Cooling roofs around the world for decades

By Emma Peterson.

Learn why cities around the world, like Dubai, choose Topps Products for their roofs.

Nestled along the shore of the Persian Gulf sits the stunning city of دبي, in English, Dubai. One of the wealthiest of the emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE) federation, Dubai has long been known as the premier port city of the Middle East. Boasting comparisons to cities such as Singapore and Hong Kong, Dubai is a city of skyscrapers full of business, ports of trade and beaches that are the highlight of any tourist’s itinerary. Within the city, there is an incredible mixture of tradition and technology. One example of this is Dubai Internet City (DIC).

The DIC is the region’s leading tech business park. According to Locatina, it emerged out of unique economic zoning that aimed to foster the growth of information technology and communication companies. DIC’s official website describes the goals of the area, “We believe innovation is not a formula, it’s a collective effort and nobody does it better than our tech community comprising brilliant minds and businesses collaborating to write themselves into history. To meet the diverse needs of today’s modern businesses, Dubai Internet City offers a range of commercial spaces, facilities, business services and more.”  

But even the best developers in the world can’t change the climate, and Dubai’s certainly brings unique challenges, especially if you’re trying to keep technology cool. Like most of the area along the Persian Gulf, Dubai experiences year-round heat. The coldest this area gets is in January with lows around 49°F (15°C). Alternatively, the hottest temperatures can reach 104°F (40°C) in summer months like July. Because of this, sustainability and energy efficiency are a huge emphasis in Dubai and DIC. According to Middle East Economy, Dubai aims to “become one of the world’s most environmentally resilient cities and set an example for sustainable urban development. The establishment of this authority aligns with the UAE’s objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.”

This drive for sustainability is why many leading, multinational companies in the city have chosen to work with Topps Products, Inc. for over 40 years. Topps' high-performance roof coatings are known in the roofing industry for being incredibly energy efficient options. According to their website, “The Topps Seal® white roofing coating is an ENERGY STAR® certified product and has been proven to reduce rooftop temperatures by as much as 50°F (10°C). Less heat on top means less heat to radiate inside your building, thus resulting in more energy savings. Elimination of solar radiation also protects your roof from thermal movement, which is the most common cause of roof failure and premature breakdown.”

And the DIC is not the only area using Topps coatings to create more sustainable and energy-efficient buildings. Just in March 2024, The Coffee Shops got the chance to host Topps President and CEO, James T. Thomas, for an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. He shared some of the other places that have used Topps Products on the roof to make a healthier environment, “Our products are throughout every extreme climate imaginable, we've done the research station in Antarctica, several buildings and the Sony buildings in Dubai, and over to Saudi Arabia... We worked on an outdoor market in Da Nang, Vietnam and in Bamako, Mali, in Africa, we did the Mercy House projects there, cooling, providing thermal comfort. People felt the difference right away, they got it.”

To learn more about Topps Products and how their products are used around the world for sustainability initiatives, check out the full interview with James or their Coffee Shops Directory!  

Image sources in order of appearance: Dubai Internet City, Britannica, Dubai Internet City and Topps Products