Public safety services company ESM Operations oversaw the complex public safety requirements at the World Defense Show (WDS), 8 – 12 February 2026), held in Saudi Arabia.
The five-day event, which showcased exhibitors from across all five defence domains; Land, Air, Sea, Space, and Security, featured an extensive live land and air displays of advanced military assets. Whilst conducted in controlled areas, the demonstrations of advanced military technologies and manned/unmanned systems, by their very nature, pose safety risks. As a major international event with thousands of delegates, high-ranking officials, and exhibitors from 89 countries, the venue is a high-density area, posing risks related to crowd management and potential security breaches.
Simon Heathershaw, ESM Operations Director and principal Security Consultant for WDS 2026, explained: “ESM Operations worked very closely with the event organisers to ensure seamless security consultancy, crowd management and show control. Thorough preparation planning, state-of-the-art modelling and tabletop exercises allowed for the integrated alignment of all stakeholders in the communication, responsibility and operational elements in the case of an incident or emergency. Together, these measures ensured all eventualities with potential public safety implications were covered.”
Record participation was seen from international dignitaries and military leaders, including 513 official delegations from 121 countries. The show featured 1,486 exhibitors and was inaugurated by a senior government official.
