The Market

Security Market in the Middle East
The safety and security industry is booming throughout the Middle East as the region deals with increases in a wide variety of security concerns ranging from border security and private citizen safety to transaction fraud. In general, safety and security product imports to the area have increased 10-15% annually for the past few years, with increases of up to 25-30+% in some countries, making the Middle East one of the most attractive markets for this industry in the world.

Member countries of the Gulf Co-operative Council (Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) in particular are a burgeoning regional market with an estimated value of $10 billion for safety and security products. Countries here have solid funds to purchase the products they need. (source : US Department of Commerce)

The Gulf region is increasingly using biometric security systems for verifying the identity of individuals at corporate and government sites as well as at border points and airports, with the market expected to be worth almost $500 million within two years, according to latest industry analysis. (source : AMEINFO)

For security, police, fire, military, rescue and safety companies, the Arabian Gulf is now one of the most exciting markets in the world. Trading opportunities in the region are outstanding, with high demand and growth of more than 10% per year. The estimated value of the market is now more than US$1 billion.

There has never been a better time to expand your business in the Middle East. Government spending on infrastructure continues at an all time high, and the private sector and domestic markets are thriving. Security and safety are now right at the top of the agenda throughout the region.

	Economies in the region are growing rapidly
	Security and crime are priorities for governments and civil authorities
	Commercial buyers and VIP customers are becoming more demanding
	Safety in work and domestic environments continues to be prioritised
	Systems and installations are becoming more sophisticated

The commercial security, safety and fire markets of the Middle East are all now at an exciting growth stage, with specialist local integrators working closely with equipment suppliers from overseas. Integrators and installers are key to this market. It is their growing expertise, working with experienced international suppliers, that is underpinning the development of both the security and safety sectors across the region. It is also recognised that fire safety as a discipline has much development work ahead of it in most of the Middle East - which is why consultancy and training services are in strong demand.

In addition to this increasing supply-side proficiency, there is also an increasing level of sophistication on the demand side of the market, with the determination among end-users to buy the right solution, not just the system being sold to them. End-users, including the commercial sector, the civil authorities and government, are becoming increasingly aware of the risks posed by international criminals in the types of security solutions they need, and determined to buy the right systems. There is also a growing emphasis at government level on the promotion of health and safety at work and in public spaces and the protection of people from risks such as fire. This is reflected in sales of fire and safety systems. (source: Security Middle East Magazine)
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The Middle East is fast emerging as an important market for the security industry. The region's Interior Ministries, Police Departments and Law Enforcement Agencies have significant resources to invest in state-of-the-art equipment and technologies. Internationalization of the region increases the chances of crime being imported and the internal state security departments always have top priority in maintaining the safe and secure environment the region.

Quotes from regional security industry decision makers :

"Although the UAE is well policed, with the existing network of security agencies and local police tackling most of the crimes extremely well, access to newer technologies and philosophies in security is needed to update the system." Maj Salem Al Mugarrab Sharjah Police

"MEPOL 2006 is happening at the right time with the world facing major security issues." Saeed Obaid Al Jarwan Director General Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry

"The UAE is not the original birth place of organised crime. But this does not mean that those organisations have no activities in the country."
Maj Gen (Rtd) Dr Mohammed Khalifa Al MuÕalla Former Director General of Criminal Security at the UAE Ministry of the Interior and former Chief of Sharjah Police

"Crime knows no border. It is an international problem and no country is safe." Lt Col Najam Abdullah Sayyar Director of Police Officers Training
UAE Ministry of Interior

"The UAE Ministry of Interior is keen on adopting advanced facilities to tighten security and keep abreast of global developments in information technology,"
Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan Under-Secretary, UAE Ministry of Interior

"Money-related crimes form a real threat for the security authorities."
"The openness created by globalisation is being badly exploited by gangsters, mainly narcotics traffickers and money-laundering gangs."
Maj Gen Dhahi Khalfan Tamim Chief of Police, Dubai

"The role of the Civil Defence is no longer confined to fighting fires. It now involves protection against weapons of mass destruction, radioactive and other dangerous materials and dealing with natural disasters." Maj Gen Mohammed Salim bin Kardous Al Amiri Head of Civil Defence, UAE Ministry of Interior

"Dubai Police spares no effort in fighting narcotics. The Anti-Narcotics Department is working hard not only on fighting drugs, but also on educating people and raising their awareness of this illness." Colonel Abdul Jaleel Mehdi Director General of Dubai Police Anti-Narcotics Department

"The number of drug related deaths during the last decade reflects a continuous increase, which needs more effort and cooperation between the police and society."

"Internet-related crimes, for example, are some of the most dangerous environmental crimes. Internet hackers can access confidential state information or bank accounts, posing a threat to economic and social stability." Dr Ahmad Felah Al Amoush from the Sharjah Police Research Centre

"Statistics reveal an average of 142 road accidents occur daily, or one accident every 10 minutes, causing an injury every five hours, and a fatality every three days." Colonel Saleh Ali Al Mutawa Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police

"Currency forgery, bribery, embezzlement and other economic crimes are expected to increase in the GCC as the six-member states open up their markets and bring in more technology to their societies." Colonel Dr. Adel Khamis Al Maamari Sharjah General Police Directorate

"We need to set up special schools and institutes for security science and to maintain contacts with other Arab countries in this field since the stability of one country in our Arab world means the stability of all Arab countries." Colonel Dr. Adel Khamis Al Maamari Sharjah General Police Directorate

"Joint measures by our countries against criminal activities and operations must include modern crimes such as money laundering, computer and credit cards crimes and other illegal economic and financial actions." Brig Suhail bin Amer Director of Investigation, Oman

"Arab Ministers of Justice are in the process of developing a Pan-Arab strategy to combat organised crime." Mohammed Nakhira Al Dhaheri
UAE Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs and Awqaf

"Seventy per cent of financial crimes investigated by the police last year had international links." Laurence Yousuf Al Moalim financial and banking crimes expert, Dubai Police

"Traditional means of fighting crime aren't of any use in fighting modern economic crimes. This requires identifying, analysing and classifying economic crimes and developing police work accordingly." Colonel Saleh Al Mutawa Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police