With the Middle East, and in particular the GCC, emerging as major international air travel hub, aviation security will be a key point of interest at Intersec 2016, the world’s leading trade fair for security, safety, and fire protection.
Investment in the airport security market continues to rise; a March 2015 report titled ‘Global Airport Security Technology Market Assessment’ by analysts Frost & Sullivan, estimated the global annual spend on airport security would surge to US$12.67 billion in 2023, up from US$8.22 billion in 2014.
The increase in investment comes as the Middle East outpaces global growth in air traffic; according to estimates by Airbus Industrie, over the next 20 years (2015-2034) air traffic in the Middle East is expected to grow 6 per cent annually, compared to the world average growth of 4.6 per cent.
This will drive a need for nearly 2,460 new passenger and freighter aircraft valued at US$590 billion.  By 2034, the fleet of passenger and freighter aircraft in the Middle East will almost treble from nearly 1,100 in 2015, to over 2,950 by 2034.
Which is why many of the world’s foremost security providers that specialise in aviation and airport security will showcase their latest solutions at Intersec 2016, which takes place from 17-19 January at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Smiths Detection, a global provider of technologies to identify chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) threats, is among the major names at Intersec 2016 with a full airport security portfolio in tow, from x-ray inspection equipment, to explosives and narcotics detection and people screening systems.
Smiths Detection’s varied solutions have been adopted at several global locations, including its HI-SCAN 10080 XCT, a next generation high-speed checked baggage explosives detection system (EDS), and RadSeeker, a handheld radioisotope detector and identifier designed to meet the U.S Homeland Security mission requirements.
Paul Baker, the Managing Director of Smiths Detection in the Middle East, said: “The increase in the number of global air passengers, particularly in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions, have played a key role in driving investments in airport security infrastructures.
“Passenger traffic at airports in the larger region has recorded fast paced growth. As per the findings of a recent IATA report, Dubai Airport announced growth projections of 126 million passengers by 2020 as aviation demand continues to soar. Additionally, passenger numbers in Qatar are expected to increase at a rate of 4.8 per cent annually until 2034, in preparation for the World Cup 2022.”
Exhibitors such as German company Bosch, Nedap from the Netherlands, and Genetec from Canada, are among other big international names to descend upon Intersec 2016 with a range of cutting edge airport and aviation security solutions, from perimeter security, command, control and integration, cybersecurity, communications, surveillance, access control, and screening.
Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the organiser of Intersec, said: “The rise of big three Gulf carriers, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad, is the driving force of international trans-continental travel.  The growth in their travel hubs and the surge in passenger numbers passing through terminals, along with air freight and cargo, means global airport and aviation security majors are expecting the Middle East to become a big market for cutting-edge technologies and the latest in security systems.
“The highly-evolving nature of security threats to global air travel increases demand for the latest command and control facilities, enhanced security communication channels, access control and monitoring systems, all of which will be on show at Intersec 2016.”
Nuctech is another exhibitor at Intersec 2016 with a strong focus on airport security, and will return after having sourced projects through previous editions of the annual showpiece event for Dubai Police in Dubai Airports, Dubai Customs, Abu Dhabi Airport, Sharjah Customs, Ras Al Khaimah Customs and Ajman Customs.
“The trend of national and regional security inspection in the Middle East is getting more and more important,” said Yuan Youzhong, the General Manager of Nuctech Middle East.  “The extension of existing airports and their facilities in preparation for mega events such as the Dubai 2020 EXPO and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar require more updated facilities including security systems.”
Other exhibitors at Intersec 2016 with aviation security solutions include 2N Communication from the Czech Republic; Adani from Belarus; AllGoVision from India; Italian company CEIA; Delv from  Australia, UK companies Frontier Pitts and Rockwell Collins; Gesab from Spain, Swiss company WEY Technology; and UAE-based companies G4S and Intertech Vision.
Now in its 18^th edition, Intersec 2016 will feature more than 1,300 exhibitors from 52 countries, spanning over 50,000sqm.  The dedicated trade show focuses on the six core sections of Commercial Security; Information Security; Fire & Rescue; Safety & Health; Homeland Security & Policing; and for the first time in 2016, Smart Home and Building Automation.