calendar_month November 15, 2023
Tabreed Announces its 9M 2023 Results, with a 10% Rise in Revenue to AED 1.8 Billion
  • On track to add 120,000 RT capacity over FY 2023-24, supported by new projects and new connections across existing concessions
  • Tabreed reports 9% year-on-year growth in consumption volumes
  • Tabreed maintains ‘Investment Grade’ credit rating from Moody’s & Fitch, demonstrating prudent cash flow management and solid financial position

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 15 November 2023: Tabreed, the world’s leading district cooling company, today reported its financial results for the nine-month period ending 30 September 2023. During the first nine months of the year, Tabreed sustained positive momentum, recording a robust top line of AED 1.8 billion, a 10% increase year-on-year, compared to AED 1.7 billion in the same period last year. Attributed to this success is the steady growth Tabreed achieved in its consumption volumes (9% year-on-year) driven by new connections and higher demand from existing customers.

During the first nine months of 2023, Tabreed delivered an additional 41,319 Refrigeration Tons (RT) across its portfolio, having commissioned the all-new SeaWorld Abu Dhabi plant in the UAE, two new plants in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and completed an acquisition of a plant from Tata Realty in India, bringing Tabreed’s tally to 89 plants and a total connected capacity to more than 1.3 million RT.

Reflecting its commitment to driving efficiencies across its operations, Tabreed’s Gross Profit increased by 3% year-on-year in the nine-month period to AED 804 million, from AED 781 in 9M 2022, while EBITDA reached AED 914 million (AED 912 million in 9M 2022) with healthy EBITDA margin of 50%. This is further mirrored in efficient working capital management marked by a 11% year-on-year increase in Net Cash from Operating Activities (AED 959 million in 9M 2023 versus AED 866 million in 9M 2022). Tabreed’s balance sheet reflected further strength underscored by an improved Net Debt/EBITDA ratio of 4.18x (4.49x as end of FY 2022). Strong cash flow generation and prudent financial management has enabled the company to maintain an ‘Investment Grade’ credit rating with Moody’s & Fitch.

Driven by revenue growth, healthy EBITDA, and lower net finance costs, the Group reported a Net Profit Before Tax attributable to parent of AED 605 million in 9M 2023 compared to AED 400 million in 9M 2022. Adjusting for one-off items (including non-cash deferred tax liability of AED 359 million recognised in the current period), Normalised Net Profit was AED 442 million for the first nine months of 2023, a 14% increase compared to AED 388 million in 9M 2022. On an absolute basis, Tabreed reported a Net Profit of AED 285 million for the nine months ending 30 September 2023.

Financial highlights – nine months ended 30 September 2023:  

  • Group revenue increased by 10% to AED 1.8 billion (9M 2022: AED 1.7 billion)
  • EBITDA increased to AED 914 million (9M 2022: AED 912 million)
  • Profit from Operation increased by 3% to AED 611 million (9M 2022: AED 590 million)
  • Net Profit Before Tax attributable to parent is AED 605 million (9M 2022: AED 400 million)

Operational highlights – nine months ended 30 September 2023:

  • Total connected capacity exceeded 1.30 million Refrigeration Tons (RT)
  • 41,319 Refrigeration Tons (RT) of new customer connections added, with load additions of 24,165 RT in the UAE, 14,163 RT in KSA, 1,085 RT in Bahrain, 1,000 RT in India and 906 RT in Oman
  • Tabreed achieved a record 19.2 million hours worked without a single lost time incident (LTI), the most recent occurring in July 2015

Commenting on the results, Khaled Al Qubaisi, Tabreed’s Chairman, said: “I am delighted to report further top-line growth over the period driven by organic customer growth and market expansion. Tabreed continued to capitalise on its regional presence, growing rapidly and strategically across its core markets, domestically in the United Arab Emirates and regionally across GCC and Asia, further cementing our position as the district cooling partner of choice.

“Our new projects and capacity additions throughout the period continue to demonstrate the attractiveness of district cooling in Tabreed’s key markets, with the company on track to add 120,000 RT over 2023-2024. Equally important is Tabreed’s commitment to pursuing growth opportunities and delivering attractive and sustainable long-term returns for shareholders, underpinned by a positive business outlook and resilient business model offering predictable cash flows.”

As well as commencing operations with the bespoke SeaWorld Abu Dhabi plant during the first nine months of 2023, Tabreed was named as preferred bidder for the grant of a long-term District Cooling Concession by the Hyderabad Pharma City master plan in India by Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) Limited. Phase 1 of the project will be for the construction of district cooling facilities of 2,500 RT, with an approximate project cost of AED 36.2 million. The total concession capacity of the project will be 125,000 RT, which will be implemented in various phases in accordance with the progress of the master development and corresponding increase in cooling demand.

Additionally in the third quarter of 2023, Saudi Tabreed was awarded a long-term District Cooling Concession for the King Salman Park project. Phase 1 of the King Salman Park project will be for 20,000 RT, with an estimated value of SAR 200 million (circa AED 200 million), with the total capacity rising to 60,000 RT on completion of construction.

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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).
calendar_month March 17, 2025
Tabreed and Dubai Holding Enter Agreement to Provide District Cooling to Palm Jebel Ali
Anticipated total cooling capacity of approximately 250,000 Refrigeration Tons (RTs)AED 1.5 billion project to be executed in multiple phasesAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 17 March 2025: National Central Cooling Company (DFM: Tabreed) and Dubai Holding Investments, part of Dubai Holding, have entered a concession agreement to provide district cooling services for Palm Jebel Ali in Dubai.The agreement establishes a joint venture, with Tabreed holding a 51% stake and Dubai Holding Investments 49%. This structure is designed to optimise cooling capacity, enhance information-sharing and strengthen customer protection, while ensuring sustainable cooling solutions for one of Dubai’s most transformative developments.Supported by Tabreed’s major shareholders, sovereign investor Mubadala (42%) and the French low-carbon energy and services company ENGIE (40%), the agreement was signed by Khalid Al Marzooqi – Chief Executive Officer of Tabreed and Omar Karim – Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Holding Investments, in the presence of senior officials from Tabreed, Dubai Holding, Mubadala and ENGIE.Subject to customary approvals, construction of the district cooling network is expected to commence in Q2 2025, with the first cooling services expected to be delivered by 2027. Over time, the system will address the need for approximately 250,000 RTs of cooling capacity and require an estimated investment of AED 1.5 billion.Following the signing, Chairman of Tabreed and Chief Executive Officer of Mubadala’s UAE Investments Platform, Dr Bakheet Al Katheeri, said: “Mubadala has a worldwide reputation for being a responsible investor with an unwavering focus on its ESG framework and Tabreed is a vital part of our portfolio as a driver of sustainability and societal progress. The signing marks a major milestone in Tabreed’s 27-year history and underscores the company’s commitment to providing sustainable, high-efficiency cooling solutions for large-scale developments. I am eagerly looking forward to witnessing the successful progress of this landmark project.”Omar Karim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Holding Investments, commented: “This agreement reinforces Dubai Holding’s long-term vision of developing sustainable communities with high-quality infrastructure at their core. Palm Jebel Ali is one of Dubai’s most ambitious developments and by incorporating district cooling services we support our customers and align to our commitment to deliver future-ready urban environments.”Commenting on the agreement, Chief Executive Officer of Tabreed, Khalid Al Marzooqi, added: “Palm Jebel Ali is a transformative project that will shape Dubai’s future and we are proud to play a role in ensuring its infrastructure meets world-class standards. With our extensive experience and cutting-edge technology, we will deliver reliable and environmentally responsible cooling that benefits residents, visitors and stakeholders alike.”
calendar_month March 06, 2025
Tabreed Successfully Issues USD 700 Million, Inaugural Green Sukuk
First Issuance under new USD 1.5 billion trust certificate issuance programmeNet proceeds to be used for financing or refinancing projects in line with Tabreed’s Green Financing FrameworkStrong investor demand underscored by 2.6x oversubscriptionAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 5 March 2025: Tabreed, the world’s leading district cooling company, has announced today the successful raising of USD 700 million via an inaugural, five-year green sukuk – the first issuance under its new USD 1.5 billion trust certificate issuance programme. The new sukuk will be listed and traded on London Stock Exchange’s International Securities Market.The issuance of new green sukuk attracted strong institutional demand from high quality local, regional and international investors. This led to the order books exceeding 4.3 times and final issue being oversubscribed by nearly 2.6 times, reflecting the high level of investor confidence in Tabreed’s robust credit fundamentals. The sukuk was competitively priced with a profit rate of 5.279%, achieving the highest tightening by any investment grade regional sukuk issuance this year and the tightest ever credit spread for a five-year instrument by Tabreed and or any other UAE corporate sukuk with a similar credit rating. This high demand was supported by investment grade credit ratings from Moody’s (Baa3) and Fitch (BBB), consistent with Tabreed’s corporate ratings.Tabreed continues to be a pioneer in the international sukuk market, having been a regular issuer over the past 20 years. In 2006, its USD 200 million sukuk issuance was the first to be listed on the London Stock Exchange, which paved the way for other issuers to follow. That issuance was also the first rated sukuk by a corporate entity in the Middle East.Proceeds from this latest sukuk will be used in alignment with Tabreed’s Green Financing Framework, which was first published in March 2022 and later updated in February 2025. It was developed in accordance with the ICMA Green Bond Principles (GBP) 2021 and the Loan Market Association (LMA) Green Loan Principles (GLP) 2023, and is governed by a multidisciplinary management committee led by the Group’s Chief Financial Officer, Adel Al Wahedi. Tabreed is thus able to issue green bonds and loans, with the resulting net proceeds to be used for financing and refinancing ‘Eligible Green Projects’ which include its core business of constructing, acquiring and operating District Cooling schemes, as well as projects related to Energy and Water Efficiency and Wastewater Management.The framework was accompanied by a Second Party Opinion from leading, global ESG ratings agency, Sustainalytics. Together they demonstrate the sustainable nature of Tabreed’s district cooling operations, which use approximately 50% less electricity than conventional cooling.Citi and Standard Chartered Bank acted as Joint Global Coordinators and Citi, Emirates NBD Capital, First Abu Dhabi Bank, HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank acted as Joint Lead Managers and Joint Bookrunners, with Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank acting as Co-Manager.Following the sukuk announcement, Tabreed’s Chief Executive Officer, Khalid Al Marzooqi, said: “Tabreed’s enviable reputation is built on the foundations of sustainability and operational excellence, so this, our first green sukuk, is perfectly aligned with our existing business while focussing on new developments.“The UAE has an ambitious roadmap for net-zero and we are proud at Tabreed to play a vital role in preventing large scale carbon emissions while enabling societal progress through sustainable district cooling. The importance this company attaches to ESG cannot be overstated and our investors know that the energy transition, of which we are at the very centre, is not only good for the environment but good for business, too.”Adel Al Wahedi, Tabreed’s Chief Financial Officer, added: “We are delighted with the investor response to our first green sukuk. This demonstrates the strength of our business model, financial stability and sustainability credentials of Tabreed. This issuance is part of our USD 1.5 billion programme aimed at supporting our ambitious growth plans and sustainability commitments.”Tabreed recently released its full-year financial results for 2024, delivering strong financial performance driven by local and international expansion, new connections with existing clients and development of greenfield sites. The company has been rated Baa3 (outlook stable) by Moody’s and BBB (outlook stable) by Fitch, with the Sukuk Programme having been assigned the same credit ratings.Currently operating 92 district cooling plants in six countries, during 2024 Tabreed became the world’s first district energy company to achieve the ‘Verified Carbon Standard, able to trade carbon credits in the voluntary market as an emissions preventer.