Dubai: First Security Group, Dubai's largest private security provider, is looking to finance a Dh350 million project for a training academy that could handle thousands of personnel looking for security training.
"We believe that people should not just have basic security training but should also be trained according to the different requirements of specific jobs. The plans are ready for the big project," Major General (retd) Abdul Aziz Al Bannai, chief executive and board member of First Security Group, told Gulf News.
With over 2,000 security guards, the company involved in services such as guarding, security and health safety training and corporate services including due diligence, investigation and debt recovery, currently trains its own staff as well as that of police services, defence forces and private companies.
The new academy will be able to meet the region's need for training in the private security industry.
Al Bannai said that at the moment, there is a significant lack of appropriately trained security professions. "Only one of three official companies train their people," he said.
A land plot of 800,000 square feet has been granted to the company by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Construction could start next year, and take two to three years to complete, Al Bannai said.
"We know the demand is there," he said, noting that the UAE alone has about 60,000 security guards.
While the market presently has access to just basic training, the new academy will aim to bring in more advanced courses and even civil training such a self-defence courses.
A semi-government project, Al Bannai said that Dubai Police and Civil Defence authorities will be involved in the training academy to lend expertise as well.
Coaches are expected to be hired locally as well as internationally to staff the academy.
"We don't have top level professionals here, we are just at the beginning in terms of advanced training," Al Bannai said.
