Empower buys district cooling systems of Dubai International Airport for $299m

The interior of Dubai International Airport (Getty)
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Updated 02 November 2021
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Empower buys district cooling systems of Dubai International Airport for $299m

RIYADH: Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) has agreed to buy the district cooling systems of Dubai International Airport, for AED1.1 billion ($299.4 million), WAM reported.

The acquisition was carried out through a combination of cash from company reserves and debt financing from local and international banks.

Empower, the world’s largest district cooling services provider, will own and manage all the existing relevant infrastructure at Dubai International Airport, which has a cooling capacity of 110,000 refrigeration tonnes, 11 times the capacity of Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower.

"The deal is a part of the AED25 billion public-private partnership portfolio announced by Dubai's Department of Finance at the Dubai International PPP Conference, which was held last month at Expo 2020," said the chairman of Dubai Airports, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.


Saudi Arabia’s industrial output rises 10.4% in November: GASTAT 

Updated 11 January 2026
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Saudi Arabia’s industrial output rises 10.4% in November: GASTAT 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s industrial output rose at its fastest rate in months, climbing 10.4 percent year on year in November, supported by stronger manufacturing activity and higher oil production, official data showed. 

The Industrial Production Index increased to 114.4, up from 103.6 a year earlier, according to the General Authority for Statistics, though the index slipped 0.7 percent from October.

The latest figures highlight continued momentum in the Kingdom’s industrial sector as Saudi Arabia pursues economic diversification under its Vision 2030 agenda.

In its latest report, GASTAT stated: “Preliminary results indicate an increase of 10.4 percent in the IPI in November 2025 compared to the same month of the previous year, supported by the rise in mining and quarrying activity, manufacturing activity and water supply, sewerage and waste management and remediation activities.”  

The sub-index of mining and quarrying activity increased by 12.6 percent year on year in November, supported by Saudi Arabia’s decision to raise oil production to 10.1 million barrels per day, compared to 8.9 million bpd a year earlier. 

Manufacturing activity rose by 8.1 percent compared to November 2024, driven by a 14.5 percent increase in the production of coke and refined petroleum products. The manufacture of chemical products also recorded a 10.9 percent annual rise.

In contrast, the sub-index of electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply declined by 4.3 percent year on year, while water supply, sewerage and waste management and remediation activities rose by 10.2 percent. 

On a month-on-month basis, the overall IPI fell by 0.7 percent in November. 

Mining and quarrying activity rose by 0.5 percent from October, while manufacturing activity edged up by 0.3 percent.

However, electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply recorded a sharp monthly decline of 28.6 percent. Water supply, sewerage and waste management and remediation activities fell by 3.1 percent over the same period. 

Overall, the index of oil activities advanced by 12.9 percent year on year in November, while non-oil activities increased by 4.4 percent. 

Compared to October, oil activities rose by 0.4 percent, while non-oil activities declined by 3.4 percent. 

The IPI measures changes in industrial output based on the International Standard Industrial Classification framework and covers mining, manufacturing, utilities, and waste management sectors.