Museums and heritage sites · UAE and GCC
Visitor screening that respects the museum
A museum entrance has two jobs: stop what the security requirement says must be stopped, and still welcome visitors. Some museums must detect even very small blades; others need to screen thousands of visitors an hour for firearms.
AFB supplies the full CEIA range, so each entrance gets the detection level its requirement calls for.
What makes museum screening different
The entrance is part of the visit
A queue of trays and archways sets the wrong tone before the first gallery.
Visitors arrive in waves
Tour groups, school visits and evening openings arrive together, and the queue forms outside.
The building comes first
Listed buildings and designed lobbies leave no room for cabling, anchoring or permanent archways.
Visitors carry bags and coats
Asking them to divest creates queues and pressure on the cloakroom.
Choose the screening level for each entrance
| Requirement | CEIA solution | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Very small blades and metal objects must be found at public entrances | SMD600 Plus walk-through | Certified to every security level of NIJ-0601.02, down to small-object level; visitors keep belts, coins, keys, jewellery and watches on |
| Precise location of each target at a busy entrance | HI-PE Plus walk-through | 60 localisation zones show where on the body the target is, keeping secondary checks short |
| Temporary exhibitions and gates that move | PMD2 Plus walk-through | Same detection core in elliptic, panel and heavy-duty builds; the EZHD assembles without tools |
| Firearms and IEDs at high visitor flow, without divesting | OPENGATE | Visitors walk through with bags and coats; two freestanding, battery-powered pillars, no cabling |
| Alarm resolution and pinpointing | PD240 or PD140N hand-held | Fast, calibration-free secondary check at a discreet table |
| Staff and back-of-house exits | SMD601 Plus with personal profiling | Screens staff at exit for metallic assets while ignoring implants and jewellery |
Most museums combine two or three of these: a high-sensitivity walk-through at the main entrance, OPENGATE for evening events or overflow, and hand-held detectors at every lane. The right mix comes out of a site survey or a full security assessment.
Standards. OPENGATE is fully compliant with Standards 1 and 2 of Commission Recommendation (EU) 2023/1468, the standards for firearms, assault rifles and IEDs, which do not require divesting. The SMD600 Plus is certified to every security level of NIJ-0601.02.
Tested in the UK. CEIA OPENGATE has been tested to the UK Discriminative Metal Detection Systems Test Method (October 2020), with NPSA-reviewed results available on request.
CEIA screening at heritage sites worldwide
CEIA reference installations at some of the world’s most visited heritage sites and historic venues.
Photos courtesy of CEIA.
Supply, rental and support from AFB
- Supply from stock in Dubai, or rental for an exhibition opening, a gala or a peak season
- Site survey of the entrance and visitor flow before anything is specified
- Installation and configuration by our CEIA-certified engineer
- Briefing for visitor-services and security staff
- Maintenance contracts in the UAE, and elsewhere in the GCC by arrangement
See the full CEIA range we supply, our rental service and maintenance contracts.
Frequently asked
Which detector does our museum need?
It depends on what your security requirement says must be detected. Where very small blades must be found, a high-sensitivity walk-through such as the SMD600 Plus is the right choice. Where the threat is firearms and IEDs at high visitor flow, OPENGATE keeps queues down. We confirm the mix in a site survey.
Do visitors need to divest?
With the SMD600 Plus, visitors keep belts, coins, keys, jewellery and watches on, and bags are checked separately. With OPENGATE, visitors also keep their bags and coats on.
Will the equipment fit our lobby?
Yes. Walk-through detectors come in panel and slim elliptic builds, and OPENGATE is two freestanding, battery-powered pillars with no cabling or anchoring.
What happens when a visitor alarms?
The visitor steps aside to a discreet table for a short check with a hand-held detector. There is no second queue.
Can we trial it before we decide?
Yes. We hold walk-through, hand-held and OPENGATE units in the UAE for site surveys and live trials at your entrance.
Can we rent equipment for an exhibition opening or event?
Yes. Walk-through detectors and OPENGATE are available on short-term rental, with set-up and staff briefing included.
Museums and heritage sites