calendar_month March 08, 2023
Tabreed Demonstrates its Commitment to Net-Zero, Signing UAE ‘Climate-Responsible Companies Pledge’
  • World’s leading district cooling provider is key player in drive for carbon neutrality
  • Company built on operational excellence, aligned with UAE’s Year of Sustainability

 

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 7 March 2023: In line with its own commitment to achieving Net-Zero, the UAE’s original district cooling company, Tabreed, announces it has signed the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment’s (MOCCAE) Climate-Responsible Companies Pledge.

 

On 17 May 2022, the MOCCAE launched the National Dialogue for Climate Ambition (NDCA) as a platform “to define and raise sectoral climate ambition and advance all-inclusive participation in the ‘UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative’ to meet the country’s international climate commitments, particularly the Paris Agreement.” Stakeholders include many sectors, such as manufacturing, construction, waste, transport, finance, energy and utilities providers.

 

The ninth session of the NDCA – and associated pledge signing – was held under the theme of ‘Decarbonising the Buildings Sector’ and featured keynote addresses by Her Excellency Mariam AlMheiri, the UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group CEO of Aldar Properties. Following the speeches, signatories of the pledge, including Tabreed’s Chief Executive Officer, Khalid Al Marzooqi, assembled together on stage to mark this historic undertaking.

 

Sustainability is one of the key pillars Tabreed is built upon, its relentless pursuit of energy efficiency resulting in the prevention of huge amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. An environmentally conscious driver of progress, the company, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary, is a world authority on district energy, and a key player in the UAE’s inspirational journey to carbon neutrality.

 

Al Marzooqi said that signing the pledge is an obvious fit for the company, which has long been known as a champion of sustainability. “It is widely acknowledged,” he remarked, “that cooling buildings in this region is responsible for the majority of electricity consumption. And while we are making enormous strides in generating power using renewable sources, it remains responsible for significant greenhouse gas emissions, so any way of reducing energy consumption has to be a positive.

 

“And that’s where district cooling makes perfect sense because it’s approximately 50 percent more energy efficient than conventional methods. Last year alone, Tabreed’s efficiencies prevented the release of nearly 1.4 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere – that’s like removing 300,000 vehicles from the roads and we do this year in, year out.”

 

He added that demand for cooling will increase as the UAE’s population and infrastructure continue to grow, making the case for district cooling stronger than ever. “Without district cooling we simply could not progress as a society,” Al Marzooqi said. “But we need to approach this with sustainability in mind, which is why our business aligns so closely with the country’s wider Net-Zero targets and we have our own roadmap to become completely carbon neutral ourselves by 2050. We wholeheartedly thank and support the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, and signing this pledge is an outward demonstration of our commitment to do everything in our power to ensure a sustainable future for everyone, everywhere.”

 

In a further show of its commitment to Net-Zero, following the signing of the Climate-Responsible Companies Pledge, Tabreed participated in a landmark event hosted by low-carbon energy giant, ENGIE, at Louvre Abu Dhabi: ‘E4 – Defining the Pathway to a Carbon Neutral Economy’.

 

Hosted for ENGIE’s key stakeholders to engage in dialogue on decarbonisation and the solutions that will help governments, companies and industries to achieve Net-Zero, the E4 event – a first for the Middle East – was attended by industry leaders from the UAE, GCC and overseas. It helped showcase the well-documented benefits of district cooling in dramatically reducing emissions related to power generation, and as one of Tabreed’s majority shareholders, ENGIE continues to add exceptional value to the company through its unrivalled expertise in global energy and sustainability matters.

 

During the E4 event, Tabreed’s Chief Asset Management Officer, Dr Yousif Al Hammadi, delivered a presentation introducing the company to a diverse audience of dignitaries, government ministers and high-ranking officials, highlighting the company’s environmental credentials with results recently posted in its record Q4 2022 results.

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calendar_month June 30, 2025
Tabreed and CVC DIF to acquire Abu Dhabi’s PAL Cooling from Multiply Group
Existing portfolio includes eight long-term concessions currently serviced by five, state-of-the-art district cooling plantsSignificant growth potential, with expected operational connected load of approx. 600,000 refrigeration tonsAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 30 June 2025: CVC DIF, the infrastructure strategy of leading global private markets manager, CVC, and Tabreed, the world’s leading district cooling company, have entered a partnership to acquire PAL Cooling Holding from Abu Dhabi’s Multiply Group.The transaction, with an equity value of approximately AED 3.8 billion, includes three long-term concessions in the Abu Dhabi main island area and five long-term concessions on Al Reem Island, and remains subject to customary regulatory approvals. The concessions are serviced by five existing, sustainable district cooling plants and associated networks in Abu Dhabi, with connected capacity of 182,000 refrigeration tons (RT) as of December 2024. An additional plant is currently under construction and three more are in the planning phase. Together the nine plants and eight concessions are expected to represent approximately 600,000 RT.PAL was founded in 2006 and is a prominent player in the UAE district cooling market, catering to landmark residential, commercial and mixed-use developments. The company has eight, long-term concession agreements and partnerships with leading master developers, including Aldar Properties, Modon and Imkan. PAL is strongly positioned on Al Reem Island, which is a strategic destination now fully part of the ADGM free zone, the vibrant financial centre of Abu Dhabi, and is poised to benefit from the expected development ramp-up, with future network expansion already licenced by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Energy.Chairman of Tabreed, Dr Bakheet Al Katheeri, emphasised the significance of the partnership: “Tabreed is always looking to the future and ensuring we remain agile. The acquisition of PAL Cooling with CVC DIF aligns perfectly with our strategic objectives and readiness to adapt to Abu Dhabi's ambitious real estate projects. This year has been historic for Tabreed, with ventures like our Palm Jebel Ali JV and continued growth in Abu Dhabi. These steps position us to meet the UAE’s rising demand for sustainable cooling, driven by population growth and decarbonisation targets.”Gijs Voskuyl, Managing Partner at CVC DIF, said: “PAL Cooling services its clients under long-term, concession-based contracts, in a fast-growing urban environment. The company has a strong track record of developing and constructing high-quality and electrified district cooling plants to deliver reliable, energy-efficient cooling solutions. Building on CVC DIF’s long-term track record in the sector, we are delighted to partner with Tabreed, a leading district cooling company in the Middle East. Together with our partners, we are convinced that PAL Cooling is a high-quality investment that will provide our investors with solid returns, while offering the potential for long-term growth and sustainable value creation.” Chief Executive Officer of Tabreed, Khalid Al Marzooqi, added: “This is turning out to be a truly pivotal year for Tabreed. As we enter a new phase of growth in Abu Dhabi alongside partners, CVC DIF, the benefits brought by this acquisition will be substantial. As part of Tabreed’s portfolio, these additional plants will be operated and maintained by the world’s leading experts in sustainable cooling. The acquisition also serves to strengthen our already investment-grade status with safe, long-term concession agreements and assured future growth, evidenced by current and planned developments on Reem Island.”Özgür Önder, Head of CVC Middle East, said: “Our partnership with Tabreed, a regional leader with deep industry expertise, aligns perfectly with CVC’s commitment to investing in the UAE, backing mission-critical businesses that support sustainable development across the country.”CVC DIF’s investment focus and experience spans key sectors including Energy Transition, Digital Infrastructure, Utilities and Transport – areas that are critical to Tabreed’s strategic vision. Its expertise and investment approach makes CVC DIF an ideal partner for a transformative project of this scale.Commenting on the transaction, Samia Bouazza, Group CEO and Managing Director of Multiply Group, said: “The monetisation of PAL Cooling Holding is a deliberate step in our portfolio optimisation strategy, aimed at delivering superior returns to our shareholders. It reflects our ability to realise significant value from our assets while enhancing liquidity to fuel Multiply Group’s next phase of growth – both across our core verticals and on the global stage.”The deal was signed during a special ceremony at Multiply’s Abu Dhabi headquarters by Samia Bouazza, Group CEO and Managing Director of Multiply Group, Khalid Al Marzooqi, Chief Executive Officer of Tabreed and Özgür Önder, Head of CVC Middle East, in the presence of Tabreed’s Chairman, Dr Bakheet Al Katheeri.- ENDS –
calendar_month May 16, 2025
UAE’s Ministry of Defence Strengthens its Environmental Credentials with Tabreed and Emerge
New Abu Dhabi project sees the integration of solar power into Tabreed’s energy mixAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 16 June 2025: The UAE Ministry of Defence, in partnership with Tabreed, the world’s leading district cooling company, and Emerge, a joint venture between the UAE’s Masdar, a global clean energy leader, and France’s EDF Group, announced today the completion of a new project to integrate solar energy into two district cooling plants serving the Ministry’s facilities in Abu Dhabi.In March 2024, a partnership agreement was signed to develop solar PV plants to be operated for a period of 25 years. Approximately 4,000 solar panels have been installed at the district cooling plants, supplying their thermal energy storage infrastructure and chilled water pumps with 2.4 megawatt (MW) of clean electricity. This will help reduce reliance on the electricity grid during peak periods and prevent emissions of more than 2,600 tons of CO2 annually.The project was officially inaugurated by a senior delegation from the Ministry of Defence, Tabreed and Emerge. This initiative follows the unveiling of the UAE Armed Forces Climate Change Strategy in December 2023, announced by the UAE Ministry of Defence to reinforce its commitment to reducing carbon emissions through a long-term energy transition. Tabreed’s CEO, Khalid Al Marzooqi, explained that this achievement further strengthens the already close strategic relationship between the company and the Ministry of Defence, which began with the commissioning of its first district cooling plant in 1998. He added, “Sustainability is a core concept at Tabreed, and we continually analyse and improve our operations in line with global aspirations to achieve climate neutrality. Recently Tabreed made a significant leap in diversifying its energy mix by introducing geothermal energy, and today we are proud to introduce another renewable: solar. These achievements underscore Tabreed’s commitment to the UAE’s net-zero goals and we will continue to integrate renewable energy at additional plants, to further our support of the public and private sectors in achieving their own environmental targets.”Michel Abi Saab, General Manager of Emerge, said: “This milestone reflects the growing momentum for distributed solar solutions across vital sectors of the UAE. We are proud to support the Ministry of Defence and Tabreed in advancing their sustainability goals by integrating clean energy into core infrastructure. At Emerge, we remain committed to enabling partners across the region to decarbonise their operations, reduce energy costs and drive measurable impact towards the UAE’s net-zero ambitions.” - ENDS –
calendar_month May 14, 2025
Tabreed Releases its Q1 2025 Financial Results and Gears Up for Extensive Growth with New Joint Venture
EBITDA and net profit both increase over same period in 2024Major announcements include signing biggest deal in company’s 27-year historyAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 13 May 2025: Tabreed, the world’s leading district cooling company, has released its consolidated financial results for the first quarter of 2025, once again reporting increases in EBITDA and net profit over the same period last year. The company’s EBITDA increased by 4% year-on-year to AED 283 million, with an improved margin of 61%, while net profit after tax increased to AED 115 million in Q1 2025, growing by 3% compared to Q1 2024.While the company’s financial performance remained steady during the first quarter of 2025, in this period Tabreed made significant announcements regarding developments that will positively impact its long-term outlook and portfolio growth. The first of these was the raising of USD 700 million via the issuance of a Green Sukuk with a competitive profit rate of 5.279%, attracting strong international investor demand. The proceeds were used for refinancing, in line with eligible use according to Tabreed’s Green Finance Framework.As a result of this refinancing, Tabreed demonstrated further strengthening of its balance sheet, with the majority of its short-term debt converted into longer term maturities, along with further reduction in net debt by 3% YTD and savings in net finance costs of 7% YoY. As a result, leverage further improved with a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 3.55x (compared to 3.7x on 31 December 2024).The second major announcement, following a special signing ceremony held in Dubai on 16 March, confirmed that Tabreed had entered a concession agreement in partnership with Dubai Holding Investments to exclusively provide district cooling services to one of the region’s most eagerly awaited projects: Palm Jebel Ali.This is an important milestone in the history of Tabreed – a 250,000 Refrigeration Ton (RT) concession representing approximately one fifth of the company’s connected capacity. The network will require an estimated investment of AED 1.5 billion, making it the biggest greenfield deal in Tabreed’s 27-year history, and enhances its competitive position in the fast-moving, dynamic Dubai market.Also during the first quarter of 2025, shareholders approved a cash dividend of 15.5 fils per share for 2024, implying attractive yield of 5.6% (at a share price of AED 2.76 as of 12 May 2025). The company’s financial position remained strong, allowing it to invest in accelerating growth while returning cash to shareholders in the form of dividends, thereby delivering sustainable long term value creation. Q1 also saw 4,599 RT of new customer connections added within the UAE and new capacity addition is expected to gather pace in the coming months.Financial highlights – three months ended 31 March 2025: Group revenue remained broadly stable at AED 466 million (Q1 2024: AED 468 million)EBITDA increased by 4% YoY to AED 283 million (Q1 2024: AED 272 million)Net profit after tax increased by 3% to AED 115 million (Q1 2024: AED 112 million)Operational highlights – three months ended 31 March 2025:      Consumption volumes decreased by 7%, due to colder weather than experienced during first quarter of 2024Total connected capacity reached 1.33 million Refrigeration Tons (RT)4,599 Refrigeration Tons (RT) of new customer connections added in the UAEChairman of Tabreed, Dr Bakheet Al Katheeri, said: “On the surface all appears ‘business as usual’ and, indeed, the Q1 results demonstrate a company with stability and dependability at its core. While this is entirely true, behind the scenes there is incredible drive and energy facilitating substantial expansion in key markets, Dubai being a prime example. Our recent landmark deal with Dubai Holding Investments perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Tabreed, which prizes strategic partnerships with organisations aligned with our values and objectives.“Tabreed’s resilience is one of its hallmarks and only through prudent financial stewardship is the company in a position to commit to such long-term, significant investments. The value to investors will increase, the positive environmental impact continuing to grow, with greater uptake of its globally renowned services. The future is brighter than ever for Tabreed and I look forward to seeing it flourish for many years to come.”
calendar_month March 28, 2025
Tabreed’s Annual General Assembly Approves AED 441 Million Dividend Payout for FY 2024
Annual General Assembly confirms new appointments to Board of DirectorsChairman points to a momentous, transformative 2025Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 26 March 2025: Tabreed, the world’s leading district cooling company, yesterday held its Annual General Assembly (AGA). In recognition of the company’s strong financial and operational performance throughout 2024, shareholders approved a dividend payment of 15.5 fils per share, representing more than AED 441 million, to be paid fully in cash.Over the past five years, Tabreed has delivered total shareholder return of 96% in the form of share price increases and dividends and, during 2024, the company reported record revenues and a 32% increase in net profit after tax.The AGA was chaired by Tabreed’s Chairman, Dr Bakheet Al Katheeri, and during the meeting shareholders also confirmed the appointments of new board members, Mansoor Al Hamed and Janis Rey Lozada.Al Katheeri said that Tabreed had performed consistently well throughout 2024, reaping the benefits of prudent recent investments and a considered approach to business development and expansion. “This is one of the UAE’s most resilient companies,” he remarked, “and delivers excellent returns for its investors year after year, with 2024’s dividend payments no exception.“Tabreed has entered 2025 with impressive momentum, already having raised $700 million via its inaugural, five-year green sukuk, and entering a new joint venture with Dubai Holding to supply sustainable district cooling to one of the UAE’s most exciting real estate projects, Palm Jebel Ali. Tabreed’s balance sheet is stronger than ever and there is a strong pipeline of promising opportunities ahead. It undoubtedly remains a safe haven for existing and future shareholders alike.”During 2024 Tabreed completed two new plants and added 23,576 Refrigeration Tons [RTs] of new connections across the company’s portfolio, in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt and India. Tabreed also saw consumption volumes grow during 2024, increasing by 5% to 2.66 billion refrigeration ton hours (RTH).