It was revealed that the top 30 firms in the security equipment market, which earned a collective USD2.6 billion in revenues in 2004, are expected to bring in more than USD6.1 billion in revenues in 2009. Estimates placed the global aviation services market at USD69 billion, with 75 per cent of that represented by airport security equipment.

"Dubai has forecast 30 million passengers a year by 2020 alongside record growth in air cargo. This development augurs well for manufacturers, sellers or those involved in providing services related to airport security to take advantage of the tremendous opportunity on offer in the Middle East," says Angela Schierholz, senior show manager of Epoc Messe Frankfurt GmbH, organizer of Intersec Middle East 2008. The exhibition and conference, scheduled at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) runs from January 13th to the 15.

There are four focused areas within the Intersec Middle East exhibition in 2008, to allow buyers to navigate the show more easily and source the products and services. The four sections are Commercial Security Homeland Security & Policing , Fire & Rescue and Safety & Health.

The research showed GCC governments are spending USD11.8 billion on expanding and upgrading their airports to meet the demand from rising populations and increased business and tourism traffic. Dubai is leading the way with an USD4.5 billion programme that will reinforce its status as one of the world's leading aviation hubs and increase capacity. Emirates Airline has placed orders for aircraft worth USD26 billion and Dubai International Airport is undergoing a USD4.1 billion expansion. A new airport at nearby Jebel Ali in the UAE with international facilities and duty free recently received the go-ahead. Qatar will spend USD1.6 billion on expanding its airport, including a new 70,000 square metre terminal, and Saudi Arabia has embarked on a USD1.5 billion project at Jeddah's King Abdulaziz Airport that will enable it to handle 21 million passengers by 2010.

Abu Dhabi is spending USD600 million on airport development plans; Ajman plans to spend USD800 million putting Ajman International Airport firmly on the aviation map; Bahrain has launched a USD815 million project to develop and upgrade its airport facilities and Oman has allocated USD300 million to implement projects aimed at raising Seeb International Airport's capacity from 2.5 million to 6.5 million passengers per year. And Kuwait has set aside USD300 million for the Kuwait Airspace System Plan (KASP) that calls for the purchase of sophisticated aviation equipment, including communications, radar, air traffic management and weather data processing systems.

"Within the airport security equipment industry, exhibitors at Intersec Middle East will be displaying the latest in Digital surveillance IP cameras, including digital CCTV and monitoring software which is expected to be the fastest-growing sub-segment in 2006-2009 followed by explosives detection.," says Angela "The next fastest-growing segment is forecast to be biometrics (fingerprint or iris scanners and readers for e-passports in use now in UAE airports or other access controls systems), followed respectively by perimeter and access control, x-ray and infra-red equipment, metal detectors, and integration, closed-circuit television, and alarms and sensors"

Phenomenal growth, plus rapid globalization of business in the region, points to new security challenges, which are highlighted by the situation in the UAE. Here the growth in major international conferences and events, including sports and other events, will ensure a continuing tourism boom and growing demand for sophisticated technologies.

In Dubai, a cosmopolitan city of over one million residents and with 4-5 million annual visitors, there is a strong need to keep tight vigil on security concerns and any immediate threats resulting from political tensions in the region. In short, the aviation industry in the Gulf, with Dubai in the lead is maturing. Public policy, technical innovation and learning best-practice from airports worldwide are all components of this.

Since September 11, the need to review security needs has opened doors for security companies around the world. For international suppliers of commercial security and safety products and services, there has never been a better time to target the Middle East region.

The event is an international meeting place and buying platform for governments, Civil Defence forces, construction industry, industrial development, commercial businesses, ports, airports and security professionals in the Middle East. Intersec Middle East is supported by Dubai Police, Dubai Civil Defence, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), Build Safe Dubai and numerous other trade and government organizations from across the Middle East Region and around the world.

The three days of themed conferences being planned for Intersec Middle East in 2008 will have keynote speakers drawn from top international and Middle East political government level. The speakers will dwell on important strategic reviews of topical issues with regards to commercial security, homeland security and policing, fire and rescue and safety.