The European Union and the United Arab Emirates jointly hosted a high-level session on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) as part of the Dubai Airshow 2025 Sustainability Programme, reflecting the growing international momentum to decarbonise the aviation sector.
Organised by the Delegation of the European Union to the UAE under the EU Green Diplomacy Weeks initiative, in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) and the EU-funded EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition Project, the session brought together senior policymakers, industry experts, and stakeholders to discuss scaling up sustainable fuel production, enabling policy frameworks, and strengthening cross-regional partnerships.
Discussions centred on aligning strategies to accelerate SAF adoption—a key step toward achieving net-zero aviation emissions. The dialogue highlighted the synergy between the EU’s RefuelEU Aviation Regulation, which mandates a minimum 2 percent SAF blend by 2025 rising to 70 percent by 2050, and the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative and National Hydrogen Strategy, which prioritise clean fuels within a diversified, sustainable energy mix. The ICAO’s collective global Vision, targeting a 5% reduction in CO2 emissions from international aviation by 2030 through SAF use, was also referenced.
Lucie Berger, Ambassador of the European Union to the United Arab Emirates, stated, “The European Union and the UAE share a common ambition to lead global efforts in sustainable aviation. By working together, we can unlock innovation, scale up clean fuel production, and create the partnerships needed to achieve climate neutrality.”
Saif Ghubash, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Petroleum, Gas, and Mineral Resources Sector at the MoEI, said, “Sustainable aviation fuels are essential to achieving our national net-zero goals. Through collaboration with the EU, we aim to accelerate local production, strengthen supply chains, and advance policies that support a greener aviation future.”
The session is part of the EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition Project, which promotes partnerships in energy, environment, and sustainable finance across the Gulf region, supporting shared net-zero ambitions and advancing a resilient global energy transition.
(Inputs from WAM)
