Intersec 2011 in Dubai: International Profile and Regional Impact

Intersec 2011 is being held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from January 16 to 18 and is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition and conference for the security and safety industry in the Middle East. The exhibition and conference combines a strong international profile, with a huge regional impact. 19,159 visitors from 96 countries and over 710 exhibitors from 50 countries attended Intersec 2010 and for 2011 organizers expect 800 exhibitors and 22,000 trade visitors to attend. The show will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who will open Intersec on Sunday, January 16.

Dubai to Spend € 100 Million on Surveillance systems
Intersec 2011 will take place in the middle of a market that is expected to show a double digit growth for the upcoming years. The demand for video surveillance systems in Middle Eastern countries will grow by 10 per cent in 2010, with even stronger growth forecast through to 2014, according to recent market estimates. Dubai alone is expected to spend Dhs500 million (about € 100 million) this year to install security cameras across the emirate. There are currently 25,000 security cameras in Dubai, which is policed by 16,500 police officers and another 4,000 administrative staff who oversee security in the city. Dubai is also expected to set up a modern forensics laboratory at a cost of Dhs500 million, as it gears up to face the increasingly sophisticated threats posed by modern criminals. As global threat perceptions rise and awareness about the need to guard against internal and external security breaches increases, governments and local authorities around the world are turning to increasingly sophisticated means to detect and prevent these threats before they can occur. This has led to an unprecedented rise in demand for parameter monitoring devices and video surveillance systems around the world - with the Middle East region among the prime movers in this regard.
„The awareness of the need to provide cutting-edge security measures to protect against ever more sophisticated threats is driving the demand for high-tech surveillance and detection systems in sensitive civilian and military installations," said Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Epoc Messe Frankfurt, organizer of Intersec. „According to recent research, the global market for perimeter security sensory systems will be worth Dhs1.6 billion ($ 440 million) by 2014. This is being driven by new regulations being imposed by governments in the US, Europe and Asia regarding enhanced security measures at sensitive sites like airports, nuclear plants, power plants and other high-risk locations," Pauwels stated.
Video surveillance and detection systems have become increasingly popular as a means of threat detection in cities worldwide. Video cameras are increasingly popping up at most places with a large throughput of people. The Homeland Security and Policing division of Intersec trade fair and conference 2011 will feature the latest developments in threat management and prevention systems, monitoring and surveillance systems from leading manufacturers and security experts worldwide looking to tap into the burgeoning Middle East market.

Biometric Security Technology in the Focus of Interest
The use of biometrics as a fool proof means to verify identity in an attempt to weed out criminals with false documents is not a new phenomenon. However, a growing trend has been identified within both governments and the private sector to increasingly harness this powerful tool in order to keep home and corporate environments safe. "The growth in the biometric security market is remarkable," said Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Epoc Messe Frankfurt. "Industry figures estimate that worldwide revenues from the biometric market will treble to US $14 billion (AED 51.4 billion) by 2015," he added. "The latest in biometric security devices and machinery from the world's leading manufacturers will be on display at Intersec. Both the public and private sector in the region are increasingly interested in incorporating biometric technology as part of their overall security environment. We have seen the growth in finger scans, eye scans and facial recognition technology in airports and security-sensitive sites across the region," Pauwels stated.
Currently it is government and homeland security agencies who are the largest users of biometric technology globally with widespread deployment of finger/eye scanning and facial recognition devices at airports, sea ports and border posts across the region. More recently there has been an increase in those interested from within the corporate world too, not just in perimeter security and access control, but also as a means to protect access to corporate networks, PCs and classified information.
According to Stewart Hefferman, Chief Executive Officer of Omniperception, and speaker at the Commercial Security in a Changing Economy Conference, "Historically, governments led the adoption, and use, of biometric technologies. Today, this is no longer the case. Yesterday's biometric technologies have become today's biometric products and it is these products that are now commonly used in mission critical corporate environments. We continue to see an increasing demand for biometric products in the corporate sector and we cannot see this trend reversing anytime in the near future."
Mr. Hefferman will be presenting on the difficulties faced by many organisations in identifying the correct business model to support the use of biometric technology. His presentation will focus on the derived value and real benefits to a company when the correct model is choosen with illustration of different business models applied to different organisations. In addition to the conference, companies such as Al Aqili Future Technologies, Avigilon, L1 Identity Solutions Bioscript, Enterprise, Locktronix, Screen Check Middle East, Suprema, Integrated Systems LLC, Virdi, ZK Software and others will present the latest solutions and technologies in the biometrics industry during Intersec.

The UAE FireFit Championships
A team of elite Kuwaiti firefighters will participate for the first time in the International FireFit Championships. The deal was struck after a meeting with the Director General of the Kuwait Fire Service Directorate, Major General Jasim Ali Al Mansouri. A very popular segment of Intersec which launched successfully during the last edition, the UAE International FireFit Championships features leading firefighting teams from around the world that pit their skills against each other in a series of competitions over three days.
Wilbert Heijmans, Group Exhibitions Director, Epoc Messe Frankfurt said: "We are extremely glad that a team of firefighters from Kuwait are participating in the championships. As authorities around the region gear up to face safety and security threats, cooperation among the region's authorities in terms of methods and tactics is vital to increased success. Events like the championships allow firefighters to learn from each other, the skills and techniques useful in their local environments."
Apart from being a great opportunity for industry professionals to interact and meet with leading manufacturers, suppliers and international experts in their fields, the event also features the Intersec Conference. Packed with a spectrum of international speakers who will present their views on the latest technologies, methods and developments in the safety and security industry, delegates to the conference can benefit greatly from the networking and learning opportunities offered. Along with the FireFit Championships and live demonstrations running throughout the course of the three day trade exhibition, Intersec 2011 will be a lively event.
Mohammed Al Ahmadi, General Manager of 911 Fire Fighting and founder of the championships, said: "Participating in the Firefit Championships is a great opportunity to assess the professional readiness, tactical expertise and development of our firefighters. By pitting our skills against the best it motivates our firefighters to excel themselves and is a great morale booster."

Report about Intersec 2010 Dubai