THE Middle East market for security, safety, and fire protection is on track for double-digit growth over the next four years, as regional governments and the private sector look for improved technologies to better protect assets, people, businesses, and borders. Led by the Gulf nations of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, regional countries are making rapid strides to upgrade infrastructure and secure their countries, with research from analysts Frost & Sullivan (F&S) highlighting the tremendous potential that remains to be unlocked in the region. Fire protection also has huge growth potential, with the Middle East's fire safety market estimated to grow annually by 12.5 percent from 2012 to 2020. During this period, the market will grow from $1.6 billion to $4.2 billion, making it one of the world's largest fire safety markets. The latest figures come in the final countdown to Intersec 2017, the world's leading trade fair for security, safety, and fire protection, which is scheduled to be ten per cent larger year-on-year when it opens on Jan. 22-24 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The 19th edition of the annual three-day event will feature more than 1,300 exhibitors from 52 countries, while over 31,000 visitors from 128 countries are expected to attend as they seek the latest solutions across seven show sections of Commercial Security, Fire & Rescue, Safety & Health, Homeland Security & Policing, Perimeter & Physical Security, Information Security, and Smart Home & Building Automation. An industry white paper published by F&S outlined the latest trends and opportunities in the market, with spending in Middle East commercial, cyber, and homeland security, along with fire protection, and smart home building automation on a steep upward growth curve. According to F&S, the Middle East commercial security market, which includes intruder alarms, CCTV surveillance, electronic locks, perimeter protection, door alarms, access control and identification stems, is expected to be worth $10.2 billion by 2020, growing annually by 24 percent from its $3.8 billion value in 2015. Similarly, the region's homeland security market is forecast to grow annually by 21 per nt up to 2020, with market revenues increasing to $34.2 billion, driven predominantly by investments in critical infrastructure, major events, and the need to counter perceived threats. Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the organiser of Intersec, said: "Middle East organizations and end-users realize the impact of security and fire safety on their overall productivity and bottom lines, while regional governments have always been committed to protecting critical assets and people in the face of perceived threats along with social and commercial interests. "In this respect, the region has carved out a niche for itself the global security, safety, and fire protection industries and Intersec, as the leading global trade platform with a pronounced regional focus, remains the natural vehicle for international manufacturers to showcase their wares to regional buyers. "The coming edition will be even wider in scope and reach and will provide trade visitors a comprehensive look at what's available to suit their varied needs, whether that be for governments and authorities, or for private sector end-users in aviation, oil & gas, construction, finance, hospitality, logistics, retail or healthcare," added Pauwels.
