Drones and AI on display as Milipol Qatar draws global security firms - Euronews
Security firms from 33 countries gathered in Doha this week for Milipol Qatar, showcasing drones, robots, and AI systems as Qatar reviews its defences following the Iran war.
The Milipol Qatar exhibition, held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, featured equipment for policing, emergency response, and industrial safety, alongside discussions on cybersecurity and protecting essential services.
Major Khalid Saadon Al-Kuwari, a member of the Milipol organising committee, said the event brought together solutions for the challenges different governments and countries are facing.
He added that it gave governments an opportunity to examine systems already tested in other countries and consider how they could be used at home.
The security bubble that we’ve enjoyed for so long is no longer there.
Lakatamitis, who grew up in Qatar, said security had become a more pressing consideration across government and business, including among the customers his company speaks to daily.
Around 280 companies participated in the exhibition, with about 70% coming from outside Qatar.
Lessons from the Iran war
The exhibition took place during a week of security discussions in Doha, with Qatar’s Defence Minister Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani outlining plans for a local defence production hub and closer cooperation with regional and international partners.
He said the country was drawing on lessons from the Iran war to improve protection against ballistic missiles, drones and cyberattacks.
AI and drones for emergencies
On the exhibition floor, companies presented equipment intended for civilian emergencies and hazardous industrial work.
Lakatamitis described how drones could search large areas for missing people, with photographs collected during a flight analysed by software to identify possible signs of a person.
He also pointed to industrial inspections, where a drone fitted with gas-detection equipment could investigate a suspected leak without sending someone into a potentially dangerous location.
These applications were part of a broader discussion about using AI in security, with the second Doha International Conference on AI & Security running alongside Milipol.
Sessions covered responsible AI use, autonomous systems, and the protection of critical infrastructure.
Cybersecurity and international agreements
At a cybersecurity seminar on Thursday, officials discussed how to keep essential services operating during an attack.
The response needed to extend beyond restoring IT infrastructure to ensuring vital government services continued or were restored within an acceptable timeframe.
Al Nasr called for cybersecurity to be incorporated into disaster recovery and crisis management plans, with clear responsibilities to reduce confusion during an incident.
The exhibition also saw fresh international security agreements, with Qatar and France signing a cooperation plan between their interior ministries covering 2027–2030.
The expanded partnership, announced following French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Doha, covered homeland security and civil protection.
On Thursday, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani launched the sixth Watan exercise during a visit to Milipol.
The exercise brings together security, military, and civilian agencies to rehearse emergency responses.
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