24 Mar Why smart surveillance is sustainable surveillance

Sustainability is no longer just an environmental goal; it’s reshaping industries — including security, says Louise Bou Rached, Sales Director, Middle East, Turkey and Africa, Milestone Systems

Sustainability is one of the central focuses in the Middle East, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where national agendas such as Vision 2030 and UAE Net Zero 2050 emphasise environmental responsibility across industries.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are at the forefront of integrating sustainability into security practices, too. By integrating the use of AI-powered analytics, modern data-driven video management systems are capable of analysing both live and archived video data, revealing valuable patterns and insights that might otherwise go unnoticed – and thus contribute to a range of sustainable solutions like energy efficiency and smarter urban planning.

Traditional surveillance systems were largely dependent on CCTV cameras with manual monitoring. Over time, technological advancements have advanced security solutions, incorporating digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT). These innovations have significantly improved operational efficiency and accuracy.

Sustainable surveillance practices in the Middle East

Several key trends highlight the focus on sustainable solutions within the security industry:

1. Energy-efficient surveillance systems

Countries in the Middle East are looking at increasing the deployment of solar-powered CCTV cameras in urban environments and remote locations, minimising reliance on traditional power sources – in Saudi Arabia, the NEOM smart city project aims to integrate AI-powered solutions with 100% renewable energy sources.

2. Smart cities and sustainable security

Along with the many hours of data from video footage, today’s smart cities leverage AI and IoT to create more sustainable environments and develop smart urban planning. This includes intelligent traffic management, facial verification for secure and seamless access control, and drone surveillance that minimises human resource dependencies.

This goes for Dubai’s Smart City strategy, which integrates AI-driven surveillance with real-time data analysis. Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 targets 50% smart city implementation across major urban areas, incorporating sustainable security practices.

3. Green infrastructure and integrated security systems

Surveillance is no longer just about security — it’s also becoming an important element of sustainable urban planning. Building developers are embedding AI-driven video surveillance into green-certified structures, ensuring minimal environmental impact while enhancing safety.

• The UAE’s Estidama Pearl Rating System mandates sustainable security solutions in commercial and residential projects.
• Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is investing in green security solutions as part of its sustainable tourism and smart city developments.

Regulatory framework and industry standards

The regulatory landscape in the Middle East supports the adoption of sustainable surveillance solutions. In the UAE, Dubai, the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) enforces sustainable security technology adoption, ensuring energy efficiency and smart integration.

• SIRA regulations mandate the use of AI-driven surveillance in commercial and residential buildings to reduce overall security costs.
• In Saudi Arabia, the Makkah Region Development Authority (MRDA) is implementing smart security measures for Hajj, integrating low-energy AI-powered surveillance.

The future of sustainable surveillance in the Middle East

As sustainability becomes a priority, security technology will continue evolving to align with environmental objectives. Future trends to watch out for include:

• AI-powered predictive analytics: Enhanced machine learning algorithms will improve proactive threat detection while optimising energy usage.
• Optimisation of Machine Learning models: The computing and energy uses of generative AI models can be reduced using continuously-evolving optimisation techniques (quantisation, pruning, distillation, etc.).
• Evolving video standards: Advances in video compression reduce network use and storage requirements, and hence power consumption (e.g. AV1 versus h265).
• Eco-friendly security hardware: Biodegradable materials and energy-efficient processors will become standard in security hardware.

The integration of sustainability into security solutions marks a transformative shift in the Middle East’s surveillance industry. With regional investments in smart cities and sustainable infrastructure growing rapidly, security leaders must adapt. The question is no longer if surveillance can be green — but how fast the industry can make it happen.