As artificial intelligence continues to redefine modern urban living, few companies are as deeply embedded in shaping that transformation as Milestone Systems. In this exclusive conversation with Middle East News 247, Louise, a senior representative from Milestone, discusses how the company’s latest innovation Project Hafnia, developed in collaboration with NVIDIA—is building the foundation for the next generation of AI-powered video technology. From improving traffic safety and public security to fostering cross-sector collaboration, Louise explains how data-driven solutions are reshaping smart cities across the Middle East and beyond.
- What types of incidents can AI now detect automatically, and how does this capability improve response times compared to traditional monitoring?
AI has transformed what is possible with software, particularly in the realm of incident detection and management. Today, AI can automatically detect a wide range of incidents, including traffic accidents, wrong-way vehicles, pedestrian anomalies, and unusual crowd movements. By analyzing real-time video feeds and leveraging predictive models, AI identifies situations as they begin to unfold rather than only reacting after the fact.
Compared to traditional manual monitoring, this capability significantly reduces missed events and mitigates operator fatigue. The accuracy of AI systems, supported by high-quality, real-world data, improves detection rates well beyond human capabilities, minimizing false positives and ensuring reliable alerts.
By identifying incidents faster, AI enhances emergency response times and allows for proactive interventions, which are simply unmatched by traditional methods. For example, traffic systems can reroute vehicles in real time, security teams can be dispatched immediately, and potential hazards can be mitigated before they escalate.
Ultimately, AI enables smarter, faster, and more precise decision-making, transforming how cities, organizations, and emergency services respond to incidents.
- In what ways can Project Hafnia strengthen collaboration between customers and AI developers?
With Project Hafnia, we’re building the future in collaboration with NVIDIA, creating the first global platform specifically designed to train AI models. AI requires extensive training, massive amounts of high-quality, real-world video data, and Project Hafnia provides exactly that, making it accessible for model training and fine-tuning.
The platform fosters a balanced public-private innovation structure, where expertise and resources are jointly contributed toward shared goals. By offering controlled access through a licensing model, Project Hafnia ensures that sensitive video data is used transparently, securely, and in full compliance with legal requirements.
AI developers benefit from this shared ecosystem by gaining access to responsibly sourced, high-quality data, which improves the accuracy and performance of their models. At the same time, cities, governments, and municipalities can contribute data in a safe and controlled manner, enabling a collaborative feedback loop. This close interaction between users and developers allows AI solutions to be tailored to address specific urban challenges effectively.
Ultimately, Project Hafnia strengthens collaboration by connecting data providers and developers in a secure, structured environment, delivering AI systems that are both highly accurate and directly aligned with real-world needs.
- Why is the Middle East such a strategic market for Milestone?
The Middle East is a strategic market and Milestone’s third-largest globally, offering unique growth opportunities across sectors. In my recent keynote, I highlighted the potential of the UAE and the broader Middle East, where we’ve seen significant growth in VMS, hardware, and services, largely driven by government initiatives.
The region is making rapid investments in smart cities and large-scale infrastructure projects, such as the Dubai Smart City Project, which is digitizing over 1,000 government services and integrating AI and IoT across transportation, infrastructure, and urban planning. These initiatives, along with ambitious visions like UAE Vision 2031 and 2050, are driving digitalization and creating a strong demand for scalable, reliable VMS solutions. For example, Milestone VMS powers NEOM’s smart city vision, connecting cameras and sensors to enable safer and smarter urban management.
Security spending in the UAE and KSA is projected to reach $8.4 billion by 2027, driven by compliance regulations, rising cybercrime, and a digital-first mindset. Mega-projects and high-profile events in the region also require robust solutions, and Milestone’s strong local presence and partnerships allow us to deliver consultative, culturally aligned support to meet these demands.
In addition, traditional growth sectors such as hospitality and tourism continue to provide strong opportunities, reinforcing the Middle East’s strategic importance for Milestone.
- Given the increasing focus on AI-driven traffic management in cities like Dubai, how does Milestone plan to integrate video-based intelligence into wider smart mobility systems?
Traffic management is a key priority for UAE residents, and the government has always taken a proactive approach. With the growing number of people on urban roads, ensuring smooth traffic flow and safe roads is essential.
Milestone’s approach is centered on enhancing real-time traffic flow management, congestion detection, and incident identification across urban road networks. Our open-platform VMS allows integration with a wide range of third-party technologies, connecting seamlessly with smart city infrastructure. By aggregating and analyzing this data, we provide comprehensive situational awareness for mobility authorities, enabling faster and more informed decision-making.
Project Hafnia further strengthens this ecosystem. By training high-accuracy AI models on real-world traffic data, we improve predictive capabilities, allowing authorities to anticipate incidents rather than simply react. This enhances emergency response, public safety, and sustainable urban mobility outcomes, ensuring roads remain safe, efficient, and resilient.
Conclusion:
As cities in the Middle East accelerate toward fully connected, intelligent infrastructure, Milestone’s vision for AI-driven video management stands out as both timely and transformative. Through initiatives like Project Hafnia, the company is not just enhancing security and operational efficiency—it’s enabling governments and private enterprises to collaborate responsibly in building safer, smarter communities. With its growing regional footprint and strong local partnerships, Milestone Systems is poised to play a pivotal role in the Middle East’s smart city evolution.
