PARA, a Sidara company known for its digitally enabled building design and operational performance expertise, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Schneider Electric, a global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, to jointly develop a comprehensive, market-ready smart building solution. The MoU was signed by Walid Sheta, Zone President for the Middle East and Africa at Schneider Electric, and Faysal Shair, Partner and Director of Digital Solutions at Dar, during a ceremony held at The NEST in Dubai, in the presence of senior representatives from both companies.

Buildings currently consume nearly 30% of the world's energy consumption and almost 40% of annual CO₂ emissions. With the global smart building market expected to grow from US$108 billion in 2023 to over US$570 billion by 2030, the surge highlights a rising demand for solutions that combine digital innovation with enhanced operational performance.

In response to this critical demand, the partnership will integrate PARA’s advanced digital twin platform, PARA OS, and its strategic digital advisory services with Schneider Electric’s smart building technology and software solutions. This strategic collaboration brings to market a unique solution that seamlessly integrates Smart Building strategy, design, engineering, and implementation—bridging the gap between vision and execution to deliver smarter, more efficient, future-ready buildings.

By combining Schneider Electric’s extensive expertise in automation and energy management with PARA’s capabilities in digital advisory and performance-focused design, the collaboration will help clients make informed decisions, reduce complexity, and accelerate implementation, while avoiding compatibility issues.

The integrated solution will feature PARA OS, a unified digital twin and interface that enables Building Information Modelling (BIM) in operations, alongside Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure™ Building Data Platform (BDP). These technologies create a seamless path for realising smarter, more efficient commercial buildings. This approach aims to reduce deployment risks, simplify technology choices, and maximise long-term value for building owners and operators.

The effectiveness of this collaboration has already been demonstrated in prominent buildings such as Sidara’s London-based headquarters at 150 Holborn and Schneider Electric’s global headquarters in Dubai, The NEST. This combination has showcased measurable improvements in energy usage, cost efficiency, and reduction in carbon footprints.

Commenting on the collaboration, Walid Sheta remarked: “By uniting the unique expertise of Schneider Electric and PARA, we are creating a powerful, market-ready solution to accelerate the digital transformation of buildings. This collaboration simplifies the entire process, from initial design to long-term operation. Building on our proven success at landmark projects like 150 Holborn and our new Dubai HQ, The Nest, we are perfectly positioned to scale this offering across key markets and deliver the future of smart building efficiency to our customers.”

Faysal Shair added: “We are excited to build on our ongoing partnership with Schneider Electric to simplify complex processes and fast-track the adoption of smart, data-driven buildings. Bringing PARA’s digital advisory and digital twin innovation capability together with Schneider Electric’s deep-rooted operational expertise will deliver a quickly implementable solution that is tailored to our customers’ needs.”

The collaboration will initially target high-growth markets including the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom—markets where demand for integrated smart building solutions is rapidly accelerating.

This MoU marks a significant step forward in our shared vision of delivering integrated, intelligent, and efficient building solutions. By combining PARA’s strategic and digital innovation with Schneider Electric’s technological leadership, this partnership lays the groundwork for scalable, sustainable advancements in the built environment, both regionally and globally.