ISSN: 2226-3624
Open access
Museums increasingly face multidimensional security threats that extend beyond conventional theft to insider misconduct, organised crime, natural disasters and cyberattacks. Despite advances in surveillance and protective technologies, fragmented approaches to museum security may limit institutional capacity to prevent, detect and respond effectively to emerging threats. This study examines contemporary museum-security practices and evaluates how technological, human, risk-management, legal and international mechanisms collectively strengthen cultural-property protection, with reference to the United Arab Emirates. Using a qualitative descriptive, analytical and comparative research design, the study analyses museum-security practices, UAE legislation and relevant international cultural-property instruments. The findings demonstrate that effective museum security depends on the integration of smart surveillance, institutional risk management, trained personnel, preventive procedures, legal enforcement and international cooperation. The study contributes an integrated museum-security effectiveness framework demonstrating how these complementary capabilities transform threat preparedness into effective prevention, incident response, recovery and long-term cultural-heritage protection.
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