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The agreement covers three primary areas of cooperation, according to the Department of Energy. These include connecting potential investors and partners based in Abu Dhabi with Evolve Fuels’ international project pipeline, supporting the development of policy and regulatory frameworks for e-SAF, and exploring a strategy along with a roadmap for production of the fuel in the emirate. A joint steering committee will be formed to oversee assessments of potential initiatives and projects. The collaboration will examine the technical and commercial feasibility of producing e-SAF in Abu Dhabi using the emirate’s renewable energy, hydrogen and carbon capture resources.
Synthetic sustainable aviation fuel can be manufactured using electricity from renewable sources together with hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide, the Department of Energy statement explained. New fuel requirements in Europe and the United Kingdom are anticipated to drive higher demand for this fuel type in coming years. The aviation sector continues to seek methods for cutting emissions while satisfying increasing fuel requirements, industry analyses show.
Horst H. Mahmoudi, CEO and Executive Chairman of Smartenergy, said in the announcement, “Through this agreement with the Department of Energy, we are opening our project pipeline to Abu Dhabi investors and partners, while jointly evaluating the potential for e-SAF production in Abu Dhabi, building on the Emirate’s renewable energy, PtX and carbon capture resources.” Evolve Fuels AG operates as a subsidiary of the Smartenergy Group. The pact was concluded on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference.
The UAE has established a target to produce 700 million litres of sustainable aviation fuel each year by 2030, a government roadmap indicates. The country additionally pursues a voluntary target of 1 percent SAF in fuel supplied to national airlines at UAE airports by 2031, according to the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. These objectives support the nation’s commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
MarketsandMarkets data places the UAE sustainable aviation fuel market at 79.5 million dollars in 2026 with a projection to reach 780 million dollars by 2031 at a compound annual growth rate of 57.9 percent. This expansion rate exceeds the global average, the assessment found. Multiple projects are advancing across the country, among them a commercial-scale waste-to-SAF facility under development in Abu Dhabi by Masdar and Tadweer Group.
The agreement will evaluate infrastructure needs, technology specifications, potential industry partners and prospective customers, the Department of Energy reported. It will additionally consider prospects for investment alongside knowledge and technology transfer to build local capabilities. The development forms part of wider initiatives to establish the UAE as a hub for sustainable fuel output in the region.
