KONE and PARAGON Forge Strategic Alliance to Revolutionise Egypt’s Urban Spaces

Malaz Madani

Last updated 2-10-2025

3 min

KONE partners with Egypt’s PARAGON to revolutionise mixed-use urban space design in the region.

PARAGON develops eco-friendly office complexes in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, prioritising sustainability.

KONE's AI-powered lifts enhance passenger movement, reducing lift lobby waits for seamless building flow.

Both firms aim to create “regenerative spaces”, integrating technology and sustainability in urban life.

Success hinges on effective tech maintenance, vital for smooth user experiences and building efficiency.

KONE, the Finnish-headquartered elevator and escalator giant, has struck up a new partnership with Egypt’s PARAGON Developments to push the boundaries of how mixed-use urban spaces are designed in the region. On paper it sounds like a technical deal—mobility solutions plus real estate—but in practice, it could shift the way people experience daily life in these developments.

PARAGON has already been making a name for itself by delivering regenerative office complexes in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, with a focus on LEED-certified, eco-friendly spaces. These aren’t just office blocks; they’re pitched as smart, sustainable environments for companies that care about energy efficiency and ESG credentials. KONE’s kit—think AI-powered lifts, 24/7 connected escalators, and slicker passenger movement—slots neatly into this vision. So, instead of long waits in stuffy lift lobbies, employees and visitors might actually enjoy a seamless flow through the buildings.

Ahmed Fathi, KONE’s Egypt managing director, summed up the partnership by stressing how technology and sustainability can sit hand in hand. “Together, we are shaping the future of urban spaces in Egypt,” he said. That’s no small claim, but given KONE’s global clout and track record in ‘People Flow,’ the ambition feels spot on.

Badr Rizk, who heads PARAGON, was equally bullish, pointing out that his company is not simply throwing up buildings but rather aiming to craft “regenerative spaces” where work, life and wellbeing blend under one roof. It’s a lofty ambition and, if pulled off, could set new standards for offices and mixed-use spaces in Egypt.

From my seat at Arageek, I’ve seen plenty of startups and property players across the MENA region talk up green credentials, but few manage to move the needle past basic solar panels on rooftops. PARAGON seems to be going further with its closed-loop energy systems and insistence on third-party certification. That said, the tech integrations can be a bit of a faff for tenants if they’re not properly maintained—I reckon upkeep will be the real test here.

On the flip side, there’s no denying the appeal of a development that ticks all the right boxes: energy efficient, internationally certified, and threaded through with technology that makes the user experience smoother. I remember stumbling through an older office block in downtown Cairo last year where the lifts seemed older than me… and honestly, it makes you appreciate just how crucial good mobility solutions are for modern business districts.

In short, the KONE-PARAGON tie-up is more than just a commercial handshake—it’s part of a wider shift where global engineering meets local ambition to rethink how urban life should feel in the MENA region. If it works as promised, future office goers in Cairo might be chuffed to bits they’re not wasting time in endless queues for the lift. And that, in this city’s daily grind, would be a game changer, even if the road to get there is definately going to be bumpy.

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