Middle East & Africa Radio-Frequency Identification Technology (RFID) Market Outlook, 2029

Despite certain geographical differences and difficulties, the Middle East and Africa (MEA) RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) industry has been growing steadily. The growing use of RFID in a number of industries, including government, logistics, healthcare, retail, and transportation, has resulted in an expansion of the RFID market in the Middle East and Africa. The demand for improved inventory management and supply chain visibility, as well as government initiatives and infrastructure improvements, are driving the market's growth. A select group of major multinational vendors, including Impinj, Alien Technology, and NXP Semiconductors, control the majority of the RFID market in the Middle East and Africa.

But there are also more and more regional providers coming up, including Sagemcom and HID Global. In the Middle East and Africa, RFID technology is used in many different sectors. RFID is used in retail for loss prevention, supply chain efficiency, and inventory control. RFID aids with pharmaceutical management, patient monitoring, and asset tracking in the healthcare industry. RFID is also used in other industries, such manufacturing, logistics, and transportation, to automate processes and boost productivity.

The RFID market in the Middle East and Africa has enormous growth potential and is a promising industry. Numerous sizable and expanding economies can be found in the region, and RFID technology is highly sought after across numerous industries. Governments in Africa and the Middle East are funding infrastructure programs and projects that encourage the use of RFID technology. These programs include e-government services, smart city projects, and efforts to improve transportation, healthcare, and border security. RFID adoption is largely being driven by government mandates and support in the region.

According to the research report 'Middle East and Africa RFID Market Outlook, 2029', the Middle East and Africa RFID market is expected to reach market size of more than USD 3 billion by 2029. The development of infrastructure and digital transformation programs are receiving significant funding from the governments of the Middle East and Africa. These programs include e-government services, smart city projects, and infrastructure upgrades in logistics and transportation. Demand for RFID solutions is fuelled by the critical role that RFID technology plays in improving these programs' efficiency, security, and transparency.

The Middle East and Africa's retail industry is growing quickly due to factors like rising consumer spending, more urbanization, and the rise of e-commerce. Retailers are using RFID technology to increase the accuracy of their inventory, decrease stock outs, and improve customers' overall shopping experiences. Retailers can use RFID to automate replenishment procedures, track inventory in real-time, and create Omni channel strategies, which increases the retail supply chain's profitability and efficiency. Middle Eastern towns like Dubai, Doha, and Riyadh are among those that are funding smart city projects with the goal of improving public transit, urban infrastructure, and services for the general population.

Due to its ability to provide solutions for trash management, public transit, traffic control, and security, RFID technology is essential to smart city initiatives. The region-wide deployment of RFID technology in urban settings is being propelled by these activities. The Middle East and Africa have seen a number of significant RFID rollouts. For instance, in order to improve baggage handling effectiveness and lower the number of lost luggage events, Dubai International Airport installed RFID baggage tracking devices. In order to increase patient safety and operational effectiveness, hospitals and clinics in the area are using RFID technology for asset tracking, medication management, and patient identification.

Major Drivers

Prevention of Counterfeiting: Throughout the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, counterfeiting is a serious problem in many industries. RFID tags can be used to verify products and stop fake goods from being sold. This is especially crucial for sectors like electronics, luxury goods, and pharmaceuticals. Products with embedded RFID tags enable producers, distributors, and retailers to monitor the flow of commodities from manufacturing plants to distribution hubs and, finally, to retail locations. By improving traceability, the dangers of fake goods into the supply chain are recognized and reduced. RFID readers can verify the authenticity of data stored on RFID tags, such as unique identifying codes or other product-specific data. Using RFID technology, companies may instantly confirm a product's validity, which lowers the possibility of selling fake goods to unwary customers.

Development of Infrastructure: The Middle East, Asia, and Africa's infrastructure development initiatives are fueling the market for RFID technology. In these projects, RFID is utilized in asset management, public transit, toll collecting, and access control. Roads, bridges, pipelines, utilities, and other extensive infrastructure assets are managed in large part because to RFID technology. Infrastructure components can have RFID tags affixed to them in order to keep track of maintenance schedules, observe usage trends, and anticipate possible problems before they arise. This contributes to maintaining the durability, safety, and dependability of vital infrastructure components. RFID technology is utilized in infrastructure development projects to track persons, equipment, and building supplies on the job site. Contractors may keep an eye on inventory levels, guard against theft and loss, and guarantee that safety rules are being followed by attaching RFID tags to tools, machinery, and safety equipment. By doing this, project efficiency is increased and downtime from lost or stolen equipment is decreased.

Major Challenges

Price: Many companies in the Middle East and Africa, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), may find it prohibitive to make the initial investment necessary for establishing RFID infrastructure, which includes tags, readers, and software systems. Widespread adoption may be hampered by the expense of RFID tags and equipment, particularly in areas with tight budgets for technological developments. Implementing RFID systems can come with a hefty upfront cost that includes RFID tags, readers, antennae, middleware, software integration, and changes to the infrastructure. RFID implementation can be financially hard for many businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Middle East and Africa, as the upfront expenses may exceed their available resources. RFID tags account for a sizable amount of the total installation expenses. Although passive RFID tags are not very expensive, the cost can increase when a significant number of tags are deployed in various settings and applications. The price of specialty RFID tags, which are made for certain applications like robust durability or tolerance to high temperatures, might increase the entire cost of RFID deployment.

Knowledge and Consciousness: The Middle East and Africa may have a dearth of knowledge and comprehension of RFID technology among enterprises, governmental organizations, and end users. A lack of awareness regarding RFID's possible uses and advantages could make people reluctant to invest in and use the technology. Programs for instruction and training are required to acquaint stakeholders with RFID and its features. Organizing RFID-focused industry gatherings, conferences, and seminars can offer forums for professionals, researchers, and policymakers in the Middle East and Africa to exchange knowledge, network, and work together. Presentations, panel discussions, and demonstrations demonstrating RFID innovations and success stories may be included in these events. A workforce knowledgeable in RFID technology can be developed by working with universities, colleges, and vocational training centres to integrate coursework, research projects, and chances for practical training in RFID-related subjects into academic programs. Partnerships between industry and academics can help with technology commercialization, research collaboration, and knowledge transfer in the RFID area.

Based on the Product type the market is divided into Tags, Readers, and Software & Services.

In the Middle East and Africa (MEA) RFID market, the Readers segment is becoming more significant. The need for RFID readers will inevitably rise as RFID technology spreads throughout the MEA region's diverse industries. The task of reading data from RFID tags and sending it to backend systems for processing and analysis makes readers crucial parts of RFID systems. In the MEA region, RFID technology is applied in a multitude of industries, including manufacturing, government, retail, healthcare, logistics, and transportation.

Specialized RFID readers that are suited to their unique requirements and conditions are necessary for each of these businesses. Businesses in the MEA area are looking more and more for RFID solutions that they can easily integrate and customize with their current systems and procedures. In order to give real-time visibility and control over assets, inventory, and operations, RFID readers interface with databases, IoT platforms, and corporate applications. This is a critical function of RFID readers.

Based on the Tag Type the market is divided into Passive, Active.

In the Middle East and Africa (MEA) RFID market, the passive RFID segment is becoming more and more significant. In general, passive RFID technology is less expensive than active RFID options. RFID tags that are passive rely on the energy emitted by RFID readers to transfer data, as they do not possess an internal power source. Passive RFID technology is becoming more affordable and suitable for a wider range of industries and applications throughout the Middle East and Africa. In the MEA region, passive RFID technology is well suited for a wide range of applications in many industries. Supply chain optimization, asset tracking, inventory management, access control, and authentication are a few of these uses. Because passive RFID tags are available in a variety of form factors, such as labels, stickers, and hard tags, they can be used in a variety of scenarios.

Based on the Frequency the market is divided into Low Frequency (30 KHz to 300 KHz), High Frequency (3 to 30 MHz), and Ultra-High Frequency (300 MHz to 3GHz).

In the Middle East and Africa (MEA) RFID market, the High Frequency (HF) RFID segment is becoming more significant. International standards established by agencies such as the International Electro technical Commission (IEC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) are complied with using HF RFID technology. Through standardization, HF RFID systems and devices are made compatible and interoperable, facilitating adoption and integration across a variety of MEA sectors.

In the MEA region, HF RFID technology is extensively utilized in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors for patient identification, medication tracking, inventory control, and anti-counterfeiting measures. Patient safety and regulatory compliance are enhanced by the precise and effective asset tracking and traceability made possible by HF RFID tags integrated into medical supplies, equipment, and pharmaceutical packaging.

Based on the Application type the market is divided into Retail Healthcare, Logistics & Supply Chain, Transportation, Aerospace & defence, Animal Tracking/Agriculture, Commercial Security and Access Control, Others (Apparel, Food, Sports, Ticketing, etc.).

In the Middle East and Africa RFID market, the retail segment is becoming more significant. Pallets of commodities or individual items can be equipped with RFID tags, allowing for real-time tracking of the goods as they are moved through the supply chain. Retailers may benefit from this by increasing inventory accuracy, decreasing stock outs, and optimizing ordering levels. By setting off alarms when tagged things are taken out of the store without being paid for, RFID tags can be used to discourage stealing. This can lessen theft-related losses for retailers. Using RFID technology, retailers may deliver their patrons a more customized shopping experience. RFID-enabled mirrors, for instance, have the ability to track the goods that a consumer is trying on and recommend additional items they might find appealing.

Based on country report is majorly divided into three major countries, Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa.

Radio frequency identification, or RFID, is growing more and more popular in Saudi Arabia across a range of businesses. During the late 1990s, when RFID technology was still in its infancy worldwide, usage was banned in Saudi Arabia. The demand for improved inventory control and operational efficiency in sectors including asset tracking, supply chain management, and logistics propelled RFID's early applications. The Saudi government unveiled the Vision 2030 initiative in 2016 with the goal of fostering innovation across several industries and broadening the country's economic base.

A key component of Vision 2030 was the digital transformation and the application of cutting-edge technologies like RFID to boost productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness. Due to government spending and incentives, RFID technology was embraced by Saudi Arabia's key sectors more swiftly. Over the past ten years, Saudi Arabia's RFID market has experienced substantial expansion and modernization in the retail, healthcare, transportation, and government sectors. Due to on-going investments in digital infrastructure, government support for innovation and growing industrial demands for efficiency and security, Saudi Arabia's RFID market is still growing.

The market for radio frequency identification, or RFID, is growing quickly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is being embraced by a variety of businesses. The United Arab Emirates is leading the Middle East in smart city initiatives, with cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai setting the bar. RFID technology is critical to these initiatives because it allows intelligent infrastructure, smart transportation systems, and enhanced citizen services.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a booming tourism and hospitality industry that uses RFID technology to enhance security, speed up visitor experiences, and simplify operations at hotels, resorts, theme parks, and entertainment venues all around the country. The government of the United Arab Emirates has embraced RFID technology and incorporated it into several policies and initiatives. By being used for border security, identity management, and secure access control, RFID-enabled technologies increase security and efficiency throughout government processes.

The RFID market is characterised by a diverse range of companies, each contributing uniquely to the industry's landscape. There are many companies that are operating segments of the RFID market, including Zebra Technologies Corporation, Avery Dennison Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., Impinj, Inc., Assa Abloy AB, NXP Semiconductors N.V., Datalogic S.p.A., Invengo Information Technology Co., Ltd., ORBCOMM Inc., CCL Industries Inc., and many more.

Considered in this report

• Historic year: 2018
• Base year: 2023
• Estimated year: 2024
• Forecast year: 2029

Aspects covered in this report

• RFID market Outlook with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Product type

• Tags
• Readers
• Software & Services

By Tag Type

• Passive
• Active

By Frequency

• Low Frequency (30 KHz to 300 KHz)
• High Frequency (3 to 30 MHz)
• Ultra-High Frequency (300 MHz to 3GHz)

By Application

• Healthcare
• Logistics & Supply Chain
• Transportation
• Aerospace & Defence
• Animal Tracking/Agriculture
• Commercial
• Security and Access Control
• Others (Apparel, Food, Sports, Ticketing, etc.)

The approach of the report:

This report consists of a combined approach of primary and secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and list the companies that are present in it. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual reports of companies, and government-generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources, primary research was conducted by conducting telephone interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducting trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this; we have started making primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting them in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us, we can start verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations, and organizations related to the RFID industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing and presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.


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