Schneider Electric has unveiled its first Impact Buildings site in Dubai, positioning the UAE as the launchpad for a global program redefining smart and sustainable commercial real estate.
Impact Buildings program debuts in Dubai with The NEST
Impact Buildings has officially launched with its first flagship site in Dubai. Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management digitalization and automation, inaugurated its new office, The NEST, as the starting point of the global Impact Buildings Program.
The initiative aims to enhance sustainability across Schneider Electric’s worldwide commercial real estate portfolio by deploying advanced EcoStruxure™ solutions, including EcoStruxure Building Operation, EcoStruxure Power Monitoring Expert, EcoStruxure Building Data Platform and Planon Integrated Workplace Management.
By interconnecting these platforms, Schneider Electric seeks to strengthen sustainability, resilience and operational efficiency while improving occupant experience. The company refers to this convergence of electrification and digitalization as “Electricity 4.0,” a model designed to transform buildings into next-generation intelligent assets.
The NEST: a regional innovation and training hub
The NEST, Schneider Electric’s new office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, spans more than 10,000 square meters, hosts over 1,000 employees and is home to the first Schneider Electric Global Innovation Hub, an immersive space where customers can see EcoStruxure™ solutions in action. It will also host a Training Center dedicated to customers and partners, with a focus on youth empowerment, developing local talent and equipping new generations with the skills needed to lead the country’s energy future.
The NEST is expected to reduce energy consumption by 37% compared to the previous site, with an estimated saving of 572 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 77 homes¹.
Setting new standards for sustainable buildings
Considering that buildings are responsible for 37% of global carbon emissions, Schneider Electric is setting a new benchmark by demonstrating to customers and partners how its technologies can enable intelligent and sustainable spaces. The Impact Buildings Program will be extended over the next 18 months to additional new sites and to existing buildings through retrofits, creating a model for the buildings of the future.
Manish Kumar, Executive Vice President, Digital Energy at Schneider Electric, stated:
“We are turning our words into action and creating a vision of what can be achieved by transforming our own buildings to demonstrate that they must evolve to meet the demands of tomorrow’s business. It is time to rethink the very concept of a building. We are shaping a future in which buildings do not simply exist but intelligently adapt and seamlessly connect to your business, your people and your mission. With EcoStruxure™ and Planon enterprise software, we are redefining how buildings are managed.”
Olivier Blum, Chief Executive Officer of Schneider Electric, added:
“The NEST is more than a building. It is a statement of intent. We are honored to have inaugurated this landmark project in the United Arab Emirates, demonstrating how digitalization and electrification can accelerate national net-zero ambitions while creating world-class environments where people can collaborate, innovate and grow together. This new Dubai hub is the first under Schneider Electric’s Global Impact Buildings Program and demonstrates how intelligent and connected technologies can transform the built environment, setting new standards for innovative and sustainable commercial spaces that prioritize occupant well-being.”
¹ Editor’s note: Greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator | US EPA
