Salalah Hosts Fourth Symposium on Security and Safety in Vital Facilities
Salalah, The Gulf Observer: The fourth symposium on security and safety in vital facilities concluded on Saturday in Salalah, after three days of scientific presentations, working papers, and exchanges of practical experiences.
The event brought together more than 30 experts and participants from the Sultanate of Oman, Gulf and Arab countries, as well as Europe. Participants presented diverse working papers covering a wide spectrum of issues related to security and safety in vital facilities.
The symposium, which has established itself as a prestigious annual scientific platform, convened leading academic institutions and think tanks alongside local and international experts. Discussions went beyond identifying challenges, offering innovative solutions and outlining future trends in facility safety and security.
At the closing session, Brigadier General Eng. Saeed bin Suleiman Al-Asimi, Chairman of the Organising Committee, underscored the value of this year’s edition. He noted: “The scientific approach in this edition was bold and straightforward, and the papers presented were distinguished by their diversity in terms of topics and methodologies. The symposium achieved a qualitative leap, confirming its position as an important platform for exchanging ideas and experiences in security and safety.”
Al-Asimi further stated that the symposium highlighted Oman’s ability to host leading international expertise, adding that the Sultanate is well-positioned to emerge as a regional hub not only for facility safety but also for artificial intelligence safety.
Key recommendations from the symposium included:
- Establishing a regional centre for artificial intelligence in Oman, in response to emerging security challenges linked to technology.
- Promoting the concept of community resilience as a national necessity and the first line of defence.
- Developing early warning systems within smart cities and enhancing integration among relevant authorities.
- Adopting advanced systems to protect documents and archives as a cornerstone of corporate governance.
- Expanding the use of virtual exercises and realistic simulations to train emergency response teams in vital facilities.
The symposium concluded with a reaffirmation of Oman’s commitment to fostering knowledge exchange and strengthening global cooperation in the field of safety and security.
