Parsons Partners with Startup Wise Guys to Propel Saudi Smart Cities Forward

Editorial Team

Last updated 11-11-2025

3 min

Parsons Corporation signed an MOU with Startup Wise Guys at the Riyadh Construction Technology Festival.

The partnership will foster collaboration in construction tech and digital innovation under Parsons’ NewCity programme.

The alliance supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 for smarter, tech-driven urban development.

Parsons' AI tools like OpenSpace streamline project management, boosting efficiency in large-scale projects.

The collaboration may transform Saudi urban design, promoting productivity and sustainability.

During the buzzing Construction Technology Festival in Riyadh, Parsons Corporation – the US-based engineering and technology powerhouse listed on the NYSE under the symbol *PSN* – signed a memorandum of understanding with the Saudi firm Startup Wise Guys. Now, on paper that might sound like just another corporate handshake, but I reckon this one could actually make waves across Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving tech-innovation scene.

The agreement focuses on creating hands-on opportunities for collaboration and pilot projects under Parsons’ *NewCity* programme, launched back in 2024. The scheme aims to nurture startups working at the crossroads of construction tech and digital innovation, with backing from Saudi government bodies, including the General Real Estate Authority and the National Technology Development Program (an initiative of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology). It’s spot on timing—Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy is placing serious emphasis on smarter, greener, tech-driven cities.

Martin Boson, Parsons’ Senior Vice President and General Manager for Saudi Arabia, said the partnership aligns with the company’s long-standing commitment to sustainability and innovation. He noted that Parsons’ strength lies in spotting emerging technologies early, testing them efficiently, and scaling them globally. The firm’s growing use of AI in project management—whether for design accuracy, faster timelines, or safety improvements—is already paying dividends. I’ve seen similar approaches in MENA startups we’ve covered at Arageek; it’s often the fine-tuned execution that separates hype from genuine impact.

Aya Zghnin, Managing Partner at Startup Wise Guys, sounded equally enthusiastic. She described the collaboration as a push to “accelerate the adoption of solutions that enhance productivity and sustainability” in Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure and real-estate sectors. The mix of Parsons’ engineering depth and *NewCity’s* global startup network could, as she sees it, transform how urban areas are designed and managed. And to be fair, in a region investing billions in smart-city infrastructure, that’s no small ambition.

On a more technical note, Parsons is already putting AI to work through collaborations like its 2025 rollout of *OpenSpace*, an AI-powered site documentation tool developed with SEKTOR.build. It’s been deployed across 111 projects covering more than five million square metres. That translated into a 30% bump in weekly inspections per engineer, and—believe it or not—a saving of about four administrative hours per engineer each day. Numbers like that don’t lie, though keeping pace with that speed of digitalisation must be a bit of a faff for traditional teams.

With roots in Saudi Arabia stretching back to 1958, Parsons isn’t new to the game. It currently employs over 7,000 people across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and holds the top global slot for programme management, according to *Engineering News Record*. Its track record in urban planning, smart mobility, and critical infrastructure protection still carries weight. The company continues to play an influential role in helping drive Saudi’s National Transformation Programme, part of the broader Vision 2030 framework pushing the country toward a diverse, innovation-led economy.

As someone who’s seen startups across MENA trying to break into partnerships with heavyweights like Parsons, it feels refreshing—definately—to witness a global giant making real room for local innovation. If all goes well, this tie-up might just be another step toward turning Saudi’s “future cities” concept from glossy brochure talk into something tangible, lived-in, and, dare I say, properly smart.

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