Months of meticulous planning are devoted to the stringent security arrangements surrounding the show. It's a mammoth task but one which has a clear goal ensuring that Dubai '97 passes safely and without incident.
Visitors queuing at the entrance might heave a sigh at the inconvenience, but the stringent controls on entry and exit from the showground are a vital part of the security blueprint. With an estimated 30,000 visitors passing through the gates this week and a further 15,000 people exhibiting or working behind the scenes at the show, security is at the top of the organisers' agenda.
A committee set up specifically to look at this area is made up of representatives from the organiser Fairs and Exhibitions, Dubai International Airport and the Dubai police.
Every exhibitor applying for a permit must provide passport documentation, which is scrutinised closely before an identity card is issued. Saturday was designated
as 'security day' and once exhibitors had put the final touches to their stands, the showground was cleared and Bomb Squad officers carried out a full-scale search with sniffer dogs.
As the airshow takes place within the confines of an international airport, all bags brought into and taken out of the show must be screened. "It might seem at times that we are being overly cautious," says Virginia Kern, of Fairs and Exhibitions, "but we are required to carry out these checks and they are very important.
"We've developed the permit system so that each one is personalised and contains a photograph which makes them more difficult to forge.
"Should there be an emergency or incident there is a clear plan laid down, should we need to evacuate."The organisers have welcomed the introduction of a new crisis management vehicle which has been specially equipped by the Dubai Civil Defence and is operating for the first time here this week.
The van, which will act as a mobile communication centre, will be used as a command post in the event of a major alert. It is equipped with a fax, 15 walkie-talkies, an electricity generator, computer and UHF and VHF communication systems.
Source: Flight Daily News
