The internationally attended event is grouped into four general areas:
• Commercial Security
• Police & Homeland Security
• Fire
• Safety & Health
This structure has been established due to the major growth of the event as a whole and in order to attract more specialized visitor groups. The Dubai Police and Civil Defence, as well as other government authorities and VIP delegations, have been supporting the show since its inception. In 2003 the Intersec show was bought by Messe Frankfurt and has since grown by more than 200%.
Police & Homeland Security is featured strongly within both the exhibition and the 'high-level' conferences set to take place over the course of the show. Representatives from within these sectors will be travelling from all corners of the globe to share their latest products, experiences and opinions. During Intersec 2006, US Speakers included: Chuck Wexler, Director, United States Police Research Forum, Washington, DC. USA - Frank Cruthers, First Deputy Commissioner, New York Fire Department, USA and Dr Loren Myhre, Nike Research, USA. The conferences at Intersec 2007 will be covering both global homeland security and regional policing issues.
Within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) the main consumers of security systems and equipment are the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Interior. Over the past 8 years the GCC has spent a staggering $277 billion on defence and security. This amount accounts for approx 12.7 % of their GDP, the highest ratio in the world. From these statistics, it is clear that the UAE market is a strategic one to US companies, offering excellent opportunities for US security consultants and suppliers of advanced systems and equipment.
Due to the increasing concern of terrorist attacks, airport security and border control is an extremely important task. Within the region there are huge airport expansions being implemented. These include $8 billion for Doha International Airport (Qatar), $6 billion for Abu Dhabi International Airport (UAE), $5 billion for the additional expansion of Dubai International Airport (UAE), $1.5 billion expansion of Jeddah's King Abdul-Aziz Airport (Saudi Arabia) and $500 million modernization of existing facilities at Kuwait International Airport. Of these large investments, security is expected to account for 10 - 15 % of the total expenditure, which emphasises that airport security within the region is a top priority.
In addition to the regions airports, Dubai Port Authority is also interested in strengthening its areas with approximately 12,000 vessels passing through the regions coastline.
Increasingly, international events are being hosted and taking place in the gulf region. One such event, the Asian Games in Doha, will take place on December 2006 in Qatar. The Qatar Government has taken steps to establish a National Command Centre (NCC), to prevent and respond to any potential threats during the games. To this end, both International and US defense / security contractors are currently bidding on this project and other similar efforts in the Middle East.
Exhibition Manager Imke Cochran commented, "Intersec has grown phenomenally in recent years, attracting the major associations and manufacturers within the field of Security".
The Commercial Security area of the Intersec show is showcasing products from security market leaders, such as Honeywell, Pelco, Lenel, Napco, Tyco and GE.
Intelligent building security and home automation systems as well as physical security products and CCTV systems are of growing interest due to the building boom in the UAE. In addition to these type of development projects, there is also an increasing demand for advanced security systems for government buildings, palaces and foreign embassies throughout the Middle East.
"Intersec has become an international show, which is globally recognised; we are currently in the process of receiving certification from the US Trade Department of Washington. Intersec 2006 was pleased to welcoming 24 US security companies to Dubai. We are expecting many more for 2007."
Exhibition Manager Imke Cochran will also visit the US trade show ASIS (American Society for Industrial Security) in September 2006 in San Diego in order to introduce Intersec to US Security companies.