Eddie Reyes: A Humble Force Shaping the Future of Security in the UAE

If you’ve attended any major security conference in the UAE lately, chances are you’ve either heard Eddie Reyes speak, shaken his hand, or at the very least been swept up in the orbit of his boundless energy. Two years since swapping Virginia for the UAE, Eddie has become one of the most visible, respected, and let’s be honest, likeable figures in the regional security scene.

His influence stretches far beyond what we see on LinkedIn. Yes, the posts are thoughtful, insightful, and often inspiring, but it’s what happens off the platform that really defines him. Whether he’s mentoring a young professional over coffee or sharing a story from his law enforcement days that somehow manages to be both hilarious and humbling, Eddie has become a genuine bridge between generations. In a region full of grand projects and bold visions, his impact has been quietly human, and profoundly powerful.

“Eddie has that rare gift of making complex issues feel personal, and making everyone in the audience feel seen,” said one regional security leader after a recent conference.

From Patrol Cars to Palm Trees

Before the desert sun and resort boardrooms, Eddie spent almost three decades serving communities across the United States. He began with the Alexandria Police Department in Virginia, rising through the ranks to become Deputy Chief, overseeing patrol, special operations, and administration.

That alone would be a full career for most. But not Eddie. He went on to become Deputy Chief of the Amtrak Police Department’s Mid-Atlantic Division, where he managed operations from Pennsylvania to Florida. No small stretch when you consider that Amtrak trains move through some of the busiest and most complex security environments in the country.

Later, as Director of Public Safety Communications for Prince William County, Virginia, he led the county’s 9-1-1 modernisation and crisis-response operations, managing multimillion-dollar budgets and the high-pressure coordination that comes when technology, people, and emergencies collide. It was during this time that Eddie cemented his reputation as a steady hand in chaos, and as someone who could get the job done with both professionalism and a touch of humour. Whilst I have no evidence to back this up, I feel like his pre-shift briefings would be part TED Talk, part stand-up.

The Early Adopter with a Human Touch

Eddie has never been afraid of technology, in fact, he’s one of the few leaders who truly understands it. He’s what you’d call an early adopter rather than a full-blown pioneer, unless, of course, he’s got some sneaky inventions we don’t know about. He knows how to spot a tool that will actually help, rather than just look good in a PowerPoint.

From rolling out body-worn cameras and drone programs to advancing next-gen 9-1-1 systems, he’s always been at the forefront of technology’s role in public safety. But more importantly, he knows that technology is only as good as the people who use it. “Innovation is great,” Eddie once quipped, “but it still needs someone with common sense behind the scenes to control it.”

It’s that blend of curiosity, humility, and pragmatism that’s made him such an effective leader, and such an engaging speaker. He doesn’t talk at audiences; he brings them along for the ride.

From Public Safety to Five-Star Security

When Wynn Al Marjan Island, one of the most ambitious luxury developments in the Middle East and arguably the world began searching for a leader to shape its crisis management and response strategy, they needed someone with a rare blend of public-safety expertise, strategic vision, and people-centred leadership. Fast forward to today, and Eddie Reyes is that person, leading that mission, a testament to both his experience and the confidence placed in his abilities.

His appointment as Director of Crisis Management and Response at Wynn Resorts Ras Al Khaimah is more than a professional milestone, it’s a statement. It’s proof that the skills honed in policing, communications, and crisis leadership can translate seamlessly into hospitality and commercial environments, where the safety of guests and staff is paramount.

And true to form, Eddie hasn’t just taken on the role; he’s redefining it. He’s helping to design a crisis-management ecosystem that blends best-in-class technology, risk foresight, and cross-cultural collaboration. It’s not about reacting when things go wrong, it’s about building systems and teams that keep things right in the first place.

The Mentor We All Wish We Had

What’s perhaps most remarkable about Eddie is that, despite his seniority and schedule, he remains relentlessly approachable. He’s become an unofficial mentor to many across the industry, offering advice, encouragement, and the occasional nudge in the right direction.

At conferences, he’s that rare speaker who remembers your name after a five-minute chat. His humility and warmth have become part of his brand, though he’d never call it that. He simply believes in the value of connection. As he often says, “Security is all about people.”

In an industry often characterised by high stakes and serious faces, Eddie brings levity and perspective. He can talk about operational resilience one minute, then tell a story about his first policing shift the next, usually one involving weather, coffee, and a learning curve.

What the Future Holds

So, what’s next for Eddie Reyes? If the past two years are any indication, more of everything good. His calendar will likely continue to fill with speaking invitations across the region, his insights will continue to shape conversations around leadership and technology, and yes, that warm, infectious smile will continue to light up conference stages from Dubai to Doha.

But Eddie’s true legacy won’t be the titles he’s held or the projects he’s led. It will be the people he’s influenced. The young professionals he’s mentored, the teams he’s empowered, and the colleagues who’ve walked away from a conversation with him thinking, “I want to lead like that.”

The Middle East security industry is evolving rapidly, smarter, more connected, and more human. Leaders like Eddie are helping ensure that, amid all the innovation, we don’t lose sight of what really matters: the people behind the systems.

And if his track record is anything to go by, we can be certain of two things; the future of security leadership in the UAE is in very capable hands, and if Eddie’s around, it’s probably going to be a lot more fun along the way.