Market Trends of MEA Air Quality Monitoring Industry
The Outdoor Monitor Segment is Expected to be the Fastest growing Segment
The outdoor air quality monitoring systems measure the concentration levels of pollutants, suspended particles, humidity, and temperature outside air, i.e., in open spaces. They detect the levels of pollutants like CO2, O3, NO2, SO2, formaldehyde (HCHO), total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), etc.
Chad had an average PM2.5 concentration of 75.9 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3) in 2021, making it one of the most polluted countries in the world. This was almost 40 µg/m3 more than the average PM2.5 concentrations in the United Arab Emirates.
Air quality monitoring systems are majorly deployed by governments in cities and public spaces of a particular state or country. These devices are weather-resistant and must meet certain environmental tests and simulations to be confided by some building certifications.
The outdoor monitors are further segmented into portable outdoor monitors, fixed outdoor monitors, dust and particulate monitors, and AQM stations. Portable outdoor monitors are the most widely deployed globally due to their operational advantage and easy deployment.
With the increasing urbanization and more people moving to urban areas, the air pollution levels in urban areas have increased. It is estimated that by 2050, 2.5 billion more people will live in urban areas. The high population density and diverse pollution sources like industrial facilities, municipal waste generation, and transport congestion lead to an urge for better air quality monitoring and address systems.
In May 2023, The United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) updated the classification of 64 air quality monitoring stations as part of the Year of Sustainability initiative to promote community health and welfare. According to the ministry's directive issued in 2022, this reclassification was mandatory to maintain the highest environmental and climate protection standards.
Therefore, such developments are expected to give a thrust to the outdoor monitor segment of the market during the forecast period.
Saudi Arabia to dominate the market.
Saudi Arabia has the majority of the production and consumption of oil and gas in the Middle East and Africa region, particularly due to growing industrialization, which has increased chemical pollutants, thereby driving the air quality monitoring market in the forecast period.
Moreover, the power generation sector is the biggest consumer of air quality monitoring systems. The power production sector is increasingly switching from coal-fired power plants to gas-fired power plants and renewable power generation due to the problems associated with climate change.
In 2021, Saudi Arabia accounted for 28.6% of the total primary energy consumed across the Middle East, with 10.82 exajoules. Fossil fuels, such as oil, natural gas, and coal, accounted for a significant share of the total primary energy consumed in the region in 2021.
The number of monitors in the Middle East region climbed by 86% in 2021, mostly due to a significant increase in the number of monitors in Saudi Arabia and Israel, whose monitors comprised 73% of all in the region.
Therefore, owing to the above points, Saudi Arabia is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period.
