Airport security will be a major challenge for the GCC countries as they continue to expand the capacity of their airports, a senior official of the Dubai Civil Engineering Authority has said.
Governments and airport authorities will have to take strict security measures to manage the huge flow of people in the years to come. Official figures suggest that the number of passengers to GCC airports is expected to reach 450 million by 2020. The Gulf airports also saw a 10 percent increase in their development and capacity in the last decade.
Mohammed Abdullah, Director General of Dubai Civil Engineering Authority, said that security is a central issue for airports. "All airports are assessed according to the level of security they provide and the use of latest technology is essential in this regard." He said that the Dubai International Airport has 7,000 CCTV cameras, and nearly 4,000 security personnel guard the facility. "The issue faced by the GCC governments in the wake of expansion and development of airports is the security challenge.
"They have to take strict security measures to manage the flow of people and ensure there is smooth movement of passengers without any delays."
The new Hamad International Airport, which cost an estimated $15bn, will receive 28 million passengers annually once it opens.
The capacity of the Al Makhtoum International Airport and the Riyadh Airport is also expected to increase significantly in the coming months, Argaam reported.
Dubai will host the 14th round of airports exhibition from May 11 to 13 next year, in which many international civil aviation authorities and security companies will participate.
Emirates 24|7
15 November
