City planners, architects and officials across the Middle East take pride in maintaining safe and secure public spaces for citizens and visitors. As of 2025, the Middle East boasts six of the top ten safest cities in the world, exemplifying the region’s commitment to public safety.
As nations across the Middle East continue to welcome more tourists and pursue increasing rates of growth, the technologies leaders leverage to maintain public safety become smarter.
From AI-powered security cameras to autonomous traffic management solutions, below we explore how smart security technology is transforming security across Middle East cities.
Real-Time Threat Detection
AI-powered video security systems such as Dubai’s Oyoon program and Abu Dhabi’s Falcon Eye system leverage hundreds of thousands of intelligent security cameras to improve public safety. AI video analytics systems can automatically detect threats such as acts of violence or crowds gathering in unusual areas and trigger alerts sent to police requesting a response.
Police across the city are able to access camera feeds and investigate alerts remotely via smart video management systems (VMS), with AI-driven video search capabilities enabling operators to search for relevant information and evidence swiftly from secure smart devices.
Dubai’s Oyoon program also utilizes smart drones to help ensure incidents are addressed promptly no matter where they occur. Officials suggest this system is able to reduce incident response times down to around one minute on average for most criminal and traffic reports.
Predictive Policing Operations
AI-powered video surveillance systems help operators to not only address security incidents in real-time, but also prevent crimes from occurring. Machine learning algorithms can be used to analyze historical crime data and identify patterns associated with common threats, enabling law enforcement to develop effective and resource-efficient preventative measures.
Data-rich reports can be issued to leaders detailing areas of concern, with insights used to help ensure available personnel and resources are allocated appropriately. As AI systems can learn expected behaviours over time, reports can continuously evolve, enabling operators to station guards and police officers at high-risk areas before criminals have a chance to act.
Using smart insights produced by machine learning algorithms to inform policing operations can help to improve the public’s perception of safety in high-risk environments. By assisting law enforcement in positioning personnel and equipment where visible crime deterrents are most-needed, leaders help citizens feel safer and deter criminals from causing disturbances.
AI-Based Traffic Safety Management
AI-powered video surveillance cameras are being used across the Middle East to assist law enforcement officers in improving traffic safety. In cities like Dubai, AI systems are used to streamline minor traffic accident management and detect hazards in complex environments.
Smart security technologies can also be used to help improve pedestrian safety, with cameras installed at crossings programmed to autonomously identify approaching vehicles and pedestrians. Alerts can be displayed in the physical environment to warn drivers and instruct them to slow down, with audible alarms used to warn pedestrians of incoming traffic.
In some cases, smart surveillance devices are fixed to personal vehicles for use in improving traffic safety. For example, Israel’s Ride Vision for motorcycles uses front and rear cameras to monitor the driver’s surroundings and alert them to potential hazards in real-time, helping to prevent accidents and improve safety awareness across busy inner-city road networks.
The Future of Smart Security Technology in the Middle East
As more major Middle Eastern nations like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Israel increase investments into advanced AI technologies, smart cities driven by proactive, forward-thinking infrastructure will likely become more common across the region.
Using the success of existing smart security systems in cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi as a starting point, cities of the future like Saudi Arabia’s planned NEOM project may blend smart surveillance systems more seamlessly into city management to further benefit public safety.
Supported by autonomous incident responses, predictive policing and data-backed security management procedures, law enforcement may be empowered to dramatically improve resource-efficiency, enabling teams to dedicate more
