Harlow Group

What Harlow Group does

Harlow Group is a privately held Iraqi investment and development conglomerate founded in 2002 and headquartered in Dubai (Jumeirah Lake Towers), with operational offices in Baghdad, Seoul, and the Isle of Man. The group operates through six wholly owned subsidiaries — Harlow International Limited (power and energy), Smart Meters Collection and Electrical Services Ltd (smart metering), DRC Cement Factory (cement manufacturing), ARC Contracting and General Trading (construction), Almurabit Security Services, and Harlow DMCC (business consultancy) — supported by a workforce of 1,200+ professionals from over 100 nationalities. Its flagship asset is the Al Khairat Thermal Power Plant in Karbala Governorate, a 3,960 MW gross / 2,800 MW net contracted thermal power project operating on a Build-Operate-Ownership (BOO) basis, with a Power Purchase Agreement signed with the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity and a fuel supply contract with the Ministry of Oil via Karbala Refinery. The plant deploys first-in-Iraq environmental technologies including Air-Cooled Condenser (ACC), Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD), Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) wastewater treatment, and Continuous Environmental Monitoring Systems (CEMS).

The company's revenue model is hybrid and project-anchored: long-duration recurring power revenue under a sovereign PPA (BOO model); cement hardware sales from the 2 million ton/year DRC plant; smart metering hardware and services under government procurement; professional services revenue from construction contracting (ARC), security services (Almurabit, historically the exclusive provider to ExxonMobil's West Qurna 1 Oilfield), and market-entry consultancy (Harlow DMCC). Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting Iraqi government ministries (Electricity, Oil, National Investment Commission) and large international firms entering Iraq (Hanwha E&C, Korea Aerospace Industries, ExxonMobil, British Embassy). Pricing is contractually negotiated rather than publicly disclosed.

Strategically, Harlow positions itself as a one-stop platform for international investors and Iraq's public sector, leveraging 20+ years of regulatory familiarity, an integrated energy-industrial cluster anchored by the Al Khairat-Karbala Refinery fuel symbiosis, and a 100,000–150,000 unit smart meter deployment pipeline. The group's competitive advantages are regulatory depth, capital-intensive efficient scale, first-mover environmental technology deployment, and a multi-jurisdiction distribution footprint — though these are paired with high customer concentration on Iraqi sovereign offtake and significant execution risk on the Al Khairat mega-project, which only entered civil construction in 2024.

Name

Harlow Group

Legal name

Harlow Group

Website

https://harlowgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Harlow Group is a privately held Iraqi investment and development conglomerate founded in 2002, operating six subsidiaries across power generation, cement manufacturing, smart metering, construction, security, and business consultancy, serving Iraqi government ministries and international firms entering Iraq.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Infrastructure Investment & Development

NAICS

Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations (213112), Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (2379), Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Services-Engineering Services (8711), Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389)

akta.pro primary industry

OFS Engineering, Construction & O&M (Field Development, Brownfield, Maintenance) (EUALABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Construction Engineering & Constructability Consulting (BPAHAIAN), Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA), Greenfield Plant & Facility Commissioning (New Builds) (EUAEAJAA)

Keywords

• Thermal power generation
• Power infrastructure investment
• Cement manufacturing
• Construction contracting services
• Business consultancy Iraq

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Power Generation (BOO Model): Build-Operate-Ownership model for thermal power plants. The Al Khairat project operates under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Ministry of Electricity, selling 2,800 MW of net contracted capacity to the national grid. The project consumes HSFO fuel from Karbala Refinery.
2. Cement Manufacturing: DRC Cement Factory production in Najaf Governorate with annual capacity of 2 million tons per year for domestic construction market.
3. Smart Metering Solutions: Smart meter deployment and electrical services for utility modernization, supplying equipment and services to Ministry of Electricity.
4. Business Consultancy Services: Company formation, licensing, feasibility research, and logistical support for international investors entering Iraqi market through Harlow DMCC.
5. Construction Services: Construction and contracting services through ARC Contracting for government and corporate entities, including security facilities and infrastructure projects.
6. Security Services: Security services through Al-Murabit Security Services, previously contracted by ExxonMobil for West Qurna 1 Oilfield.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Harlow Group develops, invests in, and operates large-scale infrastructure projects in Iraq through a diversified portfolio of subsidiaries. The group's core offerings include thermal power generation under Build-Operate-Ownership (BOO) contracts (Al Khairat Thermal Power Plant, 2,800 MW net contracted capacity), cement manufacturing (DRC Cement Factory, 2 million tons/year), smart metering infrastructure deployment, construction contracting services, security services, and business consultancy for international investors entering the Iraqi market.

Product overview

Harlow Group operates as a diversified investment and development conglomerate in Iraq, comprising multiple subsidiary companies across distinct business sectors. The portfolio includes Harlow International Limited (power and energy projects, notably the Al Khairat Thermal Power Plant), Smart Meters Company (smart metering infrastructure and AMI solutions), DRC Cement Factory (industrial cement manufacturing), ARC/Anwar Alrisala Contracting (construction services), Almurabit Security Services (security), and Harlow DMCC (business consultancy). The group functions as a platform of integrated business units rather than a single unified product, with subsidiaries serving distinct sectors while sharing corporate infrastructure and strategic direction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Al Khairat Thermal Power Plant Iraq's largest thermal power plant project developed and owned by Harlow Group, located south of Karbala near Karbala Refinery, with gross capacity of 3,960 MW (six 660 MW units) and net contracted capacity of 2,800 MW sold to the national grid under a Power Purchase Agreement. Operates on Heavy Fuel Oil (HSFO) from Karbala Refinery and incorporates Air-Cooled Condenser (ACC), Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD), Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) wastewater treatment, and Continuous Environmental Monitoring System (CEMS) technologies. Positioned to supply over 10% of Iraq's total electricity demand.
• Smart Meters Company (Smart Meters Collection and Electrical Services Ltd) Subsidiary of Harlow Group specializing in Smart Metering infrastructure research and development, supplying smart meters and electrical services to Iraq's Ministry of Electricity for utility modernization. Plans to deploy 100,000-150,000 smart meters across Iraq as part of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and next-generation electrical grid solutions.
• DRC Cement Factory

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10% of Iraq's total electricity demand met by Al Khairat plant
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CITIC ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2020CITIC Construction is the main EPC contractor for the Al Khairat Thermal Power Plant project, responsible for design, procurement, construction, and commissioning. Harlow Group manages the project as owner/developer while CITIC executes construction.
• FichtnercoreTechnology or IntegrationGerman engineering consulting company engaged as Project Management Consultant (PMC) for the Al Khairat project, providing technical oversight and engineering expertise.
• Harlow DMCCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDubai-based subsidiary providing business consultancy services, company formation, licensing, and market entry support for international investors entering Iraq.
• Karbala RefinerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntegration with Karbala Refinery for fuel supply - the power plant consumes Heavy Fuel Oil (HSFO) produced by the refinery, creating a symbiotic relationship where the refinery's by-product fuels power generation.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ACWA Power: Saudi Arabia's largest independent power producer with a similar Build-Own-Operate model for utility-scale thermal and renewable projects across MENA; closely comparable in deploying large-scale energy infrastructure under long-duration PPAs with national utilities like Harlow's Al Khairat.
• Elsewedy Electric: Egypt-based diversified power, electrical, and industrial conglomerate operating across cables, transformers, power generation, and EPC services across MENA and Africa; comparable diversified structure spanning energy infrastructure, industrial manufacturing, and construction.
• Orascom Construction: Egypt-based MENA construction and infrastructure major with similar diversified contractor profile across power generation, industrial, and civil projects in the same regional market as Harlow.
• Saipem: Italian energy EPC contractor with extensive MENA infrastructure track record for power generation and energy projects; comparable in delivering large-scale energy infrastructure engineering and construction services to similar clients.
• Alfanar Group: Saudi Arabia-based MENA power, electrical infrastructure, and EPC developer operating across generation, distribution, and construction; directly comparable as a diversified MENA infrastructure conglomerate with a power and energy focus similar to Harlow.
• CITIC Construction: Chinese state-owned construction major serving as the current EPC contractor for Harlow's Al Khairat project; directly comparable in executing large utility-scale power infrastructure under turnkey EPC contracts in global markets.
• Hanwha E&C: Major Korean construction and EPC contractor with significant Iraq operations; partnered with Harlow on the Bismayah New City project (Iraq's largest housing project in recent history), making it a directly comparable construction-and-infrastructure peer in the same Iraqi market.
• Hyundai E&C: Major Korean EPC contractor with deep MENA infrastructure track record; was the original contractor for Al Khairat Thermal Power Plant before Cabinet Decision 107 redirected the project to Harlow, making it a directly comparable thermal power EPC peer in the Iraqi market.

Broad incumbents

• Engie: Global energy utility with significant MENA power generation operations across thermal, renewable, and services; broader portfolio than Harlow but overlapping in utility-scale IPP deployment under long-term PPAs with regional power off-takers.

Emerging players

• Masdar: Abu Dhabi-based renewable and clean energy IPP developer with a growing MENA thermal and renewable portfolio; broader infrastructure investment mandate than Harlow's current focus but converging in the same regional infrastructure-investment and IPP asset class.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Harlow_Group
• Facebookfacebook.com/harlowgroupmea
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harlow-group-of-companies
• Instagraminstagram.com/harlow_group_companies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries6 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 Harlow Group