SAN MATEO, Calif. — Artificial intelligence-powered physical security technology provider Verkada has announced its expansion into the Middle East with the establishment of a Dubai-based office and the appointment of Fred Crehan as head of Middle East.
This expansion “reflects Verkada’s continued global growth, driven by the region’s rapid urban development, large-scale infrastructure projects and rising demand for modern, cloud-based security solutions,” according to the company announcement.
“The Middle East is experiencing rapid urban development, large-scale infrastructure projects and a strong focus on security and innovation,” says Eric Salava, chief revenue officer at Verkada, in the announcement. “Verkada’s cloud-based platform aligns well with the region’s ambitions and Fred’s deep understanding of the local landscape and proven track record of scaling high-growth businesses make him the ideal leader to bring our integrated platform to market.”
Why Did Verkada Add Crehan to Run its Dubai Office?
Crehan brings more than 25 years of enterprise technology experience. Most recently, he served at Confluent, where he launched the Dubai office and built a partner ecosystem.
“Safety is a top priority in the Middle East, driven by a commitment to world-class tourism and the rapid development of new urban centers,” says Crehan in the Verkada announcement. “As cloud adoption continues to accelerate, many organizations are looking for modern solutions that can help them overcome traditional resource constraints.
“Verkada’s platform is uniquely positioned to support government, hospitality, retail and logistics providers as well as the large-scale construction and real estate sectors,” he says.
While Verkada already supports global customers operating in the Middle East, the Dubai office “represents the company’s first dedicated regional office, according to the company announcement. Verkada plans to grow its Middle East team, with initial hires focused on sales engineering and leadership roles.
Verkada’s international expansion builds on the company’s recent investment from CapitalG, Alphabet’s independent growth fund, which valued Verkada at $5.8 billion. The investment will help accelerate Verkada’s AI innovation and support its more than 30,000 customers worldwide.
