All systems go

Some exhibitors did suggest there were fewer visitors than they were expecting. "Maybe we have slightly less interest from end users than last year, but it's not a massive difference," said Walid Feghali, country business leader for 3M Gulf.

Conversely there were several companies from outside the region who felt that the show was ideal for raising their profile as they explore necessary new business opportunities outside of their home territories.

"We have had things going on over the years internationally but it's never been a major part of our business before. For sustainability and growth, we have to look outside of the UK. [The GCC] seems, from what I've seen so far, a massive opportunity," said Christopher Young, chief executive of First Aid International.

More good news also came from the video surveillance market. A rough estimate suggests that nearly half of the 710 exhibitors at the show were video surveillance and related industry vendors, keen to capitalise on the opportunities created by the relative freshness of the Gulf market.

A conference speech by Alistair Hayfield from IMS Research confirmed the bright prospects in the region, with the video surveillance market estimated to grow by 30% for the next five years.

Uniformed and informed

Several exhibitors also commented on the highly technical nature of the market, saying the GCC in particular was keen on high-tech solutions. This was supported by the vast number of automated and integrated security system vendors exhibiting.

Perhaps what was surprising was a lack of exhibitors displaying the more human elements of security. Most glaring of all seemed to be an absence of any companies who provide security guard services.

Even some of the ‘big names' more commonly associated with the men in uniform were focused on automated cameras and barriers.

However, the men in uniform were in force for demonstrations of skill. The Dubai Police pavilion held a demonstration on the abilities of its K-9 Training Department.

Dogs from the K-9 unit showed how they detect explosive devices and illegal drugs hidden in envelopes, while tracking dogs tracked and tried to attack a suspect hidden inside a tent and a criminal trying to flee after the commission of a crime.

"We train these dogs when they are one and a half years of age. Depending on the abilities of a dog the training could last from four to six months. We have a total of 82 dogs at Dubai Police working on different tasks and there is a dedicated handler for each dog," explained Major Abdul Salam Mohammad Al Shamsi, from the K-9 training department of Dubai Police.

Other displays included demonstrations of fall protection equipment, ever vital in the high-rise construction world of the Gulf, and live hacking, representing the increasing IT security threat faced by the region.

Overall, the show was a good barometer of how things stand at present. There's cautious growth, with the longest-established players going from strength to strength, while newcomers to the market see great potential within the region for expansion and dedicated offices.

Intersec demonstrated that there's likely to be a shift in focus slightly to the west as the Saudi Arabian market begins to increase in dominance, but there's still plenty for everyone to work on elsewhere in the Gulf.

The industry holds a lot of promise and potential for 2009, and if these can be delivered, the future is very bright indeed.

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