(MENAFN- Mid-East Info) Experts from Louvre Abu Dhabi, Al Serkal Group and AtkinsRéalis will convene at the Smart Building Summit at Light + Intelligent Building Middle East.
Topics discussed at the
conference include 'emerging threats in the cyber-physical realm' and 'navigating the evolving cybersecurity landscape in smart buildings and homes'
Light + Intelligent Building Middle East is the region's premier event for lighting and building
technology and takes place from 14-16 January at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Dubai, UAE: As smart cities continue to redefine urban living through connected technologies, the importance of adopting robust cybersecurity measures has become paramount. This critical issue will be under the spotlight at the Smart Building Summit at Light + Intelligent Building Middle East from 14-16 January, when experts will share key insights on how smart buildings and homes can be protected in an increasingly digital world.
Smart buildings have become an integral part of the Middle East region's ambitions for more sustainable and technologically advanced cities. According to a recent report from Business Wire, the Middle East and Africa smart building market is projected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated value of $23.31 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 22.6% from 2020 to 2027.
The Smart Building Summit is now in its third edition and brings together top-tier technology firms, government leaders, and industry professionals to explore the future of intelligent buildings. The summit is a dynamic hub for pioneering advancements, collaborative breakthroughs, and transformative solutions in today's fast-paced technological landscape.
On the opening day of the Smart Building Summit, Dr Hossam Elshenraki, Professor of Cyber Crime Investigation and Head of the Police Management Department, Dubai Police Academy, will moderate a fascinating panel discussion on cyber security in smart buildings.
The session will feature insights from Kenneth Okai, Building IT Infrastructure Unit Head, Louvre Abu Dhabi; Maher Al Kaabi, Independent Board Member, Al Serkal Group; and Mohannad Salam, Regional Lead – Smart Cities Advisory Middle East, AtkinsRéalis.
The panel of regional experts will discuss how adopting a security-by-design approach can help mitigate the risks associated with integrating smart city technology into operational systems. They will also address emerging cyber threats in the cyber-physical realm and the strategies to address them.
Al Kaabi commented:“Given that smart cities are connected more than ever, buildings are relying on vast amounts of data to make that possible. However, threats have emerged to exploit certain vulnerabilities, such as attacks on cloud-based systems, due to their reliance on remote access. During Light + Intelligent Building Middle East, I will emphasise the importance of integrating security considerations from the very beginning of the design phase.”
On day three of the Smart Building Summit, Dr Nader Ghazal, Chairman of the African-Asian Council for AI & Cybersecurity, will present on 'Navigating the evolving cybersecurity landscape in smart buildings and homes'. The session will address the rise of smart buildings and homes, highlighting how increased connectivity through IoT and automation has created new vulnerabilities; and how to mitigate them.
Dr Ghazal will outline how the growing threat landscape, which includes cyber-attacks such as data breaches and ransomware, can be addressed and will emphasise the importance of advanced cybersecurity measures in 'intelligent' environments.
Dr Ghazal said:“As we increasingly rely on technology, our exposure to cyber-attacks also grows. Fortunately, advancements in technology, particularly AI and digital solutions, have significantly mitigated the impact of these attacks.
“Effective mitigation measures include strong authentication, regular software updates, network segmentation and data encryption. User education can also be considered a good remedy to most cyberattacks.”
Other show highlights at Light + Intelligent Building Middle East include the THINKLIGHT conference which provides a platform for regional and international lighting professionals to meet, exchange ideas and share knowledge. The 2025 edition of the conference will be centered on the theme 'Building commonality through culture, creativity and community.' In addition, InSpotLight will reveal the newest breakthroughs in the lighting industry, showcasing state-of-the-art technologies and outlining the latest industry standards and guidelines.
Now in its 18th edition, Light + Intelligent Building Middle East is the region's leading event for lighting and building technology. The event is co-located with Intersec to create the MENA's largest trade fair covering the building services sector and will take place in Za'abeel Halls 1-4 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
About Light + Intelligent Building Middle East:
Light + Intelligent Building Middle East brings together world-renowned brands, regional players, and promising innovators for an exciting three-day showcase from 14-16 January 2025 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Featuring products within lighting, electrical engineering, home, and building automation, the exhibition has played a vital role in the growth and development of the industry since its launch in 2006, with a solid representation of global products and brands, several educational conferences, certified workshops, and leading awards programme to recognize the very best the industry has to offer.
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 2,300 people at its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and in 28 subsidiaries, it organises events around the world. Group sales in financial year 2023 were more than € 609 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.
About Messe Frankfurt Middle East:
Messe Frankfurt Middle East's portfolio of exhibitions includes: Light + Intelligent Building Middle East, Intersec, Intersec Saudi Arabia, Automechanika Dubai, Automechanika Riyadh, Beautyworld Middle East, Beautyworld Saudi Arabia, Gifts & Lifestyle Middle East, Logimotion and Paperworld Middle East. In the 2023/24 event season, Messe Frankfurt Middle East exhibitions combined featured 6,324 exhibitors from over 60 countries and attracted 224,106 visitors from 156 countries.
MENAFN08012025005446012082ID1109067324
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.