Airports sit at the crossroads of global mobility and critical infrastructure; they are high-traffic, high-risk environments where security must be both visible yet also seamless. In response to rising passenger volumes (around 9.4 billion people travelled by air in 2024), airport authorities worldwide are investing heavily in smart, integrated security systems. The goal is to ensure safer travel, while also enhancing operational efficiency and delivering an optimal passenger experience.
From AI-driven surveillance to biometric border control, the aviation sector is embracing technologies that blend physical and digital security across every layer of the airport ecosystem. Building on the “Securing the Seas” article on port security we put out in May, let’s review the crucial technologies that are lifting the security of airports (particularly Middle Eastern airports) ready for the challenges of a fully digitalised and AI-empowered world.
Integrated Surveillance with AI and Video Analytics
CCTV networks are already a well-established part of airport security, but the traditional setup is steadily being replaced (or enhanced) with AI-powered video analytics that can detect abnormal behaviour, track movement patterns, and respond in real time to emerging threats.
Exemplar Dubai International Airport (DXB)
DXB is leveraging AI-based video surveillance to monitor crowd flow and detect potential threats more quickly and with fewer false alarms. Its system can lower false alarm rates by up to 90%, improving accuracy in detecting security threats, while also improving response times.
Biometrics and Seamless Passenger Identity Management
Biometric systems are now central to next-gen airport security – streamlining identity checks while maintaining rigorous authentication protocols. Rather than relying on outdated physical security interactions, biometrics represents a ‘win-win’ for improving speed and accuracy while also processing passengers with a lighter touch.
Exemplar: Abu Dhabi International (AUH)
AUH’s Midfield Terminal now includes biometric e-gates and facial recognition integrated into check-in, immigration, and boarding. When it was rolled out in June 2024, the system was a ‘world-first initiative’, reducing passenger verification time from 25 seconds to just 7 seconds.
Cybersecurity for Critical Aviation Systems
Airports are not just physical hubs; they are complex digital ecosystems reliant on interconnected OT/IT networks. They manage a vast array of interconnected systems where vulnerabilities in one part may lead to devastating consequences for the whole system. This interconnectivity has propelled cybersecurity to become a frontline priority.
Exemplar: Multiple Saudi Arabian airports
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in Saudi Arabia has rolled out new frameworks for cybersecurity resilience across the country’s airports, addressing vulnerabilities in air traffic control, baggage handling, and access control systems. The rising threats of ransomware, phishing, and remote access vulnerabilities are driving investment in endpoint protection, network segmentation, and staff training.
Smart Access Control and Perimeter Defence
With thousands of employees, contractors, and vehicles entering and exiting secure zones, access control is a cornerstone of airport security. Advanced ID cards, vehicle recognition systems, and geofencing are increasingly becoming the new standard at leading international airports.
Exemplar: Hamad International Airport (DOH)
DOH in Qatar uses smart access systems that integrate with real-time personnel tracking to monitor authorised access in restricted areas, enhancing incident response and compliance.
Collaborative Platforms for Emergency Response
Emergency preparedness in airports hinges on real-time communication between security teams, law enforcement, and external agencies. Cloud-based incident management systems can be decisive in enabling unified response protocols that keep passengers and staff safe across all manner of security scenarios.
Exemplar: Dubai Airports
Dubai Airports’ cloud-based platform, named ‘realtimeDXB’, is one of the world's most advanced collaborative management platforms. Launched in 2019 and steadily improved upon during the past 6 years, the system feeds in real-time data from over 50 operational systems, giving security teams a complete overview of current conditions across the whole airport, while tagging any potential security threat that may be brewing.
Drone Detection and Airspace Monitoring
With the proliferation of commercial drones, airports are investing in counter-UAS (unmanned aerial systems) solutions to prevent airspace breaches and runway disruptions. Radar, RF sensors, and AI classifiers are used to detect unauthorised drones and initiate automatic alerts. Such countermeasures ensure that legitimate hobbyists cannot accidentally interfere with airport operations, and drone users with a more sinister intent cannot carry out their plans.
Exemplar: King Khalid International Airport (RUH)
Riyadh’s RUH has trialled drone detection systems that integrate into air traffic control workflows to minimize flight disruptions. Additionally, back in late 2023, Saudi Arabia signed a Turkish defence industry company ASER Technology’s to acquire the GHOST anti-drone system specifically to protect its airports and other critical infrastructure. GHOST creates an air security shield with of 360-degree situational detection, identification, and classification, capable of differentiating between a UAV and a bird within ranges of 6km.
Building Smart, Secure Airports for Tomorrow
Smart airport security isn’t just about preventing threats – it’s about enabling safer, smoother journeys. As digital and physical risks become more interconnected, airports across the Middle East and beyond are embracing a holistic approach to safety, one that marries operational intelligence with layered, adaptable security infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other leading Middle Eastern economies harbour aspirations to become regional and even global air travel hubs. To achieve such ambitions, scaling up airport capacity must go hand in hand with the improvement of airport security, all without compromising on the freedom, trust and overall experience of the passengers.