At the upcoming Intersec tradeshow, HID will take stand S1, A23 where it will demonstrate the latest in its biometric and mobile access control solutions and what it says sets the company apart from its competitors. In this exclusive interview, HID Senior Director, Middle East & Africa, Sam Cherif explains more about what visitors can expect, and the forces he thinks will be shaping growth in 2026, as well as considerations HID makes for the Middle East market, and some of the new features of the Intersec that he is looking forward to seeing…
What can visitors to your Intersec stand expect to see?
Sam Cherif: “Visitors to our stand will see the future of trusted identity and access in action, grounded in our “security by design” philosophy. We will be showcasing our latest innovations, including the HID® Amico™ Biometric Facial Recognition Readers, offering user-friendly, contactless access, ideal for high-traffic environments. We will demonstrate this high-speed, secure access live at our stand with a speedgate featuring the HID Amico reader, showing how seamlessly our biometric technology can enhance security and user convenience in real-world access scenarios.
“Central to our exhibit is our push toward a cyber-hardened, mobile-first infrastructure. Attendees will see the power of HID Mobile Access®, which turns smartphones into secure credentials, seamlessly integrating with Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. This convenience is supported by the next-generation Mercury Intelligent Controllers and HID® Aero® Controllers, which offer robust cybersecurity like secure boot and PoE+ flexibility. Finally, the elegant HID Signo™ Readers will demonstrate how modern design meets flexible, future-proof performance, supporting a wide range of credential technologies.
“Together, these innovations demonstrate our commitment to helping organisations enhance security, streamline operations, and advance their digital transformation goals.”
How are you finding the current market in the Middle East?
SC: “We view the Middle East as one of the most dynamic and strategically vital growth landscapes globally. Governments and enterprises alike are accelerating their digital transformation journeys, underpinned by ambitious national visions including Saudi Vision 2023 and We the UAE 2031 that prioritise smart infrastructure, data security, and citizen convenience. This momentum has created fertile ground for innovation in secure identity and access management.
“We are seeing tremendous interest in mobile-first and biometric solutions, as organisations look to balance stronger security with seamless user experiences. In fact, our PACS Perspectives Report: Bridging the digital and physical divide report found a heightened focus on cyber-physical convergence and the understanding that physical access control systems (PACS) are now an integral part of the broader cybersecurity posture. Overall, the market is maturing rapidly and moving away from legacy systems towards Zero Trust principles that verify every interaction. This presents immense opportunities for us to support our partners and customers in creating more secure, connected, and intelligent environments across the region.”
What do you feel you are offering that sets you aside from your competitors?
SC: “What truly differentiates us from our competitors is our holistic approach to trusted identity; we unify physical and digital access under one secure, scalable, and user-friendly ecosystem that spans credential technologies, reader hardware, controller infrastructure, and mobile identity. We also stand apart through our focus on interoperability and investment protection.
“Our products are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing systems, helping organisations modernise without disruption. Furthermore, our commitment to mobile and biometric innovation – as seen with the new HID Amico Readers and HID Mobile Access – ensures that our customers stay ahead of evolving access trends. Beyond technology, our global expertise allows us to deliver tailored support to partners across the Middle East. This blend of innovation, reliability, and local alignment defines the HID difference.
What do you think will be the main drivers for business next year?
“Looking ahead, we see several forces shaping business growth in 2026. Organisations globally are prioritising cloud-based and mobile-enabled access solutions to enhance efficiency and flexibility. The shift toward digital credentials, stored securely on smartphones or wearables, is driven by user demand for frictionless access and by enterprise goals for greater operational agility. In fact, our 2025 State of Security and Identity Report found that mobile credentials are rapidly becoming a cornerstone of modern identity strategies, with 61% of security leaders identifying mobile identity proliferation as a top trend, and nearly two-thirds either deploying or planning to deploy such solutions.”
What will be the primary challenges, and what is your strategy to overcome potential hurdles?
SC: “The primary challenge for many organisations is that they are still navigating the complexities of modernising their physical access infrastructure, while maintaining business continuity and security.
“Our strategy to overcome these hurdles is two-fold: modernisation and empowerment. Firstly, we help organisations transition from legacy, easily compromised systems like magnetic stripe cards to modern, intelligent platforms. Our cloud-based solutions enable secure, remote updates and lifecycle management, ensuring systems are always running the latest, most secure firmware. Secondly, we are committed to strategic channel empowerment and localised support. This includes intensive certification and training programs for our local partners, ensuring they have the expertise to deliver, install, and support our complex, converged security ecosystems.”
Are there any special considerations or additional support that you offer your clients across the Middle East?
SC: “Absolutely. The Middle East is a region defined by rapid growth, diverse regulations, and unique security needs, and HID’s approach reflects that. We provide end-to-end support, from consultation and system design to deployment and ongoing lifecycle management, ensuring that every solution is tailored to local requirements.
“Our strong regional presence means clients benefit from on-the-ground technical expertise, training, and after-sales support. We also work closely with channel partners and system integrators to build capacity and deliver projects that align with national digital and cybersecurity strategies.”
Are there any new features of the show in 2026 that you’re particularly excited about?
“We are extremely excited about the expansion of Intersec 2026, which highlights the show’s growing global significance as a hub for security and safety. In particular, the expanded focus on the Cybersecurity and Homeland Security & Policing domains are particularly compelling for HID. This expansion perfectly validates the trend we have been driving: the essential convergence of physical and digital security.
“The high-level content tracks within the International Security Leaders’ Summit are also key highlights. These provide vital platforms to engage with decision-makers on transformative topics, such as the role of AI in security and the implementation of Zero Trust architectures across both digital and physical domains. The show’s overall remit to advance emergency response and secure digital and physical infrastructure aligns completely with our mission.”
To register for Intersec, click here
For more HID news, click here
