Middle East and Africa Utility Locator Market Size, Share, and Trends Analysis Report – Industry Overview and Forecast to 2032

Middle East and Africa Utility Locator Market Segmentation, By Technique (Electromagnetic Field, Ground Penetrating Radar and Others), Offering (Equipment and Services), Target (Metallic and Non-Metallic), End-User Industry (Telecommunication, Electricity, Water and Sewage, Oil and Gas, Transportation and Others), - Industry Trends and Forecast to 2032

Middle East and Africa Utility Locator Market Size

• The Middle East and Africa Utility Locator Market size was valued at USD 44.2 Million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 70.8 Million by 2032, at a CAGR of 7.3% during the forecast period
• Europe is experiencing significant urban growth, leading to increased construction activities. This surge in urban development necessitates accurate detection of underground utilities to avoid costly damages and project delays.
• The region’s fast-paced industrialization is driving demand for utility locators, especially as new factories, plants, and industrial parks require reliable mapping of underground infrastructure for safety and efficiency.

Middle East and Africa Utility Locator Market Analysis

• Electromagnetic field techniques currently dominate the market due to their widespread application in detecting metallic utilities. However, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is emerging as the fastest-growing segment, offering the capability to detect both metallic and non-metallic utilities, which is increasingly important in complex urban environments.
• The telecommunications sector holds the largest share of the utility locator market, driven by the expansion of fiber optic networks and the rollout of 5G technology. Other significant applications include water and sewage, electricity, oil and gas, and transportation, all of which require accurate utility mapping to ensure safety and efficiency in operations.
• The integration of utility locators with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and geographic information systems (GIS) is enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of underground utility detection. These innovations are particularly beneficial in densely populated urban areas, where precise utility mapping is critical to avoid service disruptions and ensure public safety.
• Saudi Arabia dominates the Utility Locator Market with the largest revenue share of 40.05% in 2024, due to Large-scale investments in infrastructure—such as roads, railways, and airports—are boosting the need for utility locating technologies to prevent accidental utility strikes during construction.
• U.A.E is expected to be the fastest growing region in the Utility Locator Market due to the ongoing upgrade and expansion of telecommunications infrastructure, including 5G deployment, relies heavily on utility locators to map and protect underground cables and fiber networks.
• Electromagnetic Field segment dominates the Utility Locator Market with a market share of 53.2% in 2024, driven by Aging water and sewage systems, coupled with new green infrastructure projects, are driving the adoption of utility locators for effective management and maintenance, especially in urban centers.

Report Scope and Middle East and Africa Utility Locator Market Segmentation

Middle East and Africa Utility Locator Market Trends

“Rapid Market Expansion Driven by Infrastructure Growth”

• The Middle East and Africa Utility Locator market is experiencing robust growth, propelled by extensive infrastructure development and urbanization across key economies such as Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, and South Africa countries. Governments in the region are investing heavily in smart city projects, transportation networks, and utilities, which is significantly increasing the demand for advanced utility locating technologies to ensure safe and efficient construction practices.
• For instance, Leica Geosystems introduced the DD175 utility locator and DA175 signal transmitter, enhancing their DD100 series. These tools assist excavation professionals in accurately detecting underground utilities, thereby improving safety and efficiency on construction sites.
• There is a clear trend toward the adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as ground-penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetic field locators, and GPS-based solutions. These technologies are being integrated with digital platforms and cloud-based data management systems, allowing for real-time mapping, improved accuracy, and streamlined workflows for utility detection and asset management.

Middle East and Africa Utility Locator Market Dynamics

Driver

“Rising Infrastructure Development and Urbanization in Asia-Pacific”

• Rapid urbanization and significant investments in infrastructure projects across countries such as Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, and South Africa nations are fueling demand for advanced utility locator solutions.
• For instance, in early 2025, Saudi Arabia Smart Cities Mission expanded to 150 cities, mandating the use of digital utility mapping and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) technology to minimize accidental utility strikes during construction.
• Utility locators, which employ technologies like electromagnetic field detection, GPR, and RFID, enable precise detection and mapping of underground utilities such as water, gas, electricity, and telecommunications.
• This is critical for ensuring worker safety, reducing project delays, and avoiding costly damage to existing utility networks, thereby driving adoption in construction, municipal planning, and energy sectors.

Restraint/Challenge

“High Initial Investment and Skill Gaps in Technology Adoption”

• Advanced utility locator technologies require significant upfront investment in sophisticated equipment and specialized training for operators, which can be a barrier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and municipal bodies with limited budgets.
• For instance, in 2025, several municipal corporations in U.A.E reported delays in adopting GPR-based utility locators due to high procurement costs and a shortage of certified technicians.
• Moreover, the complexity of interpreting subsurface data and integrating locator outputs with GIS platforms increases operational challenges, especially in regions with limited technical expertise.
• Additionally, densely populated urban environments and heterogeneous underground infrastructure in Europe cities can complicate accurate detection, leading to potential errors and limiting the effectiveness of utility locator solutions.

Middle East and Africa Utility Locator Market Scope

The market is segmented on the basis of Technique, Offering, Target, End-User Industry.

• By Technique

On the basis of Technique, the Utility Locator Market is segmented into Electromagnetic Field, Ground Penetrating Radar and Others. The Electromagnetic Field segment dominates the largest market revenue share of 53.2% in 2024, driven by Technological advancements, such as ground penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetic field locators, and GPS-based systems, are enhancing the accuracy and reliability of utility detection, driving market growth.

The Ground Penetrating Radar segment is anticipated to witness the fastest growth rate of 11.7% from 2025 to 2032, fueled by Smart city initiatives across Europe are incorporating utility locators into urban planning to support digital infrastructure, efficient resource management, and sustainable development.

• By Offering

On the basis of Offering, the Utility Locator Market is segmented into Equipment and Services. The Equipment segment held the largest market revenue share in 2024 driven by installation of solar and wind farms requires precise mapping of underground utilities to avoid disruptions during construction and ensure seamless integration with existing grids.

The Services segment is expected to witness the fastest CAGR from 2025 to 2032, driven by increasing pool of trained professionals capable of operating advanced utility locator equipment is reducing errors and improving project success rates, especially in densely populated urban area.

• By Target

On the basis of Target, the Utility Locator Market is segmented into Metallic and Non-Metallic. The Non-Metallic segment held the largest market revenue share in 2024, driven by Smart city initiatives across Europe are incorporating utility locators into urban planning to support digital infrastructure, efficient resource management, and sustainable development.

The Non-Metallic is expected to witness the fastest CAGR from 2025 to 2032, driven by need to upgrade and expand underground electrical grids to meet growing energy demands makes utility locators essential for safe and efficient operations, reducing the risk of outages and hazards.

Middle East and Africa Utility Locator Market Regional Analysis

• Saudi Arabia dominates the Utility Locator Market with the largest revenue share of 45.01% in 2024, driven by Expansion of Telecom Networks.
• The ongoing upgrade and expansion of telecommunications infrastructure, including 5G deployment, relies heavily on utility locators to map and protect underground cables and fiber networks.
• Stricter regulations and heightened awareness regarding the risks of accidental utility strikes are driving the adoption of utility locators. Construction and utility companies are prioritizing compliance with safety standards and regulations, which is boosting the uptake of advanced locating solutions that minimize the risk of costly damages and project delays.

Saudi Arabia Utility Locator Market Insight

The Saudi Arabia Utility Locator Market captured the largest revenue share of 40.05% in 2024 within Asia-Pacific, fueled by Intense competition among telecom operators in Europe compels them to adopt robust fiber monitoring to retain customer loyalty, reduce downtime, and differentiate their service offering.  

North America Utility Locator Market Insight

The North America Utility Locator Market is poised to grow at the fastest CAGR of 12.6% during the forecast period of 2025 to 2032, driven by Large-scale investments in infrastructure—such as roads, railways, and airports—are boosting the need for utility locating technologies to prevent accidental utility strikes during construction.  

U.S. Utility Locator Market Insight

The U.S. Utility Locator Market is gaining momentum due to Aging water and sewage systems, coupled with new green infrastructure projects, are driving the adoption of utility locators for effective management and maintenance, especially in urban centers.  

Canada Utility Locator Market Insight

The Canada Utility Locator Market accounted for the largest market revenue share in North America in 2024, driven by ongoing upgrade and expansion of telecommunications infrastructure, including 5G deployment, relies heavily on utility locators to map and protect underground cables and fiber networks.

Utility Locator Market Share

The Utility Locator Market is primarily led by well-established companies, including:

• Radiodetection Ltd.
• Vivax-Metrotech Corp.
• Emerson Electric Co.
• Guideline Geo.
• The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
• Sensors & Software Inc.
• Leica Geosystems AG
• 3M, USIC.
• Multiview, Inc.
• ON TARGET UTILITY SERVICES
• GSSI Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc.
• RHD Services
• OneVision Utility Services.
• Sidewinder Utility Locators.
• Olameter

• ShinewayTech.

Latest Developments in Middle East and Africa Utility Locator Market

• In July 2022, Radiodetection launched the 120CXB Metallic Cable Analyzer, a high-precision time domain reflectometer (TDR) designed to swiftly identify cable faults, thereby reducing downtime in utility services.
• In August 2014, Guideline Geo unveiled the MALA Easy Locator Core, a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) solution that provides real-time data interpretation, enabling efficient detection and marking of subsurface objects during surveys.
• In April 2024, Rigid Tool Company introduced the SeekTech ST-305R, a multi-frequency transmitter compatible with NaviTrack and SeekTech receivers, enhancing the accuracy of locating buried conductors.
• In February 2025, Ditch Witch acquired specific assets from River City Manufacturing Inc., including the HydraWheel design of rock saws, aiming to expand their product offerings in utility excavation equipment.
• In January 2025, Vivax-Metrotech continues to be a significant player in the utility locator market, offering a range of products designed for locating buried utilities, thereby supporting infrastructure development across the Europe region.

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