(UNITED ARAB EMIRATES) The United Arab Emirates is moving to turn its early efforts on green aviation fuel into a firm legal duty for airlines, as officials prepare a mandatory Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate that could start to reshape how carriers plan their fleets, supply chains, and ticket prices over the next few years. The new rule, now being designed with major Gulf airlines and fuel suppliers, will replace today’s softer approach and make the use of cleaner fuel in aircraft a binding requirement rather than a choice.
Current position: voluntary target and its limits
For now, the country works with a Voluntary 1% SAF blending target by 2031, which applies to total fuel supplied at UAE airports for national airlines. Under this target, at least 1% of jet fuel used should be Sustainable Aviation Fuel, and the fuel is meant to be produced locally.
Officials have made clear that this figure is only a starting point, and that the current “voluntary” nature of the goal will not last, as the government sees SAF as central to its long‑term climate and energy plans.
Production ambitions and strategic goals
The UAE wants to produce 700 million liters of SAF annually by 2030, a scale that would place it among the biggest producers in the world and give local carriers more secure access to low‑carbon fuel. This output is intended to:
- Support the early blending target
- Help build a new export market tied to the UAE’s role as a global energy and aviation hub
- Leverage both the country’s oil and gas experience and its growing clean energy sector
Analysis by VisaVerge.com indicates the plan is designed to use this combined expertise to build a stable SAF industry.
Policy context: Net Zero 2050
These moves sit inside the wider Net Zero 2050 Strategy, which sets a long‑term plan for the UAE to balance its greenhouse gas emissions with removals by mid‑century. Aviation is a major source of emissions for the country because it hosts some of the world’s busiest long‑haul hubs.
The government sees stricter rules on airline fuel as one of the clearest ways to cut climate impact without blocking travel and trade. The mandatory Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate now under discussion is expected to play a central part in how the UAE meets its mid‑century targets and supports global climate goals set through the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Key takeaway: Making SAF use mandatory would move the UAE from voluntary measures to enforceable obligations, directly affecting airlines’ procurement, pricing, and operations.
Regulatory framework and standards
Officials are drawing up a national regulatory framework for SAF that sets clear rules for:
- Production
- Supply
- Quality
This includes standards that match or go beyond those backed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for sustainability certification. Work is being coordinated with the General Civil Aviation Authority and other federal bodies to ensure airlines, fuel producers, and airports follow consistent rules once the mandate is in place.
The framework is also expected to specify:
- How airlines will prove compliance
- How the state will monitor the share of SAF in jet fuel supplied
Early pilot projects and supply chain testing
On the ground, early pilot projects already show how SAF can enter the fuel mix at scale. At ADNOC’s Ruwais refinery, co‑processing of feedstocks allows the plant to make SAF that meets international sustainability and technical standards.
This fuel is already being delivered to Abu Dhabi Airport, where it can be blended with standard jet fuel and used in regular flights without changes to engines or airport systems. While volumes are modest so far, these pilots are important for testing the full supply chain—from feedstock to refinery to pipeline to wing—in real conditions.
Airline actions and commercial deals
Major UAE carriers are also moving ahead with supply deals to prepare for tighter rules:
- Emirates has agreed a SAF purchase with Neste for more than 3 million gallons of blended fuel in 2024 and 2025, to be supplied at its main hub.
- Etihad has participated in trials and partnerships focused on cleaner fuels.
These arrangements not only cut emissions from certain flights but also help airlines learn about pricing, long‑term contracts, and the practical steps needed once the mandate becomes law.
Governance and policymaking bodies
Inside the federal system, a SAF and low‑carbon aviation fuel executive committee is driving the work forward. The committee includes:
- UAE ministries
- Aviation authorities
- Fuel producers
- Aircraft makers such as Airbus
Its role is to combine technical knowledge, market data, and policy goals so that the final mandatory Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate is both strict enough to matter and realistic enough to follow. Discussions focus on:
- Blending levels
- Timelines
- Enforcement
- Support measures (e.g., investment in new plants, incentives for local producers)
Practical impacts for airlines and travelers
While the current 1% level may sound modest, the transition from a voluntary goal to a binding duty marks a significant change in airline planning.
Once the mandate takes effect, carriers that rely on UAE airports will need to:
- Secure long‑term SAF contracts
- Adjust budgets to allow for potentially higher fuel costs in the short term
- Implement operational systems to track the exact share of sustainable fuel used
These initial costs are expected to fall as volumes grow, but early effects could include changes to:
- Ticket prices
- Route choices
- Fleet decisions
For international travelers, the shift will be largely invisible at first—aircraft and routes will remain the same. SAF is designed to work in today’s engines and supply systems. Over time, however, cost and availability of SAF, and the level of obligation on airlines, may influence where carriers base fleets and which hubs they choose.
Timeline and next steps
Government officials and industry partners are working on the detailed rules through 2025, aiming to convert the voluntary 1% target into a firm and enforceable requirement.
Once agreed, the mandatory Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate is expected to send a strong signal that the era of optional use is ending, and that cleaner fuel will become a normal part of jet operations in the UAE rather than a side project.
Quick reference table: key figures and dates
| Item | Target / Date |
|---|---|
| Voluntary blending target | 1% SAF by 2031 |
| National production ambition | 700 million liters of SAF annually by 2030 |
| Airline supply deal example | Emirates: >3 million gallons of blended fuel (2024–2025) |
| Rulemaking timeline | Detailed rules being worked on through 2025 |
| Strategic framework | UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy |
Final note
Industry watchers say the plan to produce 700 million liters of SAF annually by 2030 is particularly significant for the region. Building a large SAF industry would allow the UAE to retain a central role in aviation as global emissions demands rise, and could influence how other Gulf states design their own policies. Clear, early rules can give the UAE an advantage by providing certainty that helps both airlines and producers plan ahead.
This Article in a Nutshell
The UAE is preparing a mandatory SAF mandate to replace its voluntary 1% blending target by 2031. Officials plan to produce 700 million liters of SAF annually by 2030 and are running pilots at ADNOC’s Ruwais refinery to test co‑processing and supply chains. Airlines like Emirates have signed multi‑million gallon deals for 2024–2025. Federal bodies are drafting regulatory standards through 2025 covering production, quality, compliance and monitoring to integrate SAF into airline operations.
