Middle East biometric security market to witness almost 200 per cent growth by 2008

Demand is being driven by the latest technology for verifying the identity of individuals at corporate and government sites as well as at border points and airports, with the market expected to be worth over $630 million within three years, according to latest industry analysis.

Leading by market value are Saudi Arabia and the UAE who combined, currently spend 77% of the region's IT budget worth almost US$ 9 billion annually. Major projects such as new airports are one reason why industry players feel prospects are brighter in the Gulf region compared to Europe which has older facilities and keen environmentalists and pressure groups who often oppose or delay any expansion through public enquiries. The UAE Ministry of the Interior also approved a US$ 53 million contract last year for the design of an ePassport.

In a recent survey 53% of Saudi companies believed that the use of biometrics in office buildings is warranted in light of the heightened security situation and interestingly, only 31% thought that biometric information might be misused by third parties. Saudi Arabia is also amassing a fingerprint database of all citizens and foreigners that enter the kingdom and hopes to eventually develop an Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) at all air, sea and land ports and other border crossings.

Further afield in North Africa, Morocco has just approved a US$ 34 million contract for its AFIS to support a national identification programme and the state-run National Airports Office plans to invest over US$ 100 million over the next three years to upgrade the control and security systems of all local airports.

Daon recently demonstrated biometric identification and verification at GITEX 2005, which ran from September 25 to 29 at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre. Visitors to the Daon stand were able to use a combination of biometrics, smartcards and passport credentials to authenticate themselves to a range of biometric-based applications for e-passports, visas, e-gate, border management and access control.

Daon's technology is currently deployed in international programmes such as the US e-gate programme and the Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) programme, where multiple biometrics and tokens have been deployed for the secure identification and common credentialing of thousands of travellers and workers.

'Daon's technology and expertise have already played critical roles in the success of key government projects in the expanding North American biometrics market while creating strong positions in other regions around the world such as the Middle East, where emerging identity programmes are expected to drive similar market growth,'

commented Sapna Capoor, Industry Analyst of global growth consulting firm Frost and Sullivan.

Daon's Chief Operating Officer, Tony Murphy, said that the willingness of the Gulf States to embrace biometric technology placed the region at the forefront of next generation security implementations. 'At GITEX, we unveiled the latest developments in the technology and how it is being used for enhanced security and advanced business process improvements in areas such as visitor management,' commented Murphy, 'thus creating benchmarks for the future.'

Murphy's comments come in the wake of the EU's recent endorsement of biometrics. Earlier this month, UK Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, said that 'Biometrics are the most effective way to ensure that we can prove someone's identity'. Mr. Clarke was speaking in his role as European President for Justice and Home Affairs on the European Council.

Daon is currently involved with a number of governments across the Middle East region on a range of security initiatives, but Murphy believes that these are only the beginning in creating secure environments at a wide range of facilities.

He explained: 'The common objective of all these programmes is protection: protection of assets against intrusion, theft, and fraud; protection of environments against access and damage; and protection of individuals from terrorism, injury, and loss.'

'The ability to positively identify individuals is key to safety and security for both corporate organisations and national governments in the drive to facilitate legitimate travel and trade across the globe,' Murphy added. 'Daon is leading the way in providing products and expertise that help customers identify individuals as they conduct transactions and provide services.'