United Arab Emirates (UAE) Heat Pump Market Overview, 2029

The UAE heat pump industry has emerged as one of the key components signifying energy efficiency and carbon emission mitigation of amid rapid urban development and striving for sustainability. The industry demonstrates significant development, existing barriers, and some promising signs in the UAE context. The history of the UAE heat pump industry is relatively recent, spurred by the country's commitment to sustainable development and diversifying its energy resources. The industry improved much for the last two to three decades with certain breakthroughs, among which it is necessary to point out the creation and localization of heat pump technologies aimed at energy efficiency and innovative solutions to suit hot climates. Hours are still bulky, the initial cost of equipment is high, the level of consumer awareness is low, and specialists are required for the installation and maintenance of the systems – all this places certain barriers to the UAE heat pump industry development. However, the UAE heat pump industry has a promising future since it moves on, stimulated by the support from the government and the adherence to the principle of sustainability. The UAE government has taken numerous initiatives and formulated various policies to promote the penetration of heat pumps and other renewable energy technologies. For instance, the Estidama Pearl Rating System and the Dubai Green Building Regulations promote the integration of energy-efficient solutions, including heat pumps, into new developments. Technological breakthroughs already shaping the future of the UAE heat pump industry pertain to solar-assisted heat pumps and their combination with hybrid systems for maximum energy efficiency and sustainability. For instance, A group of researchers in the Middle East has assessed how building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) help reduce electricity consumption in high-rise buildings in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. BIPV can be a very efficient alternative in Dubai because of building load reduction and power generation. The paper aims to investigate energy efficiency according to the number of floors with BIPV application.

According to the research report "UAE Heat Pump Market Overview, 2029," published by Bonafide Research, the UAE heat pump market is anticipated to grow at more than 11% CAGR from 2024 to 2029. The rapid integration of heat pump technology into the new developments and the retrofitting of the existing urban environment in the UAE. As the requirement for energy-efficient cooling solutions increases, developers and building owners are recognizing the benefits of investing in heat pumps to gain optimum returns in achieving energy savings and cost reduction for building operation in the long run. These drives for market growth and innovation in integrating heat pump systems with smart building technologies and renewable energy sources. Partnerships among government entities or ministries, private sector stakeholders, and academic institutions should drive collaboration and know-how exchange in this sector. The Public and private partnerships makes the research and development, pilot tests, and technology demonstration projects for the continuous improvement of heat pump technology and its deployment in the UAE. The overall objective of the collaborations has been on the market expansion, capacity building, and the development of tailored solutions that will be fit for the UAE's unique climate and energy challenges. The UAE's with international standards and certifications will ensure the quality, performance, and safety of heat pump systems deployed in the UAE. Complying with standards such as ISO 16358 (Energy performance and capacity assessment of heat pumps) and the ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) ensures confidence among consumers, developers, and regulators, allowing for market growth and market acceptance of heat pump technology in the UAE.

The use of such heat pumps in the UAE is for cooling due to the country's hot desert climate. Such heat pumps remove heat from inside air and deliver it to the outside atmosphere, thus cooling the indoor area. Air-to-air heat pumps are applied in the air conditioning systems of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings all over the UAE. The pumps provide energy-efficient cooling and improving comfort indoors, particularly in the hot summer months, when temperatures rise significantly. They facilitate the production of hot water for domestic needs and serve the dual purpose of swimming pool heating by removing heat from the surrounding air. Air-to-water heat pumps present a good opportunity for saving energy, compared to conventional water heating systems, in the face of major sustainability efforts geared towards water resources and a reduced dependence on traditional energy sources. Water source heat pumps are found in limited fields of applications in the UAE, mainly in areas wherein groundwater or seawater is available. The types of systems employ water as a heat exchange medium that cools the district cooling projects or other large-scale cooling applications in an efficient manner. Water source heat pumps do not have potential applications throughout the UAE, though on certain projects, they do have featured energy-saving potentials and less environmental impact, which helps in cutting down on carbon emissions. The important point of this is that ground source heat pumps are quite rare in the UAE due to the abovementioned reasons, where drilling boreholes and installing ground loops are very difficult tasks in desert terrain. Despite being able to save on power and supply heating and cooling, as ground source heat pump technologies require substantial initial capital, along with complex technology, it limits the application of this technology in the region. However, in the case of specific applications where space and resources allow, ground source heat pumps can also be considered for sustainable HVAC solutions in residential or commercial development projects that seek to minimize environmental impact and make optimal use of energy. Hybrid heat pumps are not widely used in the UAE primarily because of the prevalence of conventional air conditioning systems fueled by electrical or gas energy resources.

The market in the United Arab Emirates is governed primarily by its hot desert climate. Other factors include rapid urbanization and growing focus on maintaining energy efficiency and sustainability. The market be categorized based on capacity, wherein each of these segments caters to special applications and needs. In residential applications, heat pumps of up to 10 kW in capacity provide both air conditioning and water heating for projects that include villas and apartments. For instance, Emirates Air Conditioning (EMICOOL) supports energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions for residential projects. The green building regulations set by the government and programs like the Estidama Pearl Rating System drive the demand for heat pumps within this capacity range. The capacity range of 10-20 kW and 20-30 kW primarily caters to other residential complexes. It also applies to small to medium commercial projects. In these types of projects, heat pumps provide both cooling and water heating to enable convenience and ensure energy efficiency. The demand further comes from the UAE's National Energy Efficiency Program and efforts to ensure that it meets the standards of reducing carbon emissions. High-capacity heat pumps cater to applications above 30 kW. These are usually in larger commercial and industrial applications, including shopping malls, hotels, and hospitals, in addition to district cooling systems. For instance, the district cooling provided by Palm Cooling in the UAE utilizes such high-capacity heat pumps. The large-scale heat pumps help to reduce energy consumption and operating expenses in the growing infrastructure and development projects in the UAE.

The residential sector in the UAE is gradually seeing the benefits of heat pump technology mostly in the area of space cooling and hot water production. Air-to-air, as well as air-to-water heat pumps, are currently being introduced by international brands, including Daikin, Carrier, and Mitsubishi Electric. In this aspect, such systems in the country provide energy-efficient cooling solutions, making it all the more significant given the hot and arid climate in the UAE. With the increasing rise in energy costs and an overall growth of energy-saving technology awareness, the demand for residential heat pumps will rise, especially in high-end residential properties and urban areas. Business forms a huge opportunity in the commercial sector of the UAE. Air-to-water and water source heat pumps suit space cooling, heating, and hot water production in commercial uses like office buildings, retails, and hospitality. Some of the international players bringing up their commercial heat pump solutions into the UAE market include Carrier, Trane, and Climaveneta. The surge in energy efficiency, savings, and sustainability in the commercial sector drives the adoption of heat pump technology, especially in new construction and retrofit projects of large-scale developments. The industrial sector in the country is looking at heat pump technology for cooling and heating in process applications. Water Source Heat Pumps are highly suitable for an industrial setup in the area and offer efficient and sustainable cooling solutions. Global manufacturers, such as Daikin, Carrier, Trane, among others, are bringing their utility-grade heat pump solutions to the UAE market. Growing concern in the UAE's industrial sector to become energy-efficient, cost-optimum, and environmentally responsible is likely to drive the heat pump market for its adoption in multiple manufacturing and industrial processes, especially in energy-intensive industries such as oil and gas.
Considered in this report
• Historic year: 2018
• Base year: 2023
• Estimated year: 2024
• Forecast year: 2029



Aspects covered in this report
• Heat Pump market Outlook with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Type
• Air-to-Air Heat Pump
• Air-to-Water Heat Pump
• Water Source Heat Pump
• Ground Source Heat Pump
• Hybrid Heat Pump

By Capacity
• Up to 10 kW
• 10–20 kW
• 20–30 kW
• Above 30 kW

By End User
• Residential
• Commercial
• Industrial

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary and secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and list the companies that are present in it. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual reports of companies, and government-generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources, primary research was conducted by conducting telephone interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducting trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this; we have started making primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting them in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us, we can start verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations, and organizations related to the Heat Pump industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing and presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.