United Arab Emirates Aerospace and Defense Sustainable Aviation Fuel

The UAE is keenly interested to become a global leader in the area of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) – creating opportunities for U.S. companies.

The UAE is an oil-rich nation that aims to reach net zero emissions by 2050. With the UAE’s strong focus on sustainability and green energy in the nation’s vision, the two flagship UAE airlines, Etihad and Emirates, have been joining efforts with local stakeholders, global players, and U.S. companies to reduce CO₂ emissions from the aviation sector and develop SAF technologies and solutions. 

Etihad Airways was the first to fly the world’s first passenger flight using sustainable fuel made from a plant called Salicornia that grows in saltwater. Etihad Airways is looking to achieve 20% reduction in emissions by 2025 and zero net carbon emissions by 2050. In 2023, Emirates Airlines became the first passenger airline in the world to operate one of the two GE engines of a Boeing 777-300 with 100% SAF. 

Both Etihad and Emirates are contributing to aviation industry knowledge on SAF and provide data to demonstrate the use of higher blends of SAF, which now stands at up to 50% with conventional jet fuel.

The UAE is hosting the COP28 U.N. climate conference from November 30 to December 12, 2023 – and the UAE has designated 2023 as the Year of Sustainability. This focus on sustainability is also helping to build momentum for SAF development.

For more information on SAF, please refer to the Aviation Section of the UAE Country Commercial Guide or contact Office.AbuDhabi@trade.gov. 

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Dubai Airshow 2023
November 13-17, 2023