Clear Reef

What Clear Reef does

Clear Reef International is a Dubai-headquartered, privately held design-build-operate company specializing in public aquatic animal parks — oceanariums, aquariums, aqua zoos, and conservation centers. The company serves governments, sovereign wealth funds, real estate developers, and existing aquarium owners across more than 30 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Its core capability is the integrated delivery of feasibility studies, engineering, construction management, animal procurement and commissioning, and full biological and technical operations of aquatic facilities — a workflow that compresses the coordination of marine biologists, veterinarians, life support systems engineers, and aquarists into a single contractor.

The company monetizes through three distinct revenue streams: (1) one-time design/build contracts for new facilities, (2) recurring operations and maintenance fees for facilities it owns or co-promotes (e.g., Odysseo Oceanarium Mauritius, co-promoted with ECLOSIA), and (3) managed services and consultancy for third-party operators such as Fakieh Aquarium Jeddah, Oceanopolis Brest, Zoomarine Portugal, and SAASCC Kuwait. Pricing is custom-quoted per project with no public disclosure. Underlying technology centers on life support systems (mechanical treatment, biological filtration, UV and ozone sterilization, oxygen and temperature control) and computerized aquarium management systems for lighting, control, and water quality monitoring. The company also runs the CLEAR REEF Social Fund for Marine Research and Conservation, a philanthropic program exclusively financed by company revenue that supports approximately 25 research projects annually.

Clear Reef employs 51-100 people and is led by CEO Philippe de Lacaze (HEC, Wharton MBA; former Managing Director of Group Coutant for 23 years) and COO Jose Ignacio Cobo (30+ years, 13 marine zoos). The leadership team has headed more than 50 aquarium and marine zoo projects worldwide over 30+ years. Notable scale signals include Fakieh Aquarium's 1M+ annual visitors and 12,000+ animals, Oceanopolis' 77 aquariums with 4 million liters of water and 1,000+ species, and Zoomarine's 500,000+ annual visitors. Industry relationships include memberships in EUAC, IAC, AIZA, UCA, and the International Aquarium Network, plus a research link with KAUST via Carlos Duarte on the Steering Committee.

Name

Clear Reef

Legal name

CLEAR REEF INTERNATIONAL

Website

https://clear-reef.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Clear Reef International is a Dubai-based design-build-operator of public aquariums and marine parks, serving governments, developers, and aquarium owners globally through turn-key construction, biological and technical operations, and promoter/investor co-development across 30+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Design/Build Services: Full-service design, engineering, and construction management for new aquarium and oceanarium projects. CLEAR REEF provides turn-key involvement from feasibility studies through construction supervision and hand-over.
2. Portfolio Operations: Operation and maintenance of CLEAR REEF-owned oceanariums and aquariums. Revenue generated from visitor admissions, concessions, and related entertainment services at owned facilities.
3. Third-Party Facility Operations: Technical and biological management of aquariums owned by third parties, providing full on-site operations, animal care, and technical maintenance services.
4. Consultancy Services: Remote operation consultancy for developers including technical, biological, operations, scientific, and education expertise.
5. Social Fund Philanthropy: CLEAR REEF allocates approximately 25 projects per year through its Social Fund, financed entirely from CLEAR REEF revenue. This is a philanthropic initiative rather than revenue-generating.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Clear Reef is a design-build-operation company specializing in aquatic animal parks, including oceanariums, aquariums, and aqua zoos. It delivers complete lifecycle services—design, construction, and ongoing operations—through three models: design/build for developers, operation and maintenance of portfolio-owned facilities, and third-party facility operations. Underpinning these services are proprietary Life Support Systems and Aquarium Management Systems that ensure water quality, animal welfare, and operational efficiency.

Product overview

Clear Reef is a design-build-operation company specializing in aquatic animal parks (oceanariums, aquariums, aqua zoos). The company operates on an international scale through three service models: design/build for developers, operation and maintenance of portfolio-owned facilities, and operation of third-party facilities. Core services include Design/Build Services (feasibility studies, engineering, turn-key project management), Operation & Maintenance (24/7 biological and technical management), and specialized modules including Animal Care Management, Technical Management, Animal Commissioning, and Edutainment. The company also maintains the CLEAR REEF Social Fund for Marine Research and Conservation. Notable operated facilities include Odysseo Oceanarium Mauritius, Oceanopolis Brest, Fakieh Aquarium Jeddah, Aquarium Kuwait (SAASCC), and Zoomarine Portugal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aquatic Park Design and Build Services End-to-end design and construction services for oceanariums, aquariums, and aqua zoos, delivered to real estate developers, government entities, and property owners. Covers concept, engineering, construction, and commissioning of aquatic animal park facilities.
• Facility Operation and Maintenance Services Ongoing operations and maintenance of portfolio-owned oceanariums, aquariums, and aqua zoos, including staff, animal welfare, water quality, and visitor experience management.
• Third-Party Facility Operations Management Management and operation of aquariums, oceanariums, and aqua zoos owned by third parties that lack specialist in-house operational capability. Delivered under management contracts using Clear Reef's proprietary systems and trained staff.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 million+ annual visitors at Jeddah Aquarium
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ECLOSIA (Mauritius Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClear Reef co-promoted Odysseo Oceanarium Mauritius with ECLOSIA, combining local market knowledge and capital with Clear Reef's aquarium development and operational expertise. Project opened September 2021.
• Visio (Architecture Firm)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Mauritian architecture firm partnered with Clear Reef for design/engineering and construction follow-up of Oceanarium Mauritius project.
• SSH InternationalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSSH International served as consultant for SAASCC (Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre) aquarium project in Kuwait.
• Alghanim InternationalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlghanim International was the client for the SAASCC aquarium project in Kuwait, engaging Clear Reef for aquarium fit-out and management services.
• EUAC (European Union of Aquarium Curators)minorOthersClear Reef is an active member of EUAC, participating in conferences and forums related to marine conservation strategies and aquarium industry best practices.
• IAC (International Aquarium Congress)minorOthersClear Reef participates in IAC congress and is represented on the IAC-IAN board (Chairman Philippe Vallette).
• AIZA (Asociación Ibérica de Zoos y Acuarios)minorOthersClear Reef management team members (including CEO Philippe de Lacaze and former presidents) are active members of AIZA.
• UCA (Aquariums de France)minorOthersClear Reef maintains membership in UCA, the French aquarium association.
• International Aquarium NetworkminorOthersClear Reef participates in the International Aquarium Network for industry collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• KAUST (King Abdullah University for Science and Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarlos Duarte, Director of Red Sea Research at KAUST, serves on the CLEAR REEF Steering Committee, creating a research collaboration link.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AECOM: Global infrastructure firm with an aquariums and water environments practice delivering large public aquarium builds. Comparable on the design/engineering side of new aquarium construction, though Clear Reef is more specialized and adds ongoing operations.
• Stantec: Global AEC firm with a dedicated aquariums and marine sciences practice that designs large public aquariums. Overlaps with Clear Reef on engineering and project delivery for aquarium builds, though Stantec operates across many infrastructure end markets rather than specializing.
• Merlin Entertainments (SEA LIFE): World's largest aquarium operator through the SEA LIFE brand and a leading visitor attractions group. Comparable to Clear Reef on third-party facility operations, animal husbandry, and edutainment programming at scale, but Merlin does not design/build aquariums for external clients.
• Parques Reunidos: European operator of regional parks, zoos, and aquariums; Clear Reef COO Jose Ignacio Cobo previously held an Operations Manager role there. Comparable on third-party facility operations and zoo/aquarium management across Europe and the Americas.
• Compagnie des Alpes: French leisure operator running ski resorts, theme parks, and attraction sites including aquarium-adjacent venues. Overlaps with Clear Reef on European destination management and operator-side know-how, though it does not specialize in aquarium design/build.

Emerging players

• Chimelong Ocean Kingdom: China's largest marine theme park with one of the world's biggest aquarium collections. Comparable to Clear Reef on mega-scale aquarium/zoo operations and animal husbandry, focused on the Chinese market where Clear Reef has early references.
• Oceanário de Lisboa: One of Europe's largest indoor aquariums, operated as a standalone public aquarium in Lisbon. Comparable in scale and species portfolio to Clear Reef-managed facilities, though it operates only one site and does not offer design/build services.

Regional players

• Aspro Ocio: Spanish operator of marine and aquatic animal parks across Europe; Clear Reef Zoological Manager Antonio Luis Garcia previously served as Zoological Director for ASPRO OCIO's 10 parks. Directly comparable in marine park operations and animal welfare expertise, though smaller and Iberian-focused.

Direct peers

• PGAV Destinations: US-based master planner specializing in aquarium, zoo, and theme park design. Directly comparable to Clear Reef on the design/build/consultancy side for public aquariums and destination attractions, serving similar developer and government clients.
• Ocean Park Corporation Hong Kong: Hong Kong-based marine-themed theme park and aquarium operator combining in-house design, animal collection, and operations. Comparable to Clear Reef on full-stack aquarium design-build-operate and Asia-Pacific marine park footprint, though larger and publicly backed.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clear-reef-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clear Reef