United Group

What United Group does

United Group is one of Bangladesh's largest privately held business conglomerates, operating 51 active concerns across 8 divisions — Power, Real Estate, Retail & Services, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Education, Port/Terminal/Shipping, and CSR — under the parent United Enterprises & Co. Ltd. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Dhaka, the group employs 10,000+ people and reports an approximate USD 3.5 billion asset valuation. Its Power division operates over 2,137 MW of generation capacity across multiple independent power plants (Khulna Power Company, UPGDCL, United Mymensingh Power, United Ashuganj Energy, United Payra Power, United Chattogram Power), the largest such portfolio in the private sector, with combined-cycle modular plants featuring Waste Heat Recovery Boilers producing an additional 16.1 MW without incremental fuel. Other divisions span a 350-acre United City township at Satarkul (Dhaka), 17 million SFT of real estate in development, retail supershops (Unimart), multi-cuisine food courts (Chef's Table, Chef's Table Courtside), bakeries (Indulge), quick-service restaurants (CRISP), Bengali cuisine (Utshob), LPG distribution (United Aygaz JV with Turkey's Aygaz), hospitals (United Medical College Hospital with 400 beds; M A Rashid Hospital with 250 beds), education (United International University; Sir John Wilson School; United College of Nursing), tank terminals, shipping, textile and chemical manufacturing, and financial services.

United Group's technology stack combines vendor-provided industrial and clinical systems with limited proprietary innovation. Notable technical components include Waste Heat Recovery Boilers at gas-fired power plants, blockchain letter-of-credit processing via R3 Corda/Contour (first cross-border transaction of its kind in Bangladesh with HSBC, cutting processing time from 5–10 days to under 24 hours), telemedicine video consultations at United Hospital launched during COVID-19, advanced medical equipment at UMCH (CyberKnife S7 radiosurgery, robotic surgery platform, 3T MRI, 128-slice CT), and a Class 3 private fuel oil storage facility at Anwara built to NFPA 30/API 650 standards.

The business model is multi-stream and revenue-diversified: power generation through long-term PPAs with the Bangladesh Power Development Board under regulated tariffs (subscription/recurring); fee-based healthcare and education services; one-time real estate unit sales in United City and IPCO; transaction-based retail and F&B across company-owned storefronts; transaction-fee LPG distribution via United Aygaz's authorized distributor network; port, terminal, and shipping service fees; and hardware sales from textile (Comilla Spinning Mills, United Rotospin), chemical (United Sulpho Chemicals — LABSA & SLES with ISO 22716-2007 certification), and joint-venture garments (Gunze United). Customer base spans the Bangladesh national grid, 200,000+ United Trust healthcare beneficiaries annually, 9,000 students across education institutions, 500,000 monthly Unimart customers, and industrial/manufacturing buyers across textiles, chemicals, and garments.

Name

United Group

Legal name

United Enterprises & Co. Ltd.

Website

https://united.com.bd

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

United Group is a Bangladesh-based diversified conglomerate operating across 8 divisions including power generation (2,137 MW), real estate, healthcare, education, retail, manufacturing, and shipping, serving government, industrial, and consumer customers nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conglomerate Infrastructure and Consumer Services

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals (622310), Management of Companies and Enterprises (551)

SIC

Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991), Services-Hospitals (8060)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail Supply & Corporate Energy Procurement (Green Tariffs, Retail PPAs, C&I Supply) (EUAMAMAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Research Collaboration & Joint Labs (International Partnerships) (EDAIABAC)

Keywords

• Independent power generation
• Real estate development
• Retail supermarket chain
• Hospital healthcare services
• Private university education

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Power Generation: Electricity generation and distribution to national grid through multiple Independent Power Plants including Khulna Power Company, United Mymensingh Power, United Ashuganj Energy, and others. Combined portfolio of 2,137 MW with additional capacity under construction.
2. Healthcare Services: Hospital services, medical education, nursing education, and pharmacy operations. United Medical College and Hospital (400 beds), M A Rashid Hospital (250 beds), United College of Nursing, and Wellbeing Pharmacy chain.
3. Real Estate Development: Residential and commercial development including United City township project (350 acres at Satarkul, Dhaka), IPCO luxury developments, and commercial spaces through Neptune Land Development and United Property Solutions.
4. Retail Operations: Unimart supershop chain with multiple outlets, Chef's Table food court concepts, Indulge bakery-café, CRISP fast food, and Utshob Bengali cuisine. Annual turnover of USD 15.8 million for Unimart alone.
5. Education: United International University (private university), Sir John Wilson School (English medium), United Medical College, and United College of Nursing serving over 9,000 students.
6. Port, Terminal & Shipping: Tank terminal operations at Ashuganj, Chattogram, Mongla, Jamalpur; private land port at Teknaf; shipping and logistics services; first private jetty on Karnaphuli River.
7. Manufacturing: Industrial operations including Comilla Spinning Mills, United Rotospin (textile), United Sulpho Chemicals (LABSA & SLES), Gunze United (garments), and ready-mix concrete production.
8. LPG Distribution: United Aygaz LPG joint venture with Turkish company Aygaz for import, storage, bottling, distribution, and marketing of LPG to domestic, commercial, and industrial sectors across Bangladesh.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

United Group operates a diversified conglomerate platform that generates and supplies electricity to the Bangladesh national grid through a 2,137 MW portfolio of independent power plants, develops large-scale township real estate such as the 350-acre United City project, runs consumer retail brands (Unimart supershops, Chef's Table food courts, Indulge bakeries, CRISP and Utshob restaurants), delivers tertiary healthcare through United Medical College and Hospital and M A Rashid Hospital, provides education via United International University and Sir John Wilson School, produces industrial chemicals and textiles through manufacturing subsidiaries, and operates port, terminal, shipping, and LPG distribution businesses including the joint venture United Aygaz LPG.

Product overview

United Group is a diversified business conglomerate operating across eight major divisions: Power, Real Estate, Retail & Services, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Education, Port Terminal & Shipping, and CSR. The Retail & Services division operates multiple consumer-facing brands including Unimart supershops, Chef's Table food courts, Chef's Table Courtside entertainment destinations, Indulge bakeries, CRISP quick-service restaurants, Utshob Bengali cuisine outlets, Wellbeing Pharmacy, and United Aygaz LPG. The Healthcare division manages hospitals (UMCH with 400 beds, M A Rashid Hospital with 250 beds), medical education institutions, and pharmacies. The Education division includes United International University, Sir John Wilson School, and United College of Nursing. The Power division operates over 2,137 MW of generation capacity. United City is a 350-acre township development project. This is a multi-business conglomerate structure rather than a unified software product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• United City: Flagship township project located in Satarkul, Dhaka spanning 350 acres with residential, commercial, educational, and recreational facilities.
• United Healthcare
• UPGDCL
• Unimart Supershop
• Chef's Table
• Chef's Table Courtside
• Indulge
• CRISP
• Utshob
• United Trust
• UIU

Products and services

• Power Generation Division (2,137 MW portfolio) Independent power generation across gas-fired, combined cycle, and modular plants supplying electricity to the Bangladesh national grid through long-term power purchase agreements. Portfolio currently at 2,137 MW with additional capacity under construction.
• United City Township Flagship 350-acre mixed-use township development at Satarkul, Dhaka featuring residential complexes, commercial spaces, education facilities, healthcare, retail, and recreation areas with large parks and play zones. Targets affluent home buyers and commercial tenants.
• Unimart Supershop Premium supershop chain offering daily necessities, imported products, and high-end goods across locations in Gulshan (40,000 sq ft), Dhanmondi (30,000 sq ft), Wari (25,000 sq ft), and Sylhet. Serves middle-to-upper-class consumers in Dhaka.
• Chef's Table Food Court Multi-cuisine indoor food courts in Gulshan (27,000 sq ft, 600+ seating) and Dhanmondi offering Mexican, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Indian, fast food, fine dining, and vegan options. Serves urban dining consumers.
• Chef's Table Courtside Outdoor dining and entertainment destination at United City, Madani Avenue, spanning over 180,000 sq ft with multiple cuisines, children's play zones (Tree House, Mini Jungle, Pirate Ship, Airplane), and sports facilities. Awarded Experiential Retailer of the Year 2021 with average daily footfall of 500,000 customers.
• Indulge Bakery and Café Quick-service bakery and café offering baked goods, pastries, savory snacks, and grab-and-go items, with branches in Gulshan Unimart, Dhanmondi Chef's Table, Wari Unimart, and Banani. Central Kitchen holds ISO 22000:2018 certification.
• CRISP Quick-Service Restaurant Quick-service restaurant chain serving burgers and crispy chicken with unique varieties and flavors. Available at every Chef's Table outlet in Bangladesh.
• Utshob Bengali Cuisine Bengali delicacies food brand featuring traditional old Dhaka and Bangladesh cuisine, offering diverse exploration of authentic Bangla food taste.
• United Medical College and Hospital (UMCH) 400-bed flagship tertiary healthcare facility with 27+ specialized OPD departments, 22-bed emergency department, 60 hemodialysis units, Cath Lab, modular operation theatres, 3T MRI, 128-slice CT, CyberKnife S7 radiosurgery, and robotic surgery platform. Offers specialist consultations and telemedicine services.
• M A Rashid Hospital 250-bed modern healthcare facility in Jamalpur providing advanced diagnostic and treatment services, managed by United Healthcare Services Limited, serving the underserved northeastern region of Bangladesh.
• United International University (UIU) Private university established in 2003 offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs across multiple schools, serving over 9,000 students. Ranked 2nd in Bangladesh (THE 2023), top 600 globally, and top 5 in QS World Rankings 2024.
• Sir John Wilson School Top-ranking private English-medium school in Bangladesh with 2,020 students and 215 educators, owned and managed by United Professional Services Ltd.
• United College of Nursing Private nursing college offering Basic B.Sc. in Nursing (151 students) and Post Basic B.Sc. in Nursing (60 students) programs using modern instructional methods.
• United Aygaz LPG Joint venture with Turkish company Aygaz for import, storage, bottling, distribution, and marketing of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) serving domestic, commercial, and industrial customers across Bangladesh through authorized distributors.
• Wellbeing Pharmacy Pharmacy retail chain with multiple outlets offering healthcare products and services, including a 7th outlet at Wari Nawab Street.
• United Trust CSR Foundation CSR foundation focused on education (8,000+ students, 25 institutions), healthcare (6 hospitals/clinics, 200,000+ patients annually), microcredit (28,000 beneficiaries), housing (850 units), and scholarships to support community development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Power portfolio of 2,137 MW generating electricity for Bangladesh national grid
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• UNDP BangladeshminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2021Co-organized consultation workshop on mobilizing FDI for greener energy sector in Bangladesh with General Economic Division of Planning Commission. Group Chairman Moinuddin Hasan Rashid participated as discussant.
• Aygaz (Turkey)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2021Joint venture established January 20, 2021 between United Group's United Enterprise and Turkish LPG company Aygaz (60+ years expertise) for import, storage, bottling, distribution, and marketing of LPG in Bangladesh. Aygaz provides safety-certified cylinders and eco-friendly low-carbon fuel technology.
• Gunze (Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture with Gunze (Japan) in Dhaka Export Processing Zone for garment manufacturing operations. Gunze United Ltd operates without captive power generation, receiving electricity and steam from sister concern UPGD's DEPZ power plant.
• Siemens EnergycoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for United Chattogram Power Plant (590MW independent power facility) at Anwara, Chattogram. German Ambassador Rüdiger Lotz visited to underscore importance of international partnerships in strengthening Bangladesh's energy infrastructure.
• University of Ulster (Northern Ireland, UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed for credit transfer facilities and different areas of cooperation for UIU students.
• University of New Brunswick (Canada)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed for student exchange and academic cooperation.
• University of Texas & Texas Southmost College (USA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed for academic collaboration and credit transfer programs.
• Clarkson University (New York, USA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed for academic cooperation.
• University of Bradford (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed for student exchange and cooperation.
• University of Lumiere Lyon 2 (France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed for academic collaboration.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Beximco Group: Bangladesh-listed conglomerate operating in textiles, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, real estate, and energy. Comparable on conglomerate breadth, Bangladesh concentration, and presence in both industrial and consumer-facing segments.
• Summit Power International / Summit Group: Bangladesh-headquartered IPP group operating large-scale gas-fired independent power plants supplying the national grid. Summit is the closest direct peer to United Group's Power division on geography, business model (long-term government PPAs), and combined-cycle technology.
• Bashundhara Group: One of Bangladesh's largest diversified conglomerates with parallel exposure to power generation, real estate (Bashundhara City, Baridhara township), paper, cement, and media. Compares as a direct peer for the multi-vertical conglomerate structure and regulated-industry concentration in Bangladesh.
• ACI Limited: Bangladesh conglomerate operating consumer brands, pharmaceuticals, and a major retail chain (Shwapno) that overlaps United Group's Unimart supershop concept; cross-comparable for retail/healthcare/food segments within the same Bangladesh market.
• Square Hospital / Square Group Healthcare: Operating a flagship tertiary hospital in Dhaka competing with United Medical College Hospital. Comparable on in-patient specialty hospital model, medical-college vertical integration, and pharmacy retail chains in Bangladesh.

Regional players

• Meghna Group of Industries: Bangladesh conglomerate active in cement, shipbuilding, real estate, and consumer products. Comparable for diversified Bangladesh-headquartered industrial reach, particularly on cement/chemicals and infrastructure assets.
• Confidence Group: Bangladesh group with interests in power, infrastructure, and real estate. Comparable to United Group for the power-IPP and township-development overlap, although smaller in disclosed retail/healthcare footprints.
• Karnaphuli Group: Bangladesh conglomerate with steel, power, cement, and shipping exposure. Comparable for the diversified industrial base plus an in-house power-generation arm supplying the national grid, mirroring United Group's IPP-heavy portfolio.
• Navana Real Estate / Eastern Housing: Bangladesh developers of multi-purpose township and condominium projects in Dhaka. Comparable to United Group's Neptune Land Development and United City 350-acre township for premium Dhaka residential and commercial real estate activity.

Broad incumbents

• AES Corporation: Global independent power producer with large emerging-market gas/renewable IPP exposure. Comparable as a broader incumbent benchmarking United Group's combined-cycle IPP business model and emerging-market grid supply.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries41 records

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 United Group