With the construction industry continuing to blaze a trail across the region, the district cooling industry has enjoyed a remarkable year.

Leading the way is Tabreed, which is still setting standards by announcing new deals, developing new technologies and embarking on new regional expansion.
Reflecting on the achievements of last year, CEO Dany Safi says: “2004 has proved to be pivotal year for the company and will be noted for a number of achievements. We have extended our operations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and have successfully expanded operations across the region. This has sent a clear signal to the new players in the industry who have set up this year”.
Among Tabreed’s 2004 highlights are the four new contracts to supply commercial and residential developments with district cooling. This includes supplying 3,000 tonnes of refrigeration to Capital Towers, a major new residential and hotel development. The 10-year contract makes Capital Towers Tabreed’s second largest client on Sheikh Zayed Road after the Shangri La Hotel.
Other contracts include, Kharbash Tower, a fully residential 36-storey building and Park Place, a landmark commercial and residential development, which Tabreed has signed 20-year contract to provide cooling services. Under the terms of this contract, Tabreed will provide chilled water to the 60-storey building that, upon completion, will boast 15 floors of office space and a further 45 floors of residential apartments.
These deals now take the company’s projects on Sheikh Zayed Road to seven and will target the other side of the road’s prestigious strip of commercial and residential development through a micro tunnel that has been recently completed.
Furthermore, Tabreed signed a 20-year contract worth Dh160 million with the Omnix Group to provide cooling services to the Dubai Pearl, a Dh3 billion downtown community centre development. Tabreed will cool the entire multi-purpose development
Tabreed also signed five new contracts with the UAE Armed Forces. The deal, which is worth around Dh600 million, makes the UAE Armed Forces Tabreed’s largest customer. In addition, the company has signed another contract with the UAE Armed Forces worth Dh240 million to increase the district cooling services to Zayed Military City, by providing by a further 25,000 tonnes to its capacity. This has made the project the largest district cooling development in the world today.
In addition, the year saw regional expansion in Bahrain when Tabreed joined with Esterad and AA Bin Hindi Group for a BD5 million investment in the initial capital of Bahrain District Cooling Company (Tabreed Bahrain) to provide district cooling services to the Bahrain market.
In Qatar, Tabreed gained impetus through its operation the Qatar District Cooling Company Qatar Cool. The company recently signing landmark agreements with Commercial Bank and the Al Fardan Twin Towers.
“We can be proud of our achievements which provide a good platform to strive for more success next year. We already have a number of announcements in the offing, including expansion plans for Abu Dhabi. This will represent the best possible start for Tabreed in 2005.”