovations, and incident reporting and analysis.
For more information and to register for the event, please click here.
About Intersec
Intersec, in its 27th edition, is the world-leading business event for the global safety and security industry value chain. The event brings together suppliers, thought-leaders, innovators, manufacturers and buyers face-to-face to discuss leading-edge technology, see the very latest products and solutions across a wide range of industries and business sectors, and conduct business.
Intersec 2026 is held from 12-14 January 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
For more information, please visit our website.
About Messe Frankfurt
The Messe Frankfurt Group is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. With a workforce of some 2,500 people at its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and in 29 subsidiaries, it organises events around the world. Group sales in financial year 2024 were € 775 million. We serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of Messe Frankfurt’s key strengths is its powerful and closely knit global sales network, which covers around 180 countries in all regions of the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. We are using our digital expertise to develop new business models. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services.
Sustainability is a central pillar of our corporate strategy. Here, we strike a healthy balance between ecological and economic interests, social responsibility and diversity.
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com/sustainability
With its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com
*Preliminary figures 2024
About Messe Frankfurt Middle East
Messe Frankfurt Middle East’s portfolio of exhibitions includes: Automechanika Dubai, Automechanika Riyadh, Beautyworld Middle East, Beautyworld Saudi Arabia, Intersec, Intersec Saudi Arabia, Gifts & Lifestyle Middle East, Logimotion, Light + Intelligent Building Middle East and Paperworld Middle East. In the 2024/25 event season, Messe Frankfurt Middle East exhibitions combined featured 7,450 exhibitors from over 68 countries and attracted 249,500 visitors from 164 countries.
For more information, please visit our website.