The?Middle East and Africa to double spending on smart building technology
Honeywell Building Solutions has entered a memorandum of understanding (Mou) with UAE systems integrator Smartworld to implement smart buildings projects in the UAE.
The new agreement has solidified a partnership between Smartworld and Honeywell Building Solutions who will collaborate to promote joint initiatives enabling building operators, facility managers, consultants and contractors to build energy efficient, sustainable and secure smart buildings.
The non-exclusive MoU and was signed on the opening day of Intersec, one of the largest exhibitions and international trade platforms for advancements in security and safety.
Smartworld is a joint venture between the Middle East telecommunication operator Etisalat and the world?s first purpose-built aerotropolis, a city surrounded by an airport in South Dubai.
Established in 2008, Smartworld contributes to economic development in the UAE and offers digital planning, implementation and operation services for digital infrastructure projects.
“By partnering with a technology giant such as Honeywell, Smartworld is able to significantly enhance the capabilities of our buildings by turning them into strategic assets that operate more efficiently,” said Abdulqader Obaid Ali, CEO of Smartworld, who added that the partnership will enable the UAE to meet its smart city ambitions.
As a part of the agreement, Honeywell Building Solutions will provide Building Management Systems (BMS), Enterprise Buildings Integrator (EBI), advanced security solutions, fire safety systems, industrial security systems, and Honeywell’s Command and Control Suite (CCS) solutions to buildings across the UAE.
Vimal Kapur, President and CEO, Honeywell Building Technologies, stated that the partnership reaffirms the commitment from the UAE government to develop smarter cities.
“Smart buildings are the fundamental building blocks of a smart city, and this agreement will enhance the country’s efforts in developing the smartest cities in the region,? said Kapur.
UAE organizations have been keen on leveraging the growing opportunities for digital transformation in the smart building sector to promote the development of smart cities which are primary to the UAE?s regional government agenda, according to Smartworld.
A recent report by KPMG found that spending on smart city development in the Middle East and Africa is expected to double to $2.7 billion from $1.3 billion in the next four years.
The agreement comes after Saudi Arabian city Riyadh and the UAE’s Dubai were identified as the Middle East top spenders?in smart city development at the Digital Saudi 2018 conference, last November.
