Business & Money | Thursday 12 March, 2020 9:21 am |

Intersec Saudi Arabia 2020, the Kingdom’s dedicated trade fair for the security, safety, and fire protection industries, is to be postponed to September 2020, amid ongoing global concerns of the Covid-19 virus.

 

The annual three-day event, which was scheduled to run from 23-25 March, will now take place from 1-3 September 2020 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre, with all 120 exhibitors from 20 countries expected to participate. 

 

The postponement comes following concerns from exhibitors, speakers, and visitors around recent developments of Covid-19 in Saudi, including the issuance of visas and travel restrictions that would limit the ability of many stakeholders to attend the show.

 

In response, organiser ACE Group and Intersec’s brand licensor Messe Frankfurt Middle East consulted key stakeholders on whether to hold the show in March or postpone to a later date, with the vast majority backing the decision to move the exhibition to September 2020. 

 

“This is a short-term situation requiring our immediate action and this is not a decision we have taken lightly nor without full possession of the facts as best we understand them,” commented ACE Group, the organizer.

 

“Whilst the issuance of visas and travel restrictions to Saudi left us few options to hold the event at this time, Messe Frankfurt Middle East’s first priority is also to the health and well-being of our exhibitors and visitors. 

 

“This year’s event is sold out with more than 120 exhibitors from 20 countries and visitor pre-registrations tracking six percent ahead of last year,” added the Organizer.

 

“We remain committed to delivering a standout exhibition in September 2020, and look forward to welcoming everyone then.”

 

Intersec Saudi Arabia is supported by the Saudi Civil Defense, and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO).  It covers the six key product sections of commercial security, information security, perimeter & physical security, homeland security & policing, fire & rescue, and safety & health.  

 

Saudi Arabia is the Middle East’s largest commercial security, fire protection and safety market, and is tipped to be worth US$9.6 billion in 2020 according to analysts 6Wresearch.  Homeland security and policing will hold the lion’s share of spend this year, at US$5.4 billion.  This is followed by information security (US$2.8 billion), commercial security (US$892 million), fire safety (US$309 million), and physical and perimeter protection (US$227 million).