Public Policy Document

In 2023, the UAE Federal Government issued the General Policy for Sustainable Aviation Fuel as part of its efforts to address the challenges facing the energy transition in the aviation sector. This policy aims to unify the mechanisms to tackle these challenges and encourage the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel both domestically and internationally. This is due to the pivotal role the aviation sector plays in the continuous growth of the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE is actively participating in the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The government adopted the decision for aviation sector climate neutrality at the end of 2022 and the National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Roadmap in January 2023, as part of its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation sector in the UAE.

1. Raise the local production capacity of sustainable aviation fuel to 700 million liters annually by 2030 and increase production rates according to growth rates and aviation requirements.
2. Support research, development, and demonstration of sustainable aviation fuel technologies by 2025 and encourage investment in the production of sustainable aviation fuel domestically and globally. 
3. Establish a national regulatory environment to support sustainable aviation fuel production plants and align them with local and international objectives.
4. Build local capacities to enhance In-Country Value.
5. Lead international collaboration in the sector through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and support renewable fuel and energy projects in other countries.

1. Support production and usage of SAF within the UAE: 
   • When a certified Sustainable Aviation Fuel producer is ready and capable of producing sustainable aviation fuel in the UAE; and when UAE airlines are willing to use it at the country's airports; all airports and fuel suppliers must collaborate with and support the sustainable aviation fuel producer as follows: 
     • The targeted airport ensures timely construction of appropriate facilities and infrastructure for receiving, storing, and distributing or loading sustainable aviation fuel.
     • Facilitating the delivery of sustainable aviation fuel storage areas at the airports.
     • Sustainable aviation fuel producers and suppliers manage the blending process of sustainable and conventional fuels according to approved ratios in the sustainable aviation fuel policy of the country.
     • Fuel suppliers must provide comprehensive sustainability documentation to aircraft operators purchasing sustainable aviation fuel.
2. Support production within the UAE and utilization in international markets: 
   • When a certified Sustainable Aviation Fuel producer is ready and capable of producing sustainable aviation fuel in the UAE; and when the buyer is ready to receive it at an export terminal or port in the UAE, the export terminal or port and fuel supplier must collaborate with the sustainable aviation fuel producer to support export of such fuel as follows:
     • The targeted export station or port ensures timely construction of appropriate facilities and infrastructure for receiving, storing, and loading sustainable aviation fuel.
   • Fuel suppliers facilitate the delivery of sustainable aviation fuel from the delivery point to the export station or port, including blending if necessary, and certify sustainable aviation fuel or blends. Technical certification, sustainability certification (by ICAO), and licensing certification accredited by the licensing authority according to required international standards must be addressed.

1. Achieving the goal of providing 700 million liters of sustainable aviation fuel by 2030 will yield significant environmental and economic benefits. 
2. It will create new jobs across the value chain. 
3. The sustainable aviation fuel will be produced at three to five production plants, potentially using different development pathways, such as using plants grown in saltwater by the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC), and the construction of an alternative solid waste recycling project. 
4. The policy includes a voluntary target: by 2031, locally produced sustainable aviation fuel should represent at least 1% of the fuel used by the national airlines at the airports in the UAE. 

Energy companies, waste management companies, petroleum companies, local authorities, ports, universities or national research centers, airlines, banks or financial institutions, and national airports.