Energy management systems for Saudi Arabia’s industries

Saudi Arabia

Mohamed Shaheen, CEO of Schneider Electric in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Yemen and Bahrain, talks to The Energy Year about bringing manufacturing capabilities for data centre components to Saudi Arabia and prospects in the country’s growing mining sector. Schneider Electric is an industrial technology company specialising in electrification, automation and digitisation equipment and services for industrial, energy and data infrastructure.

How is Schneider Electric positioned in Saudi Arabia today, and what are the company’s key areas of focus?
Schneider Electric has been in Saudi Arabia for more than 40 years, specialising in energy management and industrial automation. While we are globally known for our electrical products, such as panels and circuit breakers, our business extends beyond that into energy management and ensuring efficiency across industrial sites.
Whether it’s in energy and chemicals facilities, desalination plants or factories, Schneider Electric provides smart solutions for automation and control. We are committed to sustainability, and we are proud to have been number one in Corporate Knights’s Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable companies in 2025 and the only company to have ranked first twice.

What new technologies is Schneider Electric bringing to companies in Saudi Arabia?
Schneider Electric has evolved and now places a strong emphasis on software, which is central to digital transformation. In the early 2000s, we recognised the importance of integrating software into our energy solutions, and since then, we have made significant strides in R&D and acquisitions to reinforce our capabilities in this area.
Today, we provide smart energy management solutions that combine efficiency with advanced digital tools. We can offer comprehensive solutions for various industries, helping companies improve efficiency, reduce costs and be more sustainable in their operations.

Within Saudi Arabia’s transformation under Vision 2030, which opportunities do you see as the most fitting for Schneider Electric’s expertise?
Anyone working in Saudi Arabia right now is incredibly fortunate. The transformation the country is going through is something truly unique. We are witnessing the growth of smart cities and massive infrastructure projects that will shape the country’s future.
Events such as the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, the 2029 Asian Winter Games, Riyadh Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034 are all opening up significant opportunities across multiple sectors. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime transformation, and it is creating a large, accessible market for companies such as Schneider Electric.
Given our comprehensive portfolio, we are targeting all these opportunities. Whether it’s large-scale projects or specific areas such as data centres, Schneider Electric aims to provide end-to-end solutions. We have competition in medium voltage panels, low voltage panels, wiring devices and other segments, but our strength lies in our ability to offer an integrated solution across the entire value chain. Schneider Electric is the only player in the market that can provide the full package from wiring devices to software analysis and apps.

Saudi Arabia aims to position itself as a hub for digitalisation and AI under Vision 2030, and we’ve seen Schneider Electric’s involvement in the construction of new data centres. Can you elaborate on your involvement in this sector?
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 outlines plans to build around 1.2 GW of colocation data centres, and the country recently announced a 1-GW expansion for AI data centres. This is a massive opportunity for Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation. Over the past two years, approximately 300 MW of data centres have been built, and Schneider Electric has a significant share. We have ongoing partnerships with DataVolt, Dawiyat Integrated Telecommunications & Information Technology and Desert Dragon to support their data centre programmes.
Our primary focus lies in the passive infrastructure of data centres, which includes power and cooling systems. While we don’t provide the active parts – such as servers or switches – we design and build the infrastructure required to make data centres functional. We also provide prefabricated data centres, which are self-contained units that come ready with all the necessary equipment. They can be deployed and scaled quickly to meet the growing demand in the region.

Are the data centre components being manufactured in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, parts of the prefabricated data centres are manufactured in Saudi Arabia. The outer enclosure, which is essentially the shelter or container, is produced locally. Inside the prefabricated units, we integrate various modules for power and cooling and electrical equipment such as transformers and switchgear, along with uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, which make sure that servers never lose power – not even for a millisecond.
Additionally, due to the heat generated by servers, we provide specialised cooling systems designed specifically for data centres. We recently signed an MoU with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, backed by more than USD 50 million in investments, to localise data centre supply chains and train professionals through a specialised academy, supporting Saudi Arabia’s vision as a regional digital hub.

Can you comment on your localisation initiatives in Saudi Arabia?
We are excited to announce several new developments. First, we will be launching a new production line for UPS systems. They will be the first locally manufactured UPS systems in the region, and they will be produced at our plant in Riyadh. In 2023, we integrated a distribution centre in Saudi Arabia, freeing us from relying only on the regional distribution centre in Jebel Ali, UAE. From our Saudi facility, we can manage the import of products from more than 150 Schneider factories worldwide and distribute them more efficiently to our retail business.
Moreover, we are undergoing renovations and adding two new production lines for MV [medium-voltage] and LV [low-voltage] products at our Dammam plant, and we are investing in a new facility at SPARK to manufacture control panels for our process automation business. We are also in the process of acquiring additional land adjacent to the site to transform it into an industrial campus.

Does the Saudi mining sector offer any opportunities for Schneider Electric, given the major investments being planned?
Saudi Arabia is investing in its mining sector, and Schneider Electric is well-positioned to support this growth, as we offer energy efficiency and smart energy management solutions specifically for mining operations. Our main goal is to help industries optimise their energy usage. Mining, oil and gas, iron, steel and cement consume large amounts of power, and our solutions aim to reduce that consumption while maintaining high productivity.
By improving energy efficiency, we help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and further Saudi Arabia’s sustainability goals. We measure the impact with KPIs. Given Vision 2030’s emphasis on diversifying away from oil and gas, we see tremendous opportunities for our solutions in the mining sector.

Where do you see Schneider Electric in Saudi Arabia in five years, especially compared to your peers and competitors?
Our limit is the sky. Over the past three or four years, we have made significant strides in the Saudi market, and we remain very optimistic. Saudi Arabia is a key market for us globally, along with the US and India, and our strategic plan reflects that. We are excited about the opportunities here and look forward to continuing to grow and lead in the market.

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