Report Highlights Growing Role of Intelligent Video in Smart Infrastructure Across the GCC.
Axis Communications has released its first annual Axis Perspectives Report 2026, highlighting how intelligent video technologies and IP cameras are evolving beyond traditional surveillance to become a core component of modern operational infrastructure. The report combines global research, expert insights and real-world case studies to show how advanced video solutions are supporting security, safety and improved business performance across industries.
While security remains the primary use of video surveillance systems, the report reveals a significant expansion in how organizations are using video data to support broader operations. The use of video for business intelligence has nearly doubled in one year, rising from 20% to 38%, while 42% of organizations now use video systems to improve operational efficiency. This shift reflects how video technology is increasingly being used as a real-time data source that supports operational decision-making and business strategy.
The trend is particularly relevant across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the wider Middle East region, where large-scale smart city initiatives, transport networks and mixed-use urban developments continue to expand. From major public venues to integrated infrastructure environments, organizations are managing complex, high-traffic ecosystems that require real-time visibility and coordinated responses. As these environments become more connected, there is increasing emphasis on cybersecurity, unified security platforms and cloud-ready architecture to ensure secure and scalable operations.
The report also demonstrates how intelligent video systems are being applied beyond traditional security use cases. Industries such as transportation, logistics and manufacturing are using advanced video analytics to improve productivity and operational accuracy. One example highlighted in the report is BMW Group’s deployment of high-resolution cameras across its iFACTORY facilities, where video data supports AI-driven quality inspection (AIQX). By capturing detailed images in real time, the system helps automate inspection processes, reduce human error and enhance operational efficiency. Such examples illustrate why organizations increasingly view video technology as a strategic operational tool rather than just a surveillance solution.
Assim Khedr, Engineering and Training Manager for the Middle East at Axis Communications, said the GCC and the wider Middle East region continue to lead innovation in video technologies. He noted that the region demonstrates not only the shift from analogue to digital systems but also how modern video camera solutions are becoming powerful tools capable of delivering real-time insights and measurable business value. According to him, resources such as the Axis Perspectives Report help quantify these trends and demonstrate how organizations can extract greater value from their investments in new technologies.
The Axis Perspectives Report 2026 identifies several key industry trends shaping the future of intelligent video. Security and safety remain the primary drivers for adopting video systems, with 89% of end customers using video primarily for security and 81% prioritizing safety applications. At the same time, organizations are increasingly using video technology to generate business value, with rapid growth in video-based business intelligence and operational analytics.
Cybersecurity has also become a critical priority, with 44% of organizations identifying data protection and cybersecurity as a key focus over the next one to three years, particularly as video systems become integrated into broader smart infrastructure networks. Many organizations are also prioritizing integrated security platforms, with 41% seeking unified systems that combine multiple security technologies into a single management environment.
Cloud adoption is accelerating across the physical security sector, with cloud-based solutions expected to grow from 27% adoption today to 44% within the next two years. At the same time, infrastructure modernization continues to drive investment, with 64% of organizations citing infrastructure upgrades as a major reason for adopting advanced video technologies that are easier to manage, more scalable and more secure.
For organizations across the GCC and the wider Middle East, the report highlights that intelligent video is becoming a critical component of everyday operational systems. The technology is playing an increasingly important role in managing security risks, optimizing operations and supporting the efficient management of complex environments.
The report also introduces a five-stage maturity model designed to help organizations assess their current capabilities and plan future technology strategies. The model outlines the evolution of video systems from basic passive recording solutions to reactive and proactive AI-powered systems, and ultimately to predictive and autonomous environments where cameras can analyze patterns, generate insights and trigger automated responses with minimal human intervention.
Axis Perspectives aims to help organizations understand how intelligent video technologies are evolving, what these developments mean for operational environments and how businesses and governments can prepare for the next stage of digital infrastructure. With nearly three decades of innovation in network video technology, Axis Communications continues to support customers and partners with solutions and insights that contribute to building safer, smarter and more connected environments.
