Rapid economic development and increasing security concerns are turning the Middle East into a market of “untapped growth potential”, said Young S Moon, executive vice-president of South Korean company Suprema
Moon expressed these thoughts ahead of Intersec, a major trade show for security, safety and fire protection, which will take place from 17-19 January 2016 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Biometrics are based on individual behavioural and physiological characteristics that are difficult to replicate, with various system technologies encompassing voice, retina, facial, vein and gait recognition, along with fingerprint matching and DNA identification.
Middle East governments, along with many industries, are embracing the new technology, making the region a high-focus area for international biometric systems providers.
Moon said regional governments and corporations are adopting new identification and authentication technologies to boost defenses against potential fraud, cyber-threats, and organised crime. The South Korean company is among more than 100 international exhibitors specialising in the latest biometric security systems at Intersec 2016.
Suprema, which is a specialist in biometric security and access control solutions, will launch at BioStation A2, a fingerprint access control and time and attendance system. Moon said Suprema will look to build on the success of the last one year across the Gulf, where it has installed six biometric system projects.
AllGoVision, an advanced video analytics solution provider, will showcase its 3D facial recognition system, which uses IP video surveillance with the help of a database to identify potential threats or VIP customers. Ashwin Amarapur, director of AllGoVision, explained, “In city surveillance, the 3D facial recognition system is used to identify black-listed people or known criminals, but, in the case of hospitality or banking, the use relates more to visitors identified as VIP guests or high net worth individuals.”
Elsewhere, Matrix Comsec, an access control and surveillance solution provider, is returning to Intersec 2016 following its successful participation in 2015, where it secured business from the National Bank of Umm Al-Quwain, having installed time and attendance systems across the UAE bank’s entire branch network.
The India-based company has also been involved in setting up surveillance and biometric access control systems across the Gulf in the past year, including for the Kuwait Oil Company, Paris Group in Dubai and Vodafone in Qatar. Abhay Joshi, business manager for International Security Sales at Matrix Comsec, commented on the future of biometrics in the Middle East, “Biometric technology has many advantages over traditional RFID card and password in terms of security and the ease of use that it provides. The new technology has found various applications across different verticals and is replacing the traditional security measures at a fast pace.”
“In the not-so-distant future, everyone in the Middle East could soon replace pincodes with fingerprints or iris scans at an ATM while withdrawing money,” said Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the organiser of Intersec.
Now in its 18th edition, Intersec 2016 will feature more than 1,300 exhibitors from 52 countries, spanning over 50,000 sqm of exhibition space. The annual event focuses on commercial security, information security, fire and rescue, safety and health, homeland security and policing, and for the first time in 2016, smart home and building automation.
