Emirates and ENOC Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore and develop initiatives for the supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel to Emirates at its Dubai hub.
The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow by Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Operating Officer and Hussain Sultan Lootah, Acting CEO of ENOC Group.
The MoU creates a framework for feasibility studies to assess SAF supply opportunities in Dubai, including supply chain infrastructure, production capabilities, and viability.
Emirates partners with ENOC Group to Explore SAF Production in Dubai
The collaboration aims to explore pathways for developing SAF production and supply infrastructure in Dubai, with ENOC evaluating its potential contribution to production. A steering committee will guide the evaluation.
“Emirates continues to explore ways to integrate sustainable aviation fuel adoption in our operations, and this partnership with ENOC represents an important step in that journey. Establishing reliable SAF supply in our Dubai hub is a key priority, and this collaboration allows us to assess the most viable pathways for integration. We recognise there’s significant work ahead to address supply constraints and infrastructure requirements, but partnerships like this are essential to identifying practical solutions and building the foundation for broader SAF accessibility in Dubai and eventually across our network,” Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operating Officer said in a statement.
“At ENOC, we recognise the critical role that Sustainable Aviation Fuel plays in reducing carbon emissions across the aviation sector. This MoU with Emirates reflects our shared commitment to developing local SAF production and the infrastructure needed to make low-carbon aviation a reality. As the UAE works toward supplying 1% of jet fuel to national airlines from locally produced SAF by 2031, we believe this collaboration brings us a step closer to that goal. ENOC will continue to invest in innovation, strengthen partnerships, and explore practical pathways to build reliable SAF supply chains that support the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 ambition,” Hussain Sultan Lootah, Acting CEO of ENOC Group added.
As a fuel compatible with aircraft fleet and airport infrastructure, SAF can be blended with jet fuel at a ratio of up to 50 per cent, creating an aviation fuel that is lower in lifecycle carbon emissions.
In its neat form, SAF can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80 per cent compared to jet fuel. The figures are calculated with established life cycle assessment methodologies, such as CORSIA methodology.
Dubai hub to explore sustainable aviation fuel supply through Emirates-ENOC deal
Emirates is engaged in advancing the UAE’s SAF ecosystem through membership in the Technical Group under the Aviation Fuels Executive Committee, convened by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, and the Dubai Biofuels, Hydrogen and Sustainable Aviation Fuel Committee, established by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy.
The airline has contributed to the UAE’s General Policy for Sustainable Aviation Fuel, which aims to transform the UAE into a hub for aviation fuels with production targets of 700 million litres by 2030.
Emirates and the UAE GCAA have played roles in developing the UAE’s power-to-liquid fuels roadmap, driven by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the World Economic Forum.
Emirates spearheaded SAF demonstration flights on its Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft. In January 2023, the airline operated a Boeing 777 flight using 100 per cent SAF in one engine, and in November 2023 conducted the first A380 demonstration flight using 100 per cent SAF in one of its four engines.
That same month, Emirates operated flights with SAF from Dubai International Airport using 315,000 gallons of blended SAF integrated into the airport’s fuel infrastructure.
During its 2024-25 financial year, the airline procured 7,519 tonnes of SAF at airports across its network, including Amsterdam, London Heathrow, Oslo, Singapore, Paris, Lyon and Nice.
