The market for electronic access controls in the Middle East and Africa is expected to grow to US$500 million by 2018, according to market research firm Frost & Sullivan. Considering that the market is estimated to be about US$200 million in 2014, it represents one of the best market opportunities for manufacturers and sellers globally.

While the market is still relatively small compared to that of larger markets like the US (estimated at US$3.2 billion in 2014), the expected MEA annual growth rate of between 24 and 25 percent far outpaces those of other markets.

Top technologies that are expected to drive the market include wireless locks, iris detection systems and IP cameras. While large access control vendors, such as ASSA ABLOY and GENETEC, are expected to make a major push into the market, smaller local players are well established and are expected to grow significantly as the market grows. For example, Al Falak Middle East is forecasting 15-20 percent annual growth over this period even as larger, foreign competitors set their sights on the market.

In fact, the physical security market for the Middle East specifically is expected to grow at a rate of 23.7 percent through 2020, according to Frost & Sullivan. While the firm did not break out the electronic access control submarket out from its figures for the Middle East, it did list it as one of the key drivers for the physical security market overall.