Market Trends of Middle East And Africa Video Surveillance Industry
Rising Geopolitical Unrest in the Region Driving the Importance of Proper Surveillance
- In the previous years, the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regional security environment has been shaped by the cycle of insecurity and instability. The structural transformation in the MENA has unleashed such forces that the region has been destabilized by multi-faceted conflicts, which have seen the involvement of many local, regional, and global actors.
- For instance, a few years back, a retroactive reading suggests that a decade of turmoil was triggered mainly by the demands for political transformation observed in several countries. The broader transitions in the international order have also significantly accelerated the pace and direction of regional restructuring. The transformation of the regional order has been sparked by a wave of popular uprisings called the Arab Spring. As a result, the United Arab Emirates has welcomed the extensive use of surveillance technology to keep tabs on its citizens and collect and utilize data on a massive and unprecedented scale.
- Further, the humanitarian and security implications of the terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, which were further followed by the war in Gaza, were broad and significant. However, they are not limited to the immediate neighborhood of the violent hostilities or the broader Middle East. However, as the conflict worsens and risks spreading, its impact and far-reaching effects have been observed on European, Middle East, and African security, which would likely become more consequential.
- In May 2023, Amnesty published a report titled "Automated Apartheid," which revealed details about Israel's Red Wolf program. This program uses facial recognition technology to monitor Palestinians and is believed to be connected to previous programs known as Blue Wolf and Wolf Pack. Moreover, as per the report, facial-recognition surveillance networks have surged in East Jerusalem, which incorporates places of cultural significance such as the Damascus Gate, which is the old city’s largest entrance and a site of frequent protests against the occupying forces.
- Moreover, considering the impact of Houthi attacks on maritime traffic in the Red Sea, the concerns caused by the new Houthi threats are understandable. As per Risk Intelligence, following on from dozens of attacks against merchant ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November 2023, the Houthi group further threatened to extend the area of operations to the Eastern Mediterranean. All these factors present the dire need for incorporating proper surveillance setup, further leading the government to surge their defense budgets, thus favoring the growth of the video surveillance market in the region.
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Growing Prevalence of Industrial Surveillance in the Region to Drive the Industrial Segment Growth
- Infrastructural investment, government mandates, rising risk of perceived threat activities, and stringent implementations are leading to increased adoption of commercial security in the Middle East. Integrating security systems, such as access control and video surveillance, simplifies security management and increases cost efficiency. Regulatory bodies in the GCC have laid down strict rules for installing surveillance cameras for almost all market sectors, along with 180-day video storage. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar are strong contributors to the commercial security market in the Middle East.
- One of the most innovative innovations is incorporating AI technology for video analytics within KSA, altering security and surveillance procedures in the entire sector. Organizations have been utilizing advanced video analytics from Riyadh to Jeddah, including Dammam to Medina and beyond, to enhance their operations' safety and efficiency.
- Also, surveillance in the maritime domain is crucial within the Middle East, with large volumes of cargo being passed through the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Gulf of Aden. This is an essential event to review the latest piracy threats to cargo ships and fisheries, driving the demand in the video surveillance market in the Middle East and Africa.
- In July 2023, UAE-based port operator AD Ports Group and defense and security company Saab UAE announced they would enter a strategic partnership. Under the agreement, AD Ports Group will facilitate access to relevant testing sites, delivering necessary infrastructure and operational feedback to optimize the development process. Meanwhile, Saab UAE will bring new industry standards and next-generation maritime surveillance technology to market.
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