Inayat-ur-Rahman / Agencies

Intersec 2020, the world’s leading security, safety, and fire protection trade show, held under the patronage of Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, today opened its doors to the latest security safety solutions and three days of agenda-setting discussion, as global industry sources tip the Middle East security sector for 10% annual growth over the next two years.

With more than 1,100 exhibitors from 56 countries, Intersec was officially inaugurated by Major General Expert Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi, Director General of Dubai Civil Defence; Major General Abdullah Ali Al Ghaithi, Director of the General Department of Organisations Protective Security & Emergency at Dubai Police, and Major General Khalifa Ibrahim Al Sulais, CEO of the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA).

The delegation met top-level dignitaries and representatives from Dubai Police; Came, a leader in automated security solutions; Netherlands-based Nedap, a specialist in systems for long-range identification, smart parking and vehicle access control; Chinese technology giant Huawei, and Axis Communications, a Swedish manufacturer of network cameras for physical security and video surveillance industries.

“As the region’s premier show for commercial security, fire protection and safety, Intersec plays a crucial role in shaping the future of these industries,” said Sheikh Mansoor. “Protecting our people and assets is a principal responsibility for the UAE and with the Expo 2020 fast-approaching, the implementation of new best practices and technology will solidify the UAE’s position as a leader in security.”

Andreas Rex, Show Director at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, which organises Intersec, added: “No sector is exempt from technological advancement. The emergence of automation, biometrics, artificial intelligence and machine learning is transforming the face of the security sector and helping to address growing concerns surrounding unmanned aerial, cyber and identity fraud risks. As security risks become more complex, so too must the solutions designed to combat them.”

As Intersec 2020 welcomed the global security industry to Dubai, the bullish security sector growth forecast was issued by Business France, the French government organisation charged with fostering French exports and promoting inward investment into the country.

France, one of 15 international country pavilions at the three-day show at Dubai World Trade Centre, is debuting the most advanced technology emerging across seven broad product sectors: commercial security, smart home, cybersecurity, fire and rescue, safety and health, homeland security and policing, as well as perimeter and physical security.

“The Middle East region represents a particularly attractive market for the safety and security sector, which is expected to grow around 10% per year to 2022,” said Frederic Szabo, Managing Director, Business France Middle East, which is hosting 15 French companies at Intersec – 11 of which specialise in fire and rescue.

“Increasing the capabilities of infrastructure, securing power plants and oil complexes, protecting sites and people for major events to come are all excellent reasons for French experts to extend their presence in the region,” added Szabo.

The Consul General of Pakistan to Dubai, Ahmed Amjad Ali also inaugurated Pakistani pavilion as five Pakistani companies are participating in the 3-day Intersec Exhibition.

The platform, located at Dubai World Trade Center, is providing an excellent opportunity to the exhibitors from Pakistan to interact and network with key industry players and explore business opportunities.

Intersec is a premier international showcase for the Security, Safety and Fire protection industries in the MENA region since its inaugural edition in 1999 in Dubai.

The Czech Republic pavilion is hosting a similar contingent of companies including COMINFO, a manufacturer of turnstiles, gates and access control systems, which is leveraging Intersec to launch EasyGate Superb – the world’s slimmest, fully-equipped speed gate for access control.

COMINFO’s regional launch of EasyGate Superb is one in hundreds of major transformative technology breakthroughs at the fair, where the scale of next-generation security risks and the intelligent technology required to prevent and defend against security threats are being explored by local, regional and global industry leaders at Intersec’s comprehensive conference programme.

The four-pronged programme, which includes the Intersec Arena, the Future Security Summit and Intersec Fire Conference, and the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) forum, has drawn experts from more than 50 countries to Dubai.

During a keynote address at the Intersec Arena on Sunday, Eng. Khalid Al Hammadi, Chairman of the Security Professionals Association (SPA), the first association for security professionals in the Middle East, announced the launch of SPA for SIRA, the Dubai agency tasked with ensuring the highest standards of security and safety in the emirate.

SPA is a platform that allows security professionals to share and enhance their knowledge of industry best practices.