Emirates and ENOC accelerate UAE’s ambitions for domestic sustainable aviation fuel supply

ENOC Group and Emirates have officially formed a strategic partnership, focusing on pushing forward the supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at Dubai’s busy airport hub. This is a pretty big deal, really, and marks a key step in the UAE’s efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of its aviation industry. The partnership was sealed with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the 2025 Dubai Airshow. The two parties have committed to joint feasibility studies that will look into developing the necessary supply chain infrastructure, evaluating how much SAF can be produced, and assessing whether integrating SAF into Emirates’ flights makes sense commercially.

Now, SAF has become a major player worldwide when it comes to lowering carbon emissions from planes, mainly because it can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gases by as much as 80 percent if used in its pure form. Interestingly enough, when blended with traditional jet fuel up to 50 percent, SAF acts as a fully certified drop-in replacement, meaning it can be used in existing engines without modifications, aligning well with new regulations and environmental targets, and making it a crucial part of aviation’s climate strategies globally.

Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ COO, really emphasized how essential it is to develop a trustworthy local SAF supply. He pointed out the twin challenges involved, building solid infrastructure and making sure SAF is reliably available. “Emirates is continuously exploring ways to incorporate sustainable aviation fuel into our operations,” he said, adding that this partnership with ENOC is a significant step in that ongoing journey. Meanwhile, Hussain Sultan Lootah, the CEO of ENOC Group, underlined how this effort matches the country’s wider sustainability goals, aiming for domestically produced SAF to be fully available to airlines by 2031. He called it a vital move for cutting down the overall carbon emissions of the sector.

Emirates has been quite active when it comes to SAF development. They’ve participated in various national technical working groups and committees that are focused on exploring new fuel pathways. Their commitment goes beyond discussions, they’ve even executed demonstration flights to prove that SAF can work practically. For example, back in January 2023, Emirates operated a Boeing 777 powered by one engine running on 100 percent SAF, this was the very first such flight in the Middle East and North Africa region. It proved that such operations are not just theoretical but actually feasible, and that they could significantly reduce emissions. Later that year, in November 2023, they did a similar demonstration with an A380, and also used blended SAF during flights arriving and departing from Dubai International Airport.

In terms of concrete steps, Emirates bought 7,519 tonnes of SAF across several airports during the 2024–25 financial year. This shows a real commitment to making SAF a routine part of their flights. These activities also generate data that governments and regulatory bodies can use to standardize higher SAF blend approvals, which, honestly, is really important for scaling up the use of SAF worldwide.

ENOC’s broader dedication to sustainable energy solutions was also visible at the 2025 Dubai Airshow. For instance, they supplied SAF for aircraft operated by JETEX, a leader in private aviation. This all ties into ENOC’s bigger picture efforts, like partnering with Dubai Airports to convert ground operations to biodiesel, and operating a green hydrogen fueling station at Expo City Dubai. These projects really highlight ENOC’s ambition to overhaul logistics and aviation support infrastructure with an eye toward low-carbon solutions.

Plus, ENOC recently signed a strategic MoU with MENA Biofuels to speed up the development of the UAE’s own SAF production and distribution system. This partnership supports national policies, including the UAE’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel General Policy and the Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative. Essentially, it’s about making the region more competitive in aviation while also seriously working toward decarbonization goals.

Many industry experts stress how crucial it is for Middle Eastern countries to establish local supply chains, especially given the rising demand for sustainable aviation solutions. After all, SAF production is quite complex, involving raw materials, technology, and logistics. That’s why collaborations like the one between Emirates and ENOC are so vital, they lay the groundwork for future investments needed to build the kind of infrastructure that will make locally-produced SAF available by 2031. Honestly, it’s an ambitious target, but one that seems within reach given recent progress.

The broader picture also includes successes like ground engine testing conducted on a Boeing 777-300ER in January 2023, which confirmed that 100 percent SAF can be used without affecting engine or aircraft performance. I find that pretty impressive; it supports the idea that higher SAF blends are not only feasible but practical, and it also helps shape international standards.

What’s more, ENOC’s sustainability efforts extend beyond aviation fuel alone. For example, they supply biodiesel to dnata for their entire non-electric fleet and ground handling services across UAE airports. This move is expected to cut CO₂ emissions significantly, basically, it’s like removing millions of cars from the roads each year. All this demonstrates ENOC’s multifaceted approach to sustainability, connecting innovations in fuels for air transport with wider efforts to green operations.

Together, these developments really show a strong momentum in the UAE’s quest for sustainable aviation. The partnership between Emirates and ENOC isn’t just about decarbonizing air travel with SAF; it’s about creating a resilient, domestic fuel ecosystem that could serve as a regional model. With ongoing demonstration flights, infrastructure projects, and production partnerships, the UAE is positioning itself to be a global leader in aviation sustainability, kind of blending economic growth with the urgent need for climate action.

Source: Noah Wire Services