The United Arab Emirates has been ranked as the world’s safest and most economically resilient destination for business, according to the World Security Report, commissioned by Allied Universal and G4S. Security chiefs in the UAE reported the lowest levels of economic instability risk globally, supported by the rapid adoption of AI-powered security technologies.
Economic Resilience and Stability
The study surveyed 2,352 chief security officers across 31 countries, representing medium and large companies with combined revenues exceeding $25 trillion. This included 58 respondents from the UAE and 232 across the Middle East, alongside insights from 200 global institutional investors managing over $1 trillion in assets.
Only 29 per cent of UAE security chiefs identified economic instability as a potential hazard for the coming year, well below the Middle East average of 41 per cent and the global average of 44 per cent. This underscores the UAE’s reputation as a stable environment for investment and operations.
Leadership in AI-Powered Security
The report highlighted the UAE’s advanced use of AI in corporate security. Nearly six in ten security leaders (59 per cent) identified AI-powered intrusion detection and perimeter security as critical over the next two years, outperforming regional (46 per cent) and global (44 per cent) figures. Half of the respondents cited AI-driven threat detection and risk assessment as top priorities.
Autonomous AI solutions are also gaining traction, particularly in incident response and emergency management, with adoption rates of 26 per cent in the UAE compared with 23 per cent regionally.
Threat Mitigation and Preparedness
UAE security leaders anticipate fewer internal threats than regional peers. Only 21 per cent forecast industrial espionage, compared to 27 per cent regionally, while just 17 per cent anticipate sabotage, compared to 25 per cent across the Middle East.
Despite lower perceived risks, 72 per cent of UAE security chiefs plan to increase their physical security budgets in the next 12 months, which is above the global average. Investments will focus on process optimisation, efficiency improvements, and new security technology and infrastructure.
Expert Insight
Omar Dababneh, Managing Director of G4S UAE, said:
“The UAE’s favourable and resilient business environment is highlighted by this year’s World Security Report. Our forward-looking approach to security aligns closely with the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, positioning the country to navigate future risks effectively.”
Sanjay Verma, G4S Regional President for APAC and the Middle East, added:
“Preparedness and innovation define corporate security in the region, supported by a culture of continual improvement and integrated security solutions.”
The report further emphasised investor concerns, with 63 per cent noting that a physical security incident could affect the value of a publicly listed company by up to 32 per cent — reinforcing the rationale behind rising security investments.
