Regulations, investment, and safety concerns boost security demand in MENA
2020-01-08

by Jamil Al Asfar, Senior Sales Manager, IDIS Middle East & Africa

The physical security market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is growing at a steady pace as persistent public safety concerns, increased construction projects, and stricter government regulations prompt customers to spend more. According to Ken Research, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22 percent in the five years to 2022.

Projects like Expo 2020 in Dubai, the 2022 FIFA world cup in Qatar, and Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia are driving investments in the Middle East.  There are concerns about a predictable slowdown post the Expo 2020, but the event is expected to bring in more capital for the long term.    

In Saudi, economic diversification initiatives and socioeconomic reforms are likely to boost demand. Political instability, social unrest, and terrorism are also persisting factors that drive sales of security solutions in the region.

 

What the market needs

Ever since the Arab Springs, the MENA continues to witness social unrest in several parts of the region. Recent protests in Egypt were one of the latest examples of this. There are also renewed concerns about terrorism after incidents like the drone attack on Saudi Arabian oil plants that crippled the country’s production capacity.

Given the need to protect assets and people in extreme weather conditions round-the-clock, the demand for robust, explosion-proof cameras and resilient security devices is high. High definition IP cameras that can be seamlessly integrated into the everyday operations of organisations are critical.

This is especially true in the case of perimeter protection devices such as thermal and PTZ cameras that can capture visuals and data even in tough lighting conditions. Such solutions are key to protecting critical infrastructure like those in the oil and gas sector, which has assets spread across vast areas and are vulnerable to attacks.

 

The rising importance of AI

There is a growing interest in AI-enabled solutions for domains like video analytics and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) to automate processes and improve efficiency. Capturing high-quality footage only solves half the problem. Operators need to know when there is an issue and act on it before its too late.

That is why many traditional physical security technologies are not quite enough in the real world, which is full of unstructured data. There are so many different ways in which an unwanted incident can develop and take place. Terrorist attacks are getting more and more sophisticated as we saw in Saudi.

This is why IDIS has harnessed the power of Deep Learning technology in its IDIS Solution Suite VMS and via the DV-2116 AI in the Box.  IDIS Deep Learning Analytics (IDLA) has a 98 percent accuracy rate meaning customers can detect anomalies and usual behaviour faster than ever before with the potential to intervene before events escalate or a security breach occurs.  IDLA combined with edge-based essential analytics on IDIS’s new VA bullet and fixed dome cameras and Meta Filtering IDIS is transforming the way control rooms operate.

 

Meeting regulatory requirements across the region

Governments across the globe are tightening regulations on security solutions and the case is no different in the Middle East. These usually include mandates to use proven cybersecurity measures, redundancy aspects, failover, and a cost-effective video retention system.

Dubai, for instance, has the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) doing a great job on this, ensuring organisations use high-quality products for the best results. IDIS makes sure its customers can meet these requirements with solutions like DirectIP®, that acts as a mutual authentication system that simplifies network security.  

Similarly, Saudi and Qatar have also set security standards that organizations need to meet and IDIS has been the top choice for many customers in these countries. When the National Commercial Bank (NCB) of Saudi Arabia needed to upgrade its systems to meet the standards set by the country’s monetary authority and interior ministry, they chose IDIS. When Qatar’s Al Sulaiman Jewellers needed to meet the local government’s rigorous standards, they too chose IDIS.

In fact, cybersecurity is perhaps the most pressing concern for authorities now. According to the cybersecurity firm DarkMatter, cyberattacks in the Middle East are on the rise. Hackers keep themselves updated with the latest developments in technology, making the attacks complex and difficult to counter. IDIS provides its customers with significant peace of mind in this regard, using a multi-layered technology, proprietary protocols and databases to ensure the security of video transmission and storage.  

 

Offering end-to-end solutions to meet every need

IDIS offers systems integrators and end customers the option to get all the required solutions, at the best possible quality, in one place. This means both hardware and advanced AI-enabled software that are tailored to meet the security as well as regulatory requirements of specific verticals like banking and retail.

Working with such a one-stop-shop is cost-efficient as it guarantees compatibility for hassle-free integration between devices, technical support, and faster execution of projects. This will help systems integrators remain prepared for the growing requirements in the region and allow end customers to be ready to deal with increasing security concerns.

IDIS will be exhibiting at the Middle East’s leading trade fair for security, safety and fire protection, Intersec in Dubai on Sunday 19th January to Tuesday 21st January on stand SA-28.  For more information and to register to go to https://intersec.ae.messefrankfurt.com/dubai/en.html

IDIS LAUNCHES POWERFUL LINE-UP OF EDGE VA BULLET AND DOME CAMERAS WITH ON-BOARD ANALYTICS
2020-01-16Learn more
IDIS TO UNVEIL TRANSFORMATIONAL AI SOLUTIONS AND END-TO-END VIDEO TECH FOR RETAIL AND BANKING AT INTERSEC
2020-01-02Learn more