Intersec will open for the 20th time in Dubai next week, with its double digit annual growth over the last 20 years mirrored by the rapid transformation of the Middle East market.
When the doors open from 21-23 January at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Intersec 2018 will feature 1,337 exhibitors from 59 countries. The three-day event will span 60,000sqm of exhibition space across 13 halls, and features 19 of the world’s top 20 commercial security solutions providers.
At the show’s official press conference today (16 January), analysts Frost & Sullivan (F&S), revealed that in 1998, the Middle East’s homeland and commercial security market combined was worth just US$52.4 million. Since then, the market has grown at an impressive CAGR of 33 percent, and is currently worth US$12.2 billion, while by 2022, it’ll touch US$25.3 billion.
Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Intersec’s organiser Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said: “Twenty years on, Intersec can look back with satisfaction at two decades of substantial growth and achievements, while looking ahead to a future that’s full of promise.”
“As the world’s foremost trade, networking and business development platform for the safety, security and fire protection industries, Intersec will rewrite old records and post a few more milestones in this, its 20th anniversary edition.
The Intersec 2018 press conference was also addressed by senior representatives of the show’s official Government Partners; the Dubai Police, Dubai Civil Defence, Dubai Police Academy, the Security Industry Regulatory Authority (SIRA), and for the first time in 2018, the Dubai Municipality.
Pauwels highlighted new additions to the 20th annual showcase, spearheaded by a new indoor Drone Zone and Drone Pavilion, as well as two dedicated conferences on drones and artificial intelligence.
“New features in 2018 include an indoor Drone Zone, where the Dubai Police and Dubai Civil Defence are among those delivering live demonstrations of their latest drones and UAVs in action,” added Pauwels.
“In addition, the Fire and Security Conference, this year we’re hosting for the first-time forums on Drones and Artificial Intelligence. Here, 25 Government representatives from the USA, Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore, including regional regulators, will headline a 70-strong speaking panel throughout the three-day programme.”