The countdown to Intersec 2016 returning to the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre has begun for the 18th time.

The three-day event, to be held from the 17th to the 19th of January and organised by Messe Frankfurt Middle East, will display more than 1,300 exhibitors from 52 countries and will include sections on smart home and building automation, commercial security, information security, fire & rescue, safety & health, and homeland security & policing.

Information security is the fastest-growing section with over 40 exhibitors and commercial security the largest, with more than 600 exhibitors on board, including the world's top ten security solutions providers.

Chinese video surveillance specialist Dahua Technology, and Swedish-based giant Axis Communications are among the world's top ten returning next year, and both have big growth plans in the Middle East and Africa. Dahua Technology will use Intersec 2016 to launch its latest Closed Circuit Television, or CCTV, surveillance solutions.

Xin Chen, the General Manager of Dahua Technology Middle East explained, "Presently the Middle East is the biggest market for CCTV, and there are large demands from Africa as well. As a professional security product manufacturer, we need to let people understand their life can be perfectly protected by demonstrating professional security knowledge in a simple and easy solution."

Axis maintains the number one position for network video surveillance in the region.

"In the Middle East and Africa, the total network video surveillance market was worth about US$420 million in 2014, and there's going to be a very healthy increase until 2019," said Marwan Khoury, Marketing manager for Axis Communications in the Middle East & Africa. Returning features at Intersec 2016 include the General Police Equipment Exhibition & Conference, or GPEC, Pavilion at the Homeland Security & Policing section; and the Techtextil Pavilion at the Safety & Health section, while three industry conferences held in cooperation with the Dubai Police and Dubai Civil Defence will also take place. New additions also include a Jobs and Careers and a Drones and Unmanned Aerial Surveillance pavilions.

The strong international flavour of the annual showpiece will be underlined by 16 country pavilions from Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Korea, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan, UAE, UK, USA, and for the first time, Iran, and the Czech Republic.

Messe Frankfurt's global network of security and safety exhibitions, which include Secutech India, Secutech Taiwan, Secutech Thailand, Intersec Buenos Aires, Secutech Vietnam and Seguriexpo Buenos Aires and is the largest security, safety, and fire protection trade show in the world. – Khaleej Times - http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/dubai/dubais-intersec-2016-to-open-in-january