Living in the Gulf, you know air conditioning is not a luxury; it is essential. But the system cooling your building is probably also making it more valuable.
There is a quiet powerhouse at work. District cooling systems are cutting energy use for AC by nearly half compared to old-school methods. This drastically cuts the carbon footprint of entire city blocks. At the center of it all is The National Central Cooling Company, or Tabreed, and its 2025 results show just how vital it has become.
A Year of Serious Growth
Tabreed’s report for the first nine months of 2025 confirms its strong expansion. The company’s total connected capacity now sits at a huge 1.38 million Refrigeration Tons (RT), a 4.5 percent jump from last year. This growth included a record 52,900 RT in new connections, more than double what it added in all of 2024.
This is not just a number on a page. Tabreed commissioned three new state-of-the-art plants to handle this growth. This new capacity is now serving some of the region’s biggest new residential, commercial, and mega-projects.
The Direct Link to Property Value
So how does a network of chilled water pipes affect the price of a Dubai penthouse? It is a critical factor for developers and investors.
By hooking into a district cooling system, a property instantly gets a sustainability boost. This matters.
- For Developers: It helps them earn green building certifications like LEED, which attracts premium international buyers and tenants.
- For Occupants: It means lower utility bills and the knowledge that their carbon footprint is smaller.
- For Investors: It leads to higher property values, lower long-term running costs, and a more resilient asset in a world that demands environmental performance.
Smart Money and Green Bonds
The engine behind this green growth is a sharp financial strategy. You might notice Tabreed’s net profit dipped slightly to AED 420 million. This is by design. The dip is directly tied to the financing costs for its recent $700 million Green Sukuk, an Islamic bond used only for sustainable projects.
It is a move that has caught the eye of serious investors. A Senior ESG Investment Strategist at Global Impact Funds (MENA Division) called it a strategic decision that places Tabreed at the front of sustainable infrastructure investment. It attracts a new class of global investors focused on ethical, long-term growth in places like the UAE.
This confidence is backed by action. Shareholders just approved the company's first-ever interim dividend payment. Better yet, Tabreed is now slated to join the MSCI Emerging Markets Small Cap Index, which opens it up to a much wider pool of international funds. This is how you build smarter, more valuable cities for the future.