Sam Cherif, Senior Director and Head of the Middle East at HID, explains that sustainability is reshaping security strategy in the region, with UAE organizations prioritize eco-conscious solutions such as mobile credentials, energy-efficient systems, and recyclable materials—while carefully balancing cost, reliability, and regulatory compliance.
As the Middle East steps further into the global spotlight on climate issues, sustainability has become a hot topic in the boardroom. In the UAE, sustainable practices mean a great deal to a country with a Green Agenda designed to increase GDP by up to 5%, exports by as much as US$6.8 billion and reduce emissions to less than 100 kilowatt-hours by 2030.
Sustainability is now discussed openly everywhere – in all corporate disciplines. In HID’s 2025 State of Security and Identity report, we found eco-sentiment to be on full display. It emerged strongly from the many trends we discovered in our interviews with 1,800 end users and industry partners around the world. Three quarters of the security decision-makers we polled said they now think about the ecological impact of the solutions they procure. The challenge that dominates their efforts is how to deliver the cost-effectiveness and efficacy of solutions with the need to act responsibly towards the environment.
This pursuit of balance between greener business practices and the continuing need to secure physical and digital assets is set to define security strategy in 2025 and beyond. Regulators and climate-conscious customers will dictate new security approaches that make more strategic use of materials and create less waste. Many customers may even insist that integrators and vendors come up with ways to leverage existing hardware.
As organizations look for security solutions that fit these sustainable criteria, mobile credentials are likely to take centerstage. They offer the opportunity to use existing mobile devices which now also support credentials stored in digital wallets, thereby avoiding the use of new materials, while also eliminating the ongoing use of plastics for portable credentials. Additionally, consultants and end-users in security can look at door readers for incremental gains. Advanced door readers now include features such as Intelligent Power Mode, allowing the readers to go into standby mode when not used – overnight and at weekends for example – helping to realize substantial power savings when you consider that hundreds of them are installed in large premises multiplied by the 15-to-20-year life span of each.
While the shift towards mobile credentials offers significant sustainability benefits, there will still be instances where physical credentials are required to always be visible such as in the healthcare and government space. In these cases, organizations can explore more environmentally conscious options such as access cards made from sustainable materials like bamboo or recycled paper. These alternatives help to reduce the reliance on traditional plastics, offering a way to balance the practical need for physical credentials with growing sustainability concerns.
Of the 75% of security leaders that now consider sustainability when selecting solutions, more than half (54%) said they are looking for security technologies that minimize energy consumption and come with green-building certifications. Some 53% said sustainability is also now a top priority when considering upgrades to existing systems. And almost 70% of security leaders reported the recycling or responsible disposal of old or unused physical access cards to reduce waste.
When UAE organizations look to source energy-efficient, waste-lite systems, mobile credentials and cloud-based platforms stand out as ideal options because they promote openness and ensure that legacy investments are not lost but instead continue to drive value as part of a sustainable infrastructure.
It is therefore important to seek out vendors that have amply demonstrated the right commitment to sustainability. These commitments will be reflected in internationally recognized certifications and proven eco-friendly practices. More than 80% of the integrators and consultants interviewed by HID report that they offer security solutions that would be considered “sustainable”. And more than 47% say their customers actively seek security technologies that minimize energy consumption and support green-building initiatives.
But understandably, security and cost-effectiveness remain the highest priority for most. About 74% of security leaders and 80% of integrators and consultants say their organization is willing to compromise on sustainability goals for the sake of better security and reliability. In the years ahead, incremental eco-activity is likely to be the most widespread approach to sustainability in the security realm. In those efforts, the right partners – manufacturers, integrators, and consultants – will be critical to success.