Dubai hotels step up surveillance

Following the assassination of a leading Hamas leader earlier this year in Dubai, hotels across UAE are spending millions to upgrade their security surveillance systems.

"Working with the co-operation of the police, hotels in Dubai in particular are spending a lot on major upgrades of already extensive security systems, in some cases almost doubling the number of cameras," Ray Tinston, Sales Director of The Hotel Show said.

The Show, dedicated to hospitality and leisure sector, is taking place in Dubai from May 18-20. The hit squad that killed senior Hamas leader Mahmoud al Mabhouh were caught on closed circuit television at a number of hotels in the hours leading up to the murder in January.

Video footage of the suspects were later issued by Dubai Police and broadcast worldwide.

"We know from a number of hotel operators that the scale of upgrade taking place since the Dubai incident is on a multi-million dirham basis with one new property alone reporting that it is virtually doubling the number of cameras it is installing to almost 200," Tinston added.

"Installation companies also report the amount of business from hotels increasing by up to 40 per cent since the incident. In particular, cameras with better resolutions are being sought for clearer monitoring of entrances, lobbies, corridors and hotel car parks," he added.

Now in its eleventh year, the Hotel Show includes a Security and Technology Zone featuring the latest security technologies from companies such as Bond Communications, GCC Computers, Salto Systems, VingCard, ABB, Interel and Schneider Electric.

Another recent example of large scale security technology upgrading is the Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai which reopened its doors last month following the deadly attack by terrorists in 2008. The hotel's surveillance system has been upgraded from 15 security cameras prior to the attack to 150 now.

Security personnel have also increased by five times.

"Investment in active security systems that include video surveillance, access control, intrusion detection systems and X-ray machines at hotel main entrances is high in the UAE and other Gulf countries compared with many regions," Tinston said.