Unified Security, Built for Saudi Arabia’s Smart Cities
As Saudi Arabia accelerates its Vision 2030 transformation, unified platforms and flexible deployment models are redefining how cities and critical infrastructure remain secure and efficient. At Intersec Saudi Arabia 2025, Firas Jadalla, Regional Director – Middle East, Turkey & Africa, Genetec Inc, outlined how the company is helping the Kingdom modernize security through innovation, cloud adoption, and responsible AI.
One of the key highlights at Intersec was the Security Center SaaS. A unified, cloud-ready platform from Genetec that integrates video surveillance, access control and analytics. By bringing these capabilities together, organizations in Saudi Arabia gain higher situational awareness and greater efficiency, whether in airports, ports, enterprise campuses, or future-facing cities like Riyadh, Jeddah and NEOM.
“These innovations are not just about safety,” said Jadalla. “They also support national priorities such as critical infrastructure protection, resource optimization and privacy by design.”
Firas Jadalla, Regional Director – Middle East, Turkey & Africa, Genetec Inc
A cornerstone of Genetec’s approach is deployment flexibility. Organizations can run entirely on-premises, fully in the cloud with Security Center™ SaaS, or adopt a hybrid architecture. This allows security teams to decide where workloads reside, integrate with existing investments and migrate to the cloud at their own pace.
Many Saudi organizations are already extending on-prem systems with cloud applications for updates, health monitoring and evidence management. Others are layering in SaaS sites without re-platforming. This flexibility reduces costs, minimizes risk and aligns with regulatory and budgetary realities across large-scale multi-site projects.
Supporting Vision 2030 with Practical Innovation
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 emphasizes modernization of public spaces, smart cities and critical infrastructure. Genetec contributes by providing open, unified and privacy-first systems that scale as urban environments evolve. Integrating video, access control and analytics across city and enterprise environments enhances transparency, collaboration, and operational resilience.
“We build solutions that scale, respect privacy, and integrate with IoT and emerging technologies. This allows our customers to gain real-time insights and work more effectively,” adds Jadalla.
Artificial Intelligence is another area where Genetec is innovating carefully. Its AI tools reduce noise, speed up investigations, and improve situational awareness. Operators can quickly locate relevant video footage, manage people counting for inclusive spaces, and filter false alarms.
But Genetec emphasizes responsible AI. Models are tested to reduce bias and ensure explainability, while humans remain in the loop for all critical decisions. “Privacy, trustworthiness, and human control guide our AI approach,” Jadalla noted. This ensures Saudi organizations can adopt analytics confidently, aligning with both operational and regulatory expectations.
Market Leadership as a Signal of Strength
Independent reports from Omdia and Novaira Insights recently confirmed Genetec as the global leader in video surveillance software, with strong growth in Video Surveillance as a Service. For Saudi customers, this is more than a ranking. It is proof of a stable roadmap, sustained investment in open platforms, and confidence to scale deployments as projects expand.
“Market leadership is not just about numbers,” said Jadalla. “It’s about alignment. Our strategy reflects what organizations in Saudi Arabia need today and where they are heading tomorrow.”
Genetec is also deepening its investment in the Kingdom with expanded operations and senior Saudi-based hires, ensuring that both public and private enterprises benefit from long-term support.
Strengthening its local presence, Genetec continues to expand its Saudi-based operations and workforce. With a strong product portfolio, flexible deployment models, a growing local presence, and a commitment to responsible innovation, Genetec is positioning itself as a key partner in Saudi Arabia’s national transformation.
As the Kingdom builds its next-generation cities and infrastructures, unified security platforms like Security Center SaaS will not only safeguard people and assets but also enable smarter, more efficient, and privacy-focused operations, ensuring security keeps pace with ambition.
