• Emerge, joint venture between Masdar and EDF, to provide full turnkey solution, including design, procurement, construction, and operation and maintenance of distributed solar rooftops 
• Rooftop project will have capacity of 8.2 megawatts

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, July 5, 2022: Emerge, a joint venture between the UAE’s Masdar and France’s EDF, announced today that it has signed an agreement with Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, to deploy on-site solar energy systems at the SeaWorld Abu Dhabi theme park currently under construction on Yas Island.
The project, which will have a capacity of 8.2 megawatts (MW), will see rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed at the marine-life mega development on Yas Island, including the main building. Emerge will provide a full turnkey solution, including design, procurement, and construction, as well as operation and maintenance services. 

Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, CEO of Miral said, “Our agreement with Emerge marks an important step in SeaWorld Abu Dhabi’s sustainability strategy. The deployment of new solar energy systems is consistent with our progress towards further leveraging the capacity of sustainable sources across our developments. This partnership, a significant environmental milestone, underscores our commitment to sustainability as we strengthen Yas Island’s position as a global destination within the Emirates’ tourism ecosystem.”

Marc Swanson, Chief Executive Officer of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc., said, “As an organization we are committed to creating a more sustainable future and encourage all initiatives that help advance that cause. This agreement reflects SeaWorld Abu Dhabi’s alignment with our [] efforts to adopt efficient and innovative solutions across our parks. Working with our partners on the first SeaWorld marine-life theme park outside of the United States, we are excited to share and exchange our experiences with the region and come together for a better environment.”

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said, “This project demonstrates Abu Dhabi’s commitment to finding innovative ways of achieving its clean energy objectives and increasing renewable energy usage. By leveraging the local and international experience of Masdar and EDF – both leading companies in the energy sector – the Emerge joint venture is ideally equipped to support Miral’s ongoing environmental efforts, and in turn help to drive sustainable development within the regional leisure and tourism sector.”

Laurent Clement, CEO of EDF Middle East also commented, “The private sector is playing a major role in supporting the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, and in achieving an energy mix that combines renewable and clean energy sources to balance economic requirements and environmental goals. We are convinced that our successful partnership with Masdar, through the Emerge joint venture and Miral can be a catalyst for other actors in the private sector to take advantage of solar energy and join our journey to a cleaner UAE.”

SeaWorld Abu Dhabi represents the first new SeaWorld marine-life park in more than 30 years and the first outside the United States. The marine life theme park will offer unique immersive experiences that engage visitors from the UAE and around the world, broadening their knowledge and appreciation of marine life. The next-generation park will also include the UAE's first dedicated center for marine research and education; its rescue and rehabilitation operations will also be a first for the region with the goal of returning healthy animals back to their native habitats. The center will support current and upcoming marine life research on native species while contributing to global marine science and knowledge.   

Emerge was established by Masdar and EDF to explore and collaborate on opportunities in distributed solar generation, energy efficiency and street lighting in the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As an energy services company, Emerge offers clients full turnkey supply and demand side energy management solutions through solar power agreements and energy performance contracting at no up-front cost to the client.
With this project, Miral is reinforcing its commitment to investing in sustainable solutions by integrating renewable energy components in many of its developments.

Rooftop solar PV could provide approximately 6 percent of the United Arab Emirate’s total power generation by 2030 according to the International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) REmap 2030 report.  

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About Masdar
Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company Masdar is advancing the commercialization and deployment of renewable energy, sustainable urban development and clean technologies to address global sustainability challenges. Wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company, the strategic investment company of the Government of Abu Dhabi, our mandate is to help maintain the UAE’s leadership in the global energy sector, while supporting the diversification of both its economy and energy sources for the benefit of future generations. Today, Masdar is active in more than 30 countries, including the UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Mauritania, Egypt, Morocco, the UK, the US, Australia, Spain, Serbia, India, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, and many more. 
Contacts:
E-mail: press@masdar.ae
Tel enquiries in Arabic: +971 2 653 3333
Tel enquiries in English: +971 2 653 6014
For more information please visit: http://www.masdar.ae and connect: facebook.com/masdar.ae and twitter.com/Masdar 

About EDF
As a major player in energy transition, the EDF Group is an integrated energy company active in all businesses: generation, transmission, distribution, energy trading, energy sales and energy services. EDF group is a world leader in low-carbon energy, having developed a diverse production mix based mainly on nuclear and renewable energy (including hydropower). It is also investing in new technologies to support energy transition. EDF’s raison d’être is to build a net zero energy future with electricity and innovative solutions and services, to help save the planet and drive well-being and economic development. The Group is involved in supplying energy and services to approximately 38. 5 million customers (1), of whom 29.3 million in France (2). It generated consolidated sales of €84.5 billion in 2020. EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange. 

(1) Since 2018, customers are counted per delivery site. A customer can have two delivery points: one for electricity and another one for gas. (2) Including ÉS (Électricité de Strasbourg). 


For media enquiries, please contact:
Press contact ME: Alexandra.taleva@edf.ae; +971 54 522 73 73
For more information please visit: https://uae.edf.com/en

About Emerge
Emerge is a joint venture between Masdar and EDF Group established to collaborate on opportunities in distributed solar generation, energy efficiency and street lighting in the UAE and KSA. As an energy services company, Emerge offers clients full turn key supply and demand side energy management solutions through solar power agreements and energy performance contracting at no up-front cost to the client.
For more information, visit www.emerge-energy.com
E-mail: halla@emerge-energy.com

About Miral
Miral is Abu Dhabi's creator of destinations, uniting people and places through unique, immersive and exciting experiences. Responsible for the development and management of Yas Island, Miral's assets encompass entertainment, hospitality, leisure, sport, dining, retail, and real estate destinations. Today, Yas Island is home to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, CLYMB™ Abu Dhabi, Yas Links Golf Course, Yas Mall, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Marina and ten hotels, including The WB Abu Dhabi hotel and Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island located on Yas Bay, Abu Dhabi’s premier waterfront destination. 
For more information, visit www.miral.ae  
About SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment 
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS) is a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter, and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world. The Company is one of the world’s foremost zoological organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, training, husbandry, and veterinary care. The Company collectively cares for what it believes is one of the largest zoological collections in the world and has helped lead advances in the care of animals. The Company also rescues and rehabilitates marine and terrestrial animals that are ill, injured, orphaned, or abandoned, with the goal of returning them to the wild. The SeaWorld® rescue team has helped more than 40,000 animals in need over the Company’s history.  SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. owns or licenses a portfolio of recognized brands including SeaWorld®, Busch Gardens®, Aquatica®, Sesame Place® and Sea Rescue®. Over its more than 60-year history, the Company has built a diversified portfolio of 12 destination and regional theme parks that are grouped in key markets across the United States, many of which showcase its one-of-a-kind zoological collection. The Company’s theme parks feature a diverse array of rides, shows and other attractions with broad demographic appeal which deliver memorable experiences and a strong value proposition for its guests.