Dubai, UAE: The rainy weather that peppered Dubai this week didn’t dampen the spirit of busy networking at Intersec 2015, as 27,455 visitors from more than 120 countries descended upon the world’s largest trade show for the security, safety, and fire protection industries.

Intersec 2015, which took place from 18-20 January at the Dubai Convention and Exhibition Centre, witnessed a 10 per cent growth in visitors, reflecting the strong demand in the Middle East security market that is growing at double the 5.5 per cent global growth rate, according to analysts Frost & Sullivan.

The record visitor numbers were treated to the latest safety and security solutions of 1,233 exhibitors from 52 countries, with Intersec’s official supporters the Dubai Police and Dubai Civil Defence, among those showcasing innovative developments that are propelling Dubai into one of the world’s smartest and safest cities.

Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, organiser of Intersec, said: “The response to Intersec 2015 has been tremendous from both exhibitors and visitors alike, and the record participation this year lays down another important marker in the show’s continued development.

“The big shift this year is twofold; more visitors are now end-users across a variety of industries, which indicates they are increasingly more involved in the decision-making process when it comes to purchasing security-related products and services.

“This is reflected in the amount of deals that are actually being made during the show, and the feedback we are receiving from exhibitors is that business has been very good as a result,” added Pauwels.

The business potential for major security players in the Middle East and African market is further underlined by visitors to Intersec evaluating the show as potential exhibitors.

Soren Kannov, Managing Director for the UAE subsidiary of Finnish technology company Teleste, was among those gauging the show: “Our partners recommended us to check out Intersec to see if we would like to exhibit next year,” said Kannov. “We can see how big and successful the exhibition is and will definitely exhibit in 2016”.

Meanwhile, incumbent exhibitors were effusive about the gateway that Intersec provides to expanding markets in the wider Middle East and African region, none more-so than the show’s Founding Sponsor NAFFCO, which booked an entire hall in the Fire & Rescue section.

Khalid Al Khatib, CEO of NAFFCO, said: “Intersec is without doubt the world’s greatest trade show for our industry, and in terms of global presence, is unequalled.”

“We export to more than 100 countries and this event is a great place to meet our international partners, while establishing new links.  We are wall to wall this year with our entire new product range, from smoke management systems, HDPE pipes, fire pumps, fire alarms, fire doors, insulated fire shutters, fire trucks, ambulances, mobile hospitals – you name it, we have it.”

With 624 exhibitors, Commercial Security comprised the largest section at Intersec 2015.  Axis Communications, the world’s 8th largest commercial security provider was among those revealing its new 4k video surveillance systems in a market which they say is among the fastest adopters of new security technology.

Marwan Khoury, Marketing Manager for the Middle East and Africa at Axis Communications, said: “The adoption rate in the GCC is one of the highest in the world when it comes to IP technology.

“This is why we often use Intersec to release new products, as it’s a very demanding market. The show is very important for the evolution of the regional security market, and we’ve seen a lot of changes over the past four years which is changing the way we do business.”

The opinion that the Middle East region is an early adopter of new technology is shared by Spire Solutions, a first-time exhibitor at Intersec’s fast-growing Information Security section.

Sanjeev Walia, CEO of Spire Solutions, which was launching an automated search response software platform, said: “There is a convergence between physical security and information security that is happening at a very rapid rate in this region.

“The GCC is already picking up on this, and it has been one of the early adopters of information security technology behind the USA, and in some cases ahead of Europe.

“Intersec is extremely important in developing the knowledge capacity of the regional information security sector.  We have seen a lot of C-level executives to our stand who are eager to learn about information security and how it effects their organisation. It has been an eye opener for them which is good as they see security in its totality now, rather than just the physical security aspects.”

Serial innovator 3M Gulf was another exhibitor at Intersec making big strides in its security systems division, and was showcasing its Novec 1230 Fire Suppression Fluid at Intersec’s Safety & Health section.

“Safety and security is fast-growing trend in this region, and we are heavily investing in this part of the business,” said Samer Loubieh, Sales Director of the Security Systems Division, at 3M Gulf.

“There is an appetite for high end technologies here, which 3M is able to satisfy. This is our second year at Intersec and we have a much larger presence across all three of our divisions including Traffic Safety and Security, Public Security, and Novec.”

Intersec’s Homeland Security & Policing section was also buzzing with activity, as 97 exhibitors showcased a range of products from aviation security and armoured vehicles, to bomb disposal products and police equipment.

British manufacturer Smiths Detection used the show to announce the global launch of its Checkpoint.Evo airport checkpoint system, as US$86 billion is expected to be spent on airport expansion plans across the Middle East before 2025.

Paul Baker, Managing Director at Smiths Detection Middle East, said: “We decided to launch Checkpoint.Evo at Intersec 2015 as this is a very exciting aviation market.

“The interest in Checkpoint.Evo has been really great and we’ve probably had at least 100 people to our stand every day at Intersec.  We’ve had visitors from Saudi, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, the UAE – it has been a real mix of countries from the Middle East and even beyond from Singapore, Australia, and Europe.”

Added Baker: “Intersec 2015 has been huge for us; you can see the amount of investment that exhibitors are making in their stands, and if you want to be a player in this region, you simply have to be here. We love coming to Intersec, this year has been even more exciting, even more people; it’s been a very good show for Smiths Detection.”

Intersec featured 13 country pavilions from Germany, UK, USA, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Korea, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan, and the UAE.

Among the show features was the GPEC (General Police Equipment Exhibition & Conference) Pavilion, the Dubai SME Pavilion, the Techtextil Symposium, and a power-packed line-up of four dedicated conferences.

Intersec 2015 was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Dubai’s flagship security event is the largest of 13 Messe Frankfurt safety & security events held worldwide, which include Secutech India, Secutech Taiwan, Secutech Thailand, Intersec Buenos Aires, Secutech Vietnam, Seguriexpo Buenos Aires, TB Forum powered by Intersec in Moscow, and SecProtec EastAfrica powered by Intersec in Nairobi.

The 18th edition of Intersec will take place from 17-19 January 2016 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.