Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has on Sunday opened a three-day 17th edition of Intersec, the world’s largest annual trade fair for security, safety, and fire protection at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

With 1,237 exhibitors from 54 countries, showcasing more than 2,000 brands across 48,000sqm of exhibition space, Intersec is attracting the largest and more representative number of exhibitors than ever before, said Ahmed Pauwels, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the organizers of Intersec.

“This is an increase of 10 per cent over the previous edition,” he said adding that 300 of them were debut exhibitors.

He said this edition will be the “global launch-pad of new products and services across the show’s five core sections of Commercial Security, Fire & Rescue, Homeland Security & Policing, Safety & Health, and Information Security.”

Ahmed said the 27 per cent year-on-year increase of UAE exhibitors means that 227 locally-based companies are also out to gain further traction in a global security equipment market that is estimated to be worth $116bn by 2016.

“With Intersec now among the most influential trade gatherings for the global security community, we are glad to see a sustained increase in interest in reaching the substantial Middle East market.

“Intersec is not only an interactive networking and knowledge-sharing platform, but it also facilitates some of the game-changing partnerships that make an impact on the regional security scene.”

US-based FLIR Systems are among the world’s top ten commercial security companies launching innovative systems at Intersec, with live demonstrations of its K55 thermal imaging camera that helps firefighters see while working through smoky and hazy environments.

Bosch Security Systems, the world’s second largest commercial security provider, is also presenting its latest video surveillance, fire detection, and intrusion detection systems.

“Our focus this year is on solutions we carry in our portfolio of four key verticals, namely, airports, stadiums, hotels, and energy and utilities under the theme ‘Maximise Connected Security’”, said Baraa Dahkel, Regional Manager of Business Development at Bosch Security Systems Middle East.