Via the partnership, Schneider Electric and NXN will identify and collaborate on business opportunities in the domain of digital transformation, including developing solutions for smart buildings, smart districts, smart cities, and large-scale development projects. The two companies will cooperate on initiatives to bring benefits for smart home automation, building analytics, energy metering and management, security, and digital community platforms.
“Smart cities are the future of how we will live, both globally and in the Gulf,” said Caspar Herzberg, president for the Middle East and Africa at Schneider Electric. “Cities cover only around 3% of the Earth’s land, but they produce around 72% of its total greenhouse gas emissions. We can turn this around and create urban spaces which are both green and smart. NXN is a proven leader in the smart city technology space across the Gulf, and by partnering with them we believe that we’ll be better able to work with the region’s governments to build cities that are both sustainable and technologically advanced.”
NXN is a pioneer in providing smart city services and solutions. The company’s deep expertise in industry consulting, data, and technology help governments identify the strategies, digital solutions, and services that cities need to overcome administrative, financial, and resource limitations. On the other hand, Schneider Electric’s IoT-enabled operating technologies help to make smart cities more efficient, resilient, and sustainable. Together, the two companies will work together with governments to accelerate the rollout of smart city projects across the Gulf.
"Sustainability has become a huge focus for smart city operators and planners, which requires significant collaboration between different stakeholders in the ecosystem," said Ghazi Atallah, CEO of NXN. "Smart devices, smart systems, and smart services are all critical components for creating collaborative energy solutions that meet citizen needs. We look forward to working closely with Schneider Electric, the digital transformation leader of energy management, to help smart cities in the region leverage smarter energy resources, bringing them closer to their sustainability goals."
The Gulf states are investing heavily in the development of smart cities, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE being widely recognized as global leaders in the field. In detail, Saudi Arabia has embarked on a number of major projects, including the US$500bn mega-city NEOM and THE LINE, a 100-mile belt of zero-energy communities for a million people. The UAE has also developed several smart cities, including Masdar City, which has become one of the world’s most sustainable urban developments. Last month, Dubai revealed that sustainability is at the core of the city’s 2040 master plan.
Meanwhile, Bahrain’s smart city projects include Bahrain Bay, a US$2.5 billion waterfront development, and Qatar’s US$45 billion Lusail City is known as the country’s ‘Future City’. Additionally, Oman is piloting smart city technologies at Knowledge Oasis Muscat, and Kuwait’s 2035 Vision is built around initiatives such as the South Saad Al Abdullah smart city.