Emaar Hospitality Group, in partnership with Lootah Biofuels, has declared the launch of a sustainable yacht fuel service at the Dubai Marina Yacht Club and Creek Marina Yacht Club, one of the first programs of its kind in the leisure marine industry in the GCC.
The project makes both marinas one of the first in the region to switch to sustainable biofuel solutions in their recreational vessels, demonstrating the practicality of Emaar in its sustainability strategy and its adherence to the UAE Net Zero 2050 vision.
Under the partnership, the two marinas will start offering Sustainable Bio Yacht Fuel (SBYF) manufactured by Lootah Biofuels.
The source of fuel is recycled cooking oil harvested at hotels, homes, and in the integrated developments of Emaar. The process is circular as it warps waste oil into marine-grade biofuel. This is a low-carbon choice that will be available to the owners of the yachts at their home marinas.
Nicolas Belleton of Emaar Hospitality Group said, “Sustainability is at the heart of how we operate across our Marinas and Hospitality assets. By introducing Sustainable Bio Yacht Fuel, we are giving our members a tangible, responsible choice that aligns with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 goals, while setting a new standard for eco-innovation in the leisure marine sector.”
The implementation of the SBYF will be based on a phased operational rollout that will provide logistic stability, uniform fuel quality, and sustainability of the marina operations over the long term.
The row of yachts at Dubai Marina Yacht Club and Creek Marina Yacht Club will have dedicated refueling points where the club members and the owners of the yachts will be able to access the new fuel easily.
Through this program in its marina portfolio, Emaar remains responsive and regionally appropriate in decarbonization, with a focus on practical and locally-based solutions instead of widespread sustainability proposals.
The partnership also illustrates how circular economy principles can be integrated into hospitality, leisure, and marine operations. Lootah Biofuels is going to manage the collection, processing, and distribution of the SBYF to the two marinas.
The company focuses on blends of bio-diesel made out of used cooking oil, where solutions have shown significant reductions in carbon emissions over traditional marine fuels.
CEO of Lootah Biofuels, Yousif Saeed Lootah, stated, “We are proud to partner with Emaar to bring Sustainable Bio Yacht Fuel to Dubai’s Leisure Marine sector. This initiative demonstrates how locally sourced waste materials can be transformed into high-value energy solutions, supporting both environmental and operational progress across the UAE.”
In the first stage, sustainable fueling services in both marinas shall be offered on a planned basis, where expansion can be achieved with increasing demand and adoption.
Therefore, the project will have a cumulative impact on cutting the emission of CO₂ related to recreational marine activity in the area. Dubai Marina Yacht Club already has accreditation of Fish Friendly and Clean Marina, which highlights its responsible attitude towards marine practices.
The marina has also launched a sustainable drinking water initiative with air-water technology, where the humidity present in the atmosphere is converted to drinking water and has been supplying it to captains and crew over the past year.
The development of SBYF is based on this premise, which continues to promote the sustainability of Emaar in the marine leisure industry. This action is part of the wider initiative by Emaar to incorporate sustainability throughout its operations and services, offering yacht owners and members a convenient, sustainable fueling option.
Belleton added, “Our goal is to make sustainability actionable, not just aspirational. This partnership is a concrete step toward a cleaner, greener marine experience for all our guests.”
