ISNR 2026: Abu Dhabi Hosts Its Largest National Security Exhibition Yet, Opening 19 May

Abu Dhabi is preparing to host the ninth and largest-ever edition of the International Exhibition for National Security and Resilience (ISNR 2026), opening at the ADNEC Centre on 19 May and running through to 21 May 2026. Organised by ADNEC Group under the patronage of Lieutenant General His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, the event has grown into one of the most significant security and technology gatherings in the region.

This year's edition has expanded across every measurable indicator. Exhibition space has grown by 17 per cent to 28,000 square metres. The number of participating companies has risen by 19 per cent to 253 exhibitors. Participation spans 37 countries, a 6 per cent increase on the previous edition, with nine countries joining for the first time. National companies account for 60 per cent of all exhibitors, with international firms making up the remaining 40 per cent, and small and medium enterprises representing 20 per cent of the total, underscoring the event's role in supporting homegrown security innovation.

The UAE Cyber Security Council serves as the official Cyber Security Partner for ISNR 2026, a significant signal given the Council's recent launch of the UAE Cyber Factory and its growing mandate to coordinate national cyber resilience. The event's strategic enablement partner is the Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement, while PwC serves as Knowledge Partner and Rabdan Academy as the official Academic Partner.

Eight core sectors define this year's exhibition: homeland security, cybersecurity, commercial security, physical and premier security, fire and safety, policing and law enforcement, critical infrastructure protection, and artificial intelligence and surveillance technologies. For security professionals and enterprise technology leaders working across the MENA region, the breadth of coverage makes ISNR one of the few events where physical and digital security converge under one roof at scale.

Several new features make this edition particularly notable. The AI Security Forum will bring together practitioners and policymakers to address the intersection of artificial intelligence and national security. The Code Breaker Hackathon adds a competitive dimension for cybersecurity talent, while the inaugural Abu Dhabi Global Sustainable Security Summit will attract senior decision-makers and experts from more than 15 countries, with over 60 speakers confirmed across strategic themes including AI-enabled governance, predictive security, intelligence systems development and national preparedness.

Major General Dr Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, Inspector General at the Ministry of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee for ISNR 2026, described the exhibition as a reflection of the UAE's leadership in advancing national security systems. "ISNR 2026 coincides with the Abu Dhabi Global Sustainable Security Summit, embodying the UAE leadership's vision to establish the country as a global hub for security dialogue and future solutions," he said. The summit will directly address the role of artificial intelligence and modern technologies in sustaining security and emergency systems.

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Group CEO of ADNEC Group, positioned the event as a strategic platform for national readiness. "ISNR serves as a strategic platform that enhances national readiness to address rapidly evolving challenges at both regional and international levels," he said. "The event's continuous growth reflects the resilience of the national economy and the exhibition sector's ability to boost the competitiveness of national industries by opening new markets, building strategic partnerships, and transferring and localising knowledge within the country."

For enterprise security teams and Gulf-based organisations evaluating cybersecurity vendors and solutions, ISNR 2026 represents a concentrated opportunity to assess the full spectrum of physical and cyber security capabilities now available in the region. The convergence of AI, surveillance, critical infrastructure and national policy discussions in a single venue over three days makes this edition one of the most operationally relevant security events the region has seen.

ISNR 2026 will also see the announcement of numerous commercial agreements and deals, reinforcing its role as a platform for both knowledge exchange and strategic partnership formation across the security industry.