RecFaces will convene a MENA-focused online expert panel on June 30 to examine how facial biometrics can help Oil & Gas operators tighten access control, manage large workforces and strengthen security across critical infrastructure sites.The Dubai event, titled “Fueled by Face: Smart Biometrics for MENA Oil & Gas”, is being organised with Milestone Systems and will be held at 3pm GST. It will bring together technology specialists and security professionals to discuss the use of facial recognition in refineries, production sites, pipelines, compressor stations and corporate campuses, where operators must manage employees, contractors and visitors moving through sensitive locations.
The discussion comes as energy companies across the Middle East and North Africa accelerate digital transformation programmes while facing tougher demands around safety, compliance and operational resilience. Oil & Gas assets often operate across wide geographical footprints and rely on rotating contractor workforces, making identity verification, attendance monitoring and emergency response more complex than in conventional office or retail environments.
RecFaces, which develops enterprise-grade facial biometric software, is positioning the panel as a practical forum for security leaders, system integrators and distributors evaluating biometric deployments in high-risk industrial settings. The company’s portfolio includes products for video surveillance, biometric access control, identity checks, time and attendance management, and secure device logon. Its systems are designed to work with existing cameras, access control platforms and video management infrastructure rather than requiring wholesale replacement of installed hardware.
The session will include a walkthrough of how RecFaces technology integrates with Milestone Systems’ XProtect video management platform. Milestone’s software is widely used in enterprise surveillance environments, and the integration is intended to show how biometric alerts, access decisions and video evidence can be handled within a unified security workflow. For Oil & Gas operators, that could mean faster verification at restricted zones, stronger audit trails for contractor movement and quicker searches during incident investigations.
Eugenia Marina, Business Development Director for MENA at RecFaces, said the Oil & Gas sector presents a combination of security, compliance and operational challenges that conventional identification technologies struggle to address. She said operators across the region are seeking tools that strengthen physical security while providing verifiable, real-time workforce visibility.
Mohammed Bajarsh, Vice President of Products at RecFaces, said many organisations still rely on fragmented processes that make it difficult to verify identity, investigate incidents or maintain accurate workforce records across multiple locations. He said the market is shifting toward unified biometric ecosystems in which access control, video surveillance, attendance management and incident response operate as a single network.
The panel is expected to cover use cases including perimeter access control, restricted zone entry, contractor attendance verification, watchlist management, emergency mustering and post-incident investigation. These applications are drawing more interest as operators seek to reduce manual checks, cut badge-sharing risks and improve accountability at sites where unauthorised access can carry safety, environmental and commercial consequences.
Facial biometrics is gaining wider attention in the region as governments promote smart infrastructure, digital identity and AI-led security. Saudi Vision 2030, UAE Vision 2031 and related national programmes have helped create a policy environment in which energy, transport and public infrastructure operators are under pressure to modernise security systems while maintaining compliance with privacy and data protection requirements.
The expansion of biometric tools also raises questions about governance, consent, retention of biometric data and the accuracy of matching systems across diverse populations and working conditions. Industrial sites can present additional technical challenges, including variable lighting, protective equipment, harsh weather and high-volume shift changes. For operators, the business case increasingly depends not only on recognition accuracy but also on deployment controls, data minimisation, cybersecurity safeguards and clear rules on employee and contractor use.
RecFaces says its solutions are built for enterprise deployment and include ready-made integrations with security and access control systems. The company has operated since 2014 and lists more than 200 live projects across sectors including transport, industrial facilities, financial services, retail and public institutions. Its website also states that its systems are GDPR compliant and do not store data in the form of face images, an assurance likely to be scrutinised by companies assessing biometric risks.
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