French security equipment manufacturers keen to increase their presence in the Middle East
James Thorpe
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As a key event in the protection and security sectors, 14 French companies will take part in Intersec 2022. Considered as a major challenge in the region, this security-focused trade show will allow an opportunity to reconnect with the industry players in order to enhance the protection of businesses and industries across the Middle East.
A French Pavilion with a major objective
The UAE represents a particularly attractive market for French players in the security sector with a lot of investment opportunities. On the one hand, the commercial security and infrastructure protection market is expected to reach US$7.4 billion by 2024 and on the other hand, fire safety and rescue is a sector that is worth around US$699 billion in 2021. These trends bode well for future collaboration. For these reasons, French security experts are eyeing the GCC market with high interest and will be present on the French pavilion at Intersec to promote their solutions and know-how.
Taking into account the strategic importance placed by the UAE on data management and security, to address digital sovereignty challenges that got bigger with the pandemic and the increase of digital transformation, the key technologies that will be presented on the French pavilion at Intersec align perfectly with local needs. Indeed, the French exhibiting companies that have been selected to participate specialise in cybersecurity, firefighting and rescue solutions, perimeter and physical security including monitoring and maintenance devices to ensure environment protection. Amongst these companies, you can find innovative solutions such as biometric keys to protect the user’s identity through built-in fingerprint analysis, next-generation optical fibre sensor systems for infrastructure maintenance and monitoring, optronics for monitoring extended sites, industrial thermography, test applications and infrared metrology, access control equipment, fire-fighting systems, coated technical textiles and protective clothing, to name just a few.
A priority market for the French security sector
Whereas the UAE position national security as a top priority over the next ten years with US$10 billion to be invested in the sector, France is willing to strengthen agreements and co-operation measures by introducing specific solutions that remain crucial for the security of the country.
With an existing presence in the region, through technical co-operation agreements, military and security assistance for air, land, maritime forces, as well as in the area of civil security, the UAE recently reinforced their long-standing partnership with France through a strategic deal of €17bn defence contract involving a major French group along with mid-sized companies.
At the cutting edge of innovation
Considered as an industry of excellence, the French security industry had revenues of €28bn in 2020, in which approximately 50% came from exports. It is highly technological and represents 130,000 highly qualified jobs, mainly in the fields of electronic security (44%), physical security (33%)and finally cybersecurity (23%).
Many technological innovations are specific to the sector and France is very well positioned both in terms of industrial players and scientific know-how. It relies on significant skills in engineering and industrial processes from the defence and digital sectors (biometrics, smart cards, etc.). Its ranks include major international leaders in their fields, a dense fabric of dynamic and innovative SMEs, as well as numerous start-ups.
It also relies on world-class R&D (19 competitiveness clusters and 36 academic laboratories), which enables France to excel in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, behavioural biometrics, in innovations combined with safety features. France is one of the top three countries in the world in the area of post-quantum technologies (cryptographic developments), in real-time analysis of wide area observation data.
