Global annual spend on airport security to hit $12.67bn in 2023

ALKESH SHARMA / Emirates Business

As the Middle East region surpasses global surge in air traffic, airlines and airports in this part of the world are making huge investments to spruce up the security of passengers and premises. Massive funds have been moved towards airport system upgrades to ensure seamless passenger experience, focussing solely on the security segment.
UAE has emerged as one of the undisputed leaders in this fast progression and has allocated millions of dollars to ensure airports’ security. According to a report by Frost & Sullivan, the estimated global annual spend on airport security would grow to $12.67 billion in 2023, up from $8.22 billion in 2014.
Mohammed Ahli, Director General, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), said, “As the aviation industry continues to grow and become more complex, it is important that we reinforce an effective, transparent and honest safety culture.” Dubai International, the world’s number one for handling international passenger volumes, is fast moving toward becoming the world’s busiest airport.
“At the Dubai Airports, we are using the latest smart technology which is recognised as the most efficient and advanced from security point of view,” Major General Obaid Muhair Bin Suroor, Deputy Director General, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai.
According to IATA, the Middle East will grow strongly and see an additional 237 million passengers a year by 2034 and the global trade association estimates the total market size will be 383 million passengers.
“Airport security is of utmost importance and it is directly proportional to the profits that airlines and airports make. After the terror attack in Brussels, many potential passengers have either cancelled or delayed their travel plans, leading to huge losses to various stakeholders. In fact some countries in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region are also experiencing the heat as tourist flow is badly affected,” Junaid Mohammed, who is working at Bahrain International Airport, told Emirates Business.
“However, GCC countries are working together to enhance airport security. Besides allocating increased funds, we also rely on having a robust intelligence wing to thwart any untoward incident,” added Mohammed, who is in Dubai these days to participate in Airport Show.
Some of the crucial segments of aviation security technologies to be looked over in the coming years are safety and surveillance systems, bird control systems, CCTV equipment, Passenger and baggage screening, perimeter and access control, digital surveillance and biometrics.
“Traditional methods of screening travellers are no longer efficient because of huge rush of passengers. To ensure an error-free system, we are investing huge capital towards research and development and capacity building of our infrastructure. We are adopting foolproof technology that is best in the world from the security point of view,” said Yuan Becker, who is representing Germany at the ongoing
Airport Show in Dubai.