ISS KSA: A partner for Saudi Arabia’s security landscape

In this month’s Head to Head, ISS KSA explains why it is a visionary partner for Saudi Arabia’s security landscape.

In an era where security and technological innovation are paramount, Intelligent Security Systems (ISS) – a leading US-based global leader in video intelligence and analytics – has cemented its presence in Saudi Arabia as a driving force behind the Kingdom’s advanced security infrastructure.

The company’s expansion into Saudi Arabia was a calculated move to address the increasing need for intelligent security solutions in critical sectors.

Its journey from market dominance in a niche segment to achieving localised manufacturing exemplifies its commitment to innovation and localisation.

By facilitating technology transfer and training Saudi talent at ISS USA facilities, ISS KSA has not only enhanced local expertise but also reinforced its dedication to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

The establishment of a fully operational local office – complete with an experience centre, training facilities and a skilled support and sales team – demonstrates ISS KSA’s long-term investment in the Kingdom. Landmark collaborations, including multimillion-dollar agreements with SAFE and SAMI-AEC, further highlight ISS’s role in driving local employment and economic growth.

ISS KSA is emerging as the preferred choice not only for under-vehicle surveillance but also for intelligent video-based solutions like ANPR, facial recognition and intelligent video management software. 

A strategic commitment

Since establishing its presence in the Kingdom, the firm keeps increasing its revenues each year, driven by an expanding team, participation in a variety of mega projects and partnerships with high profile and established corporations.

“While ISS had a presence in the Middle East for more than a decade including the UAE, Qatar and Egypt, Saudi became our primary market, with top management fully dedicated to visiting regularly to engage directly with the needs of key public and private sector end users in the Kingdom,” said Richard Burns, Chairman of ISS – who has visited the Kingdom 31 times in the last three years.

“We have successfully built trust and loyalty with our partners. As a result, we are pleasantly surprised by the number of opportunities now available.

ISS has played a key role in developing significant projects across the Kingdom, such as smart city initiatives, proposals for intelligent transportation systems and efforts to enhance public safety through advanced surveillance and emergency response systems.”

Local development and support

Operating in Saudi Arabia since 2021, the company is now inaugurating its first office in Riyadh, following the issuance of its Commercial Registration (CR) and with guidance from the Ministry of Investment, reinforcing its commitment to contributing to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.

In line with this commitment, ISS is also planning to establish a dedicated R&D department in Saudi Arabia, aiming to drive innovation, support local talent development and collaborate with regional partners on cutting-edge technologies.

The ISS team in Saudi Arabia comprises both the commercial and maintenance divisions, ensuring comprehensive coverage across the entire Kingdom, with a strong presence in all major provinces.

The team, headed by Raheel Ahmed Jalili, Country Director of KSA & Bahrain, plays a crucial role in understanding and addressing the specific needs of the market, providing immediate support and efficient solutions tailored to the local context.

Jalili is becoming a consultant in the industry with rich experience and deep market insights that position him as a trusted advisor.

He is supported by Mohammad Kamal and Hatim al Zain the Technical Sales Managers (Western, Central & Eastern regions), who bring a wealth of experience in driving revenue growth and building strong client relationships.

Together, their combined expertise ensures that the teams not only meet but exceed client expectations, adapting quickly to market changes and emerging opportunities.

This collaborative approach positions the company as a leader in the region’s competitive landscape.

Meanwhile, the development and maintenance team consisting of Ibrahim Gadi and Mohammed Raziuddin is available 24/7, ensuring that any technical issues or system disruptions, are promptly resolved.

Their round-the-clock availability guarantees minimal downtime and seamless service for businesses and clients.

Both teams collaborate seamlessly to maintain high operational standards, ensuring that any challenges are swiftly addressed, regardless of the time of day.

Success stories in KSA

The success stories of ISS in Saudi are very diversified. “The company has achieved remarkable milestones in logistics and port management.

“The acquisition of major ports like Jubail & Jizan Ports, Jeddah Islamic Port and Dammam Sea Port must has given us a strong foundation for growth”, said Jalili.

“Our SecurOS VMS, ANPR, UVSS and Cargo solutions have improved throughput, reduced liability and enhanced container/vehicle tracking in those large facilities”, continued Jalili.

“Our portfolio now also includes esteemed clients such as Salam palace, Dariya Palace, Royal Hanger, RSAF, ZATCA (the Saudi tax and customs authority), KAPSARC, KFUPM, Intercontinental Makkah and the Saudi Water Authority,” added Jalili.

Currently ISS is working for the FIFA World Cup Saudi in 2034. The SecurOS MVP is an AI-powered video analytics for increased situational awareness and behaviour detection at live sporting events that offers unparalleled insights and proactive risk mitigation tools for venue security managers.

“Following the highly successful implementations of our SecurOS portfolio at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 and FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014, ISS is fully equipped to tailor its solutions to meet the specific requirements of both FIFA and Saudi authorities, providing state-of-the-art security systems specially designed for stadiums,” concluded Jalili.

Strategic alliance with SAFE

During the prestigious Saudi-US Summit held in Riyadh in May 2025 – co-hosted by HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and US President Donald Trump – ISS achieved a significant milestone by signing a landmark strategic partnership agreement with National Security Services  (SAFE), a leading security provider in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This Memorandum of Understanding marks a transformative venture, anticipated to generate $100m in revenue over the next five years. 

Commenting on the partnership, Burns stated: “ISS is proud to conduct business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in alignment with His Royal Highness’s Vision 2030.

“We are fully dedicated to localising our products and services and to developing joint intellectual property in collaboration with SAFE.”

SecurOS UVSS is now made in KSA

A strategic partnership was signed on the floor of GITEX 2024 between ISS and Advanced Electronics Company (AEC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia Military Industries (SAMI) and an acknowledged forerunner in the design, manufacture, sales and repair of diverse electronics and ICT products and systems.

This agreement marks the beginning of a new chapter in the export of ISS SecurOS Under-Vehicle Surveillance Systems (UVSS) manufacturing to AEC’s facilities in Saudi Arabia.

This partnership advances world-class product development by combining both companies’ expertise.

Under this agreement, AEC will handle assembly and integration of the SecurOS UVSS, using its production capabilities to meet the demand for advanced security systems in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East market.

With AEC’s strong presence and expertise in the defence and electronics sectors, this strategic alliance is poised to deliver cutting-edge security solutions that address the evolving needs of both public and private sectors in the Middle East.

The SecurOS UVSS is a revolutionary product for scanning, inspecting and digitally recording the underside of vehicles with a high-resolution and high-frame-rate machine vision camera.

From its compact and aesthetically pleasing form factor to its efficient AI-based threat detection software it has emerged as the market leading solution for vehicle inspection applications.

Notably, the system was implemented during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to protect the eight stadiums in addition to KSA Borders, Universities, Royal Palaces and other HCIS facilities across KSA.

The future of intelligent surveillance 

At the heart of ISS’s success is its flagship SecurOS platform, an intelligent video management system that integrates AI-driven analytics, ANPR and real-time threat detection.

Today, SecurOS is deployed across critical infrastructure, ports, universities, hotels and government facilities, safeguarding some of the Kingdom’s most sensitive environments.

With its ability to analyse vast amounts of video data in real time, SecurOS enhances situational awareness, reduces response times and mitigates security risks – making it an indispensable tool for modern security operations. 

Founded in 1996, ISS is a proud American-made company and has remained a trailblazer in developing intelligent video solutions for over 25 years.

Dedicated to excellence, ISS produces products of exceptional quality, made with precision and expertise that set it apart from other manufacturers.

To date, the SecurOS Video Intelligence Platform has been deployed in more than 400,000 installations worldwide, supporting over seven million cameras.

The scalability of the platform supports basic video management deployments that may include 10 cameras or less to more expansive networks of 100K+ cameras running sophisticated analytics.

ISS has established itself as the preferred vendor for most end-users in Saudi, thanks to its dedication to providing high-quality products and outstanding customer service, setting a new benchmark for excellence in the Kingdom.