Middle East and North Africa Thermal Camera Market Research Report: Forecast (2021-2026)

Market Definition

A thermal camera is a device that forms an image using infrared radiations as well as the thermal energies of objects. All organisms & objects produce some amount of heat. Thermal cameras act as heat sensor that represents the temperature of the object. The image formed by thermal cameras is a visual capture of the heat. The higher the amount of heat emitted by the object, the brighter the image appears.

Thermal cameras can be used in different environments & situations without the need for any ambient light. Owing to these benefits, these cameras are beneficial in most challenging conditions like smoke, fog, haze, etc., and help respond to accidents immediately. As a result, they are gaining traction across the Middle East & North Africa.

Market insights

The Middle East and North Africa Thermal Camera Market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of around 13% during the forecast period, i.e., 2021-26. The growth of the market attributes primarily to the burgeoning adoption of thermal cameras in security & surveillance applications. The need for surveillance has increased across various applications, including military & defense, several other public places, etc. 

Moreover, the increasing applications of thermal cameras, such as rescue operations, crime investigation, road safety, etc., have also augmented the overall market growth. Thermal cameras are also beneficial for firefighters to locate hotspots and see through smoke, which can help prevent huge accidents. Additionally, the rising preference for Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) and mounting demand for wireless temperature sensors are other crucial factors driving the Thermal Camera Market across the Middle East & North Africa.

Furthermore, the manufacturing sector in the region is also experiencing the increasing adoption of thermal cameras for ensuring product quality. Thermal cameras help detect hotspots of any operational discontinuity or damage of any equipment that could cause massive production losses & manufacturing downtime.

Impact of Covid-19 on the Middle East and North Africa Thermal Camera Market

The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 resulted in the slowdown of economic growth across the Middle East & North Africa. The rising need to contain the spread of disease led to the closure of international, national, & local borders and other significant travel restrictions. Disruption in the supply chain, production capacities, & customer activity amidst the crisis has negatively influenced the thermal camera market across the region by affecting the sales & deliveries of thermal cameras.

However, thermal cameras have been playing a vital role in detecting the temperature levels of individuals, which is crucial for identifying persons with Covid-19 symptoms. Hence, the demand for thermal cameras gained momentum in the healthcare sector. With the rising adversity of the Covid-19 disease, the need for installing thermal cameras at public places like airports, malls, railway stations, etc., significantly surged. Therefore, with the enforcement of social distancing norms, the demand for such solutions is gaining popularity at public places to trace Covid-19 patients.

Market Segmentation

By Application

• Monitoring & Inspection
• Detection & Measurement
• Security & Surveillance
• Search & Rescue Operation

Among different applications, Security & Surveillance hold the largest share in the Middle East and North Africa Thermal Camera Market. Thermal cameras were introduced mainly for military applications, where monitoring should not be interrupted due to darkness, smoke, fog, etc. These cameras are an excellent device to detect potential intruders in total darkness since they produce a crisp image, practically in all weather conditions. Hence, they are highly beneficial for security & surveillance purposes.

Rapid urbanization has fueled the demand for installing thermal cameras in public places for improved security. In addition, the surge in terrorist activities is also infusing the need for well-equipped systems to protect borders from the illegal invasion of enemies. Since thermal cameras are difficult to mask, hence, if someone is trying to hide will become visible through these cameras. As a result, owing to these aspects, the use of thermal cameras for security & surveillance is increasing astronomically.

On the other hand, thermal cameras are being widely used for search & rescue purposes, too, majorly by firefighters, military personnel, & other people, working in critical conditions to find & extract victims safely. They can be utilized in any mission where there is a need to cover the great distance of water or ground, even in low or no light conditions.  

By Technology:

• Cooled
• Uncooled

Cooled thermal cameras capture the largest share of the Middle East and North Africa Thermal Camera Market, mainly due to their long-range applications. Detectors stored in cooled thermal cameras help them cool till 77°K (-321°F, 196°C). Due to this, they have high resolution & sensitivity, produce high contrast images, and enable easy detection of targets with a better distinction. Although, they are more expensive and prone to wear & tear than uncooled thermal cameras. However, for gas leak detection & long-range applications, they are the only ones sufficiently effective.

On the other hand, the demand for Uncooled Thermal Cameras is projected to witness substantial growth during the forecast period since they are less expensive and can be manufactured easily with higher yields. These cameras are appropriate for applications where the monitoring area is under 4-5 km of range.

Key Trend in the Middle East and North Africa Thermal Camera Market

Massive Adoption of Thermal Cameras in the Healthcare sector

Clinical Thermography is a non-invasive & patient-friendly procedure. Thermal cameras can provide detailed pictures of body temperature distribution in high resolution, which helps identify various disease patterns. In addition, thermal cameras help detect cancer, infections, injuries, or vascular diseases at their initial stages. Hence, they are among the best preventive health assessment techniques, where the camera forms the image based on the amount of heat generated by a human. The increasing research & development activities to develop advanced thermal imaging techniques are driving the market.

Country Landscape:

• UAE
• Saudi Arabia
• Oman
• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Qatar
• Turkey
• North Africa

Of them all, UAE accounted for the largest share in the Middle East & North Africa Thermal Camera Market. UAE is one of the most crucial business & trade hubs in the entire region. Hence, the country witnesses many tourists & travelers crossing the border. The government's focus to promote UAE as the center for trade & tourism is leading to the increasing installations of thermal cameras as security solutions. Hence, the use of thermal cameras at several public places like airports, metros, malls, etc., is significantly increasing. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 also led to the surging deployment of thermal cameras in public infrastructures to identify coronavirus patients and help contain the spread of disease.

Market Dynamics:

Key Driver: Increasing Demand for Thermal Cameras for Surveillance Management

Surveillance & security are the major applications of thermal cameras. It is due to its ability to create an image even during poor weather conditions. Thermal cameras can work in total darkness and do not require bright light to produce the image. These cameras can recognize the target at extremely long range. Hence, owing to these benefits, they are being widely used in the military & defense sector to identify the target enemy even at a distant location & in extreme weather conditions. These advantages of thermal cameras are also fueling their demand in airports & other crowded areas to ensure security.

Possible Challenge: Inability of Thermal Cameras to Function Underwater or Capture through Glass

Thermal cameras are not capable of working through glass or underwater. Glass, a highly reflective material, behaves as a mirror for thermal wavelengths. As a result, the thermal camera would produce an image of the person holding it.

On the other hand, many infrared wavelengths get blocked by water. Another challenge with water is its higher heat capacity than air, due to which, over short distances, objects gain or lose their heat energy quicker than water, which makes it difficult for thermal cameras to differentiate objects placed underwater. Hence, the inability of thermal cameras to perform underwater or through glass might hinder the Middle East & North Africa Thermal Cameras Market growth during 2021-26.

Competitive Landscape

According to MarkNtel Advisors, the market leaders in the Middle East & North Africa Thermal Cameras Market are Flir System, Thermoteknix Systems Ltd., Leonardo S.p.A., Synectics plc, Seek Thermal, InfraTec GmbH Infrarotsensorik, Axis Communications AB, Opgal Optronic Industries Ltd., etc.

Key Questions Answered in the Market Research Report:

1. What are the overall market statistics or market estimates (Market Overview, Market Size- By Value, Forecast Numbers, Market Segmentation, Market Shares) of the Middle East and North Africa Thermal Camera Market?
2. What is the country-wise industry size, growth drivers, and challenges?
3. What are the key innovations, opportunities, current & future trends, and regulations in the Middle East and North Africa Thermal Camera Market? 
4. Who are the key competitors, their key strengths & weaknesses, and how do they perform in the Middle East and North Africa Thermal Camera Market based on a competitive benchmarking matrix?
5. What are the key results derived from the market surveys conducted during the Middle East and North Africa Thermal Camera Market study?

Market Outlook, Segmentation, and Statistics 

• Impact of COVID-19 on the Middle East and North Africa Thermal Camera Market
• Market Size & Analysis
  • By Revenue
• Market Share & Analysis
  • By Product
    • Mounted
    • Scopes & Goggles
    • Handheld
  • By Wavelength
    • Long Wavelength (7 µm & Above)
    • Mid Wavelength (3-5 µm)
    • Short Wavelength (up to 2.5 µm)
  • By Technology
    • Uncooled
    • Cooled
  • By End User
    • Military & Defence
    • Automotive
    • Commercial
    • Healthcare & Life Science
    • Residential
    • Industrial
    • Oil & Gas
  • By Application
    • Monitoring & Inspection
    • Detection & Measurement
    • Security & Surveillance
    • Search & Rescue Operation
  • By Country
    • UAE
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Oman
    • Bahrain
    • Kuwait
    • Qatar
    • Turkey
    • North Africa
  • By Company
    • Competition Characteristics
    • Market Share & Analysis
    • Competitive Matrix
• Middle East and North Africa Thermal Camera Market Hotspots & Opportunities
• Middle East and North Africa Thermal Camera Market Regulations & Policy
• Key Strategic Imperatives for Success and Growth