Empower expands District Cooling infrastructure across Dubai

DUBAI, UAE, 14 May 2026: Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) said it has reaffirmed its role in strengthening Dubai’s position as a global benchmark for advanced District Cooling infrastructure through the expansion of its plants and networks across key locations. Making the announcement through a May 14 Press Release, Empower said these efforts support the transition towards greater energy efficiency and reducing pressure on electricity networks, in line with the city’s rapid urban and population growth.

Empower said the growing importance of District Cooling infrastructure has reshaped urban development strategies globally, as governments, city planners, utilities and regulatory agencies increasingly turn to District Cooling solutions to reduce pressure on electricity grids and address rising energy demand linked to urbanisation and extreme heat. The company said it currently owns and operates an underground distribution pipeline network spanning more than 430 kilometres and 90 District Cooling plants across Dubai, as of the end of 2025.

The company said that during the opening remarks of a recent webinar organised by the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Cool Coalition under the theme, ‘District Cooling as Urban Energy Infrastructure’, H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO, Empower, reiterated the importance of investing in District Cooling infrastructure to address growing climate challenges.

H.E. Bin Shafar said: “District Cooling is gaining increasing global importance as a practical solution to the challenges of extreme heat and urban heat islands, as well as their impact on public health and quality of life. Dubai has cemented its position as a global benchmark for advanced District Cooling infrastructure, guided by the forward-looking vision of our wise leadership, which has made energy efficiency and sustainability fundamental pillars of urban development.

“At Empower, we continue to invest in expanding our plants and networks through a modular and scalable development model, ensuring that we keep pace with the emirate’s rapid growth while providing reliable and sustainable cooling services that support quality of life, reduce energy consumption and limit carbon emissions. Empower has successfully transformed District Cooling into a reliable utility service that supports Dubai’s ambitious sustainability and energy efficiency goals. From an initial capacity of 5,400 refrigeration tons (RT) in 2004, Empower has grown into the world’s largest District Cooling services provider, currently operating with a total connected capacity of 1.7 million RT.”

Empower said it continues to implement expansion strategies to enhance cooling capacity and broaden services across Dubai. The company added that it recently awarded the design contract for its fifth District Cooling plant in Business Bay, which will have a total cooling capacity of approximately 44,000 RT upon completion.

The company also announced the addition of 33,500 RT to its total connected capacity during the first quarter of 2026 and said it has expanded its customer base to approximately 160,000 customers across 1,776 buildings.

Empower said it commenced operations at its Deira Waterfront District Cooling plant in 2025, with a total cooling capacity of 39,000 RT serving more than 46 buildings. The company added that it awarded the excavation and foundation works contract for a new cooling plant in Al Sufouh 2 with a capacity of 23,400 RT.

Empower said construction is continuing for its second plant in Jumeirah Village, which will have a capacity of approximately 37,000 RT, following the award of the construction contract in 2025. Empower added that it also awarded the design contract for a new cooling plant in Dubai Science Park in 2025. The plant, the company said, will serve approximately 80 buildings with a total capacity of up to 47,000 RT.

Empower said the projects reaffirm its ability to meet growing demand for sustainable cooling solutions and support Dubai’s energy efficiency objectives through reliable and flexible infrastructure.