Wise Media’s annual EMEA summit on automatic identification and wireless technologies, ID WORLD Abu Dhabi 2010, opened its doors in the UAE on May 3, under the patronage of UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, H.H. Sheik Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Over the two days, ID WORLD Abu Dhabi, its forums and special initiatives saw attendees convene to share their knowledge and contribute to the 7 working groups of the regional thought leadership symposium from more than 35 countries. ID WORLD Abu Dhabi hosted the Citizen ID Forum, the Transportation Security Forum and the Asset Tracking Forum that, in the last four years, took place as separate events in Berlin, Rome, Vienna, Istanbul, Milan, Amsterdam, Paris and twice in Abu Dhabi. The event had both a global and regional focus on automatic identification and wireless technologies with a concentrated conference program of plenary sessions, breakout seminars and workshops, as well as a two-day exhibition.

Also at the event, Wise Media’s newest initiative, Postal Innovation, was launched to resounding success with a two-day conference attended by major postal operators and innovators from around the region. In addition, the NFC Academy Conference, returned to the region – as part of the event - after its high profile launch in Abu Dhabi in February 2009.

High ranking and influential speakers from around the region included Dr Ali Al Khouri, Acting General Director of the Emirates Identity Authority, the Hon. Suvi Lindén, Finnish Minister of Communications, Dr Mohammad Benten, President and CEO of Saudi Post and Prince Uche Secondus, Board Chairman of the Nigerian National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). In addition, ID WORLD Abu Dhabi conference welcomed high profile delegations from the EU, America, France, Finland, Germany, India, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Tunisia, the Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates, to mention only some.

Discussion over the two days ranged from government driven ID schemes, securing trade and travel and the provision of citizen centric services to the world of contactless technologies for transport and new innovations in asset tracking. Special focus was given to the growth of autoID and wireless solutions in both the postal and healthcare market sectors.