ENOC, MENA Biofuels sign strategic agreement to accelerate SAF ecosystem in United Arab Emirates
- Emirates National Oil Co.
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Emirates National Oil Co. announced Nov. 18 that it has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with MENA Biofuels, part of the Mercantile & Maritime Group, at the Dubai Airshow 2025 to collaborate on the offtake, supply and distribution of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced in the United Arab Emirates.
“With the vision and directives of the wise leadership, the UAE has reinforced its position as a leading global hub for clean energy and advanced technologies,” said H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, chairman of ENOC Group. “Our partnership with MENA Biofuels aligns with the nation’s efforts to build an integrated SAF ecosystem that contributes to the UAE’s ‘Sustainable Aviation Fuel General Policy’ and the ‘Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.’ This agreement opens new horizons for value-chain integration within the sustainable fuel sector and enables national companies to accelerate the development of alternative solutions capable of supporting the competitiveness of the aviation industry and leading decarbonization efforts in the region and globally. The MOU also represents an important step towards enhancing our national capabilities in the large-scale production, supply and distribution of low-carbon aviation fuel, using innovative solutions that help to expedite the future transformation of the aviation sector.”
Under the MOU, ENOC and MENA Biofuels will assess opportunities to integrate SAF supply from the UAE’s first commercial-scale SAF production facility, currently under development by MENA Biofuels in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone.
The USD$300 million facility will convert used cooking oil and other waste-based feedstocks into certified SAF, producing 125 million liters (33 million gallons) annually in Phase 1, with plans to expand to 250 million liters (66 million gallons) per year in Phase 2.
The plant is expected to contribute up to 36 percent of the UAE’s 2030 SAF target, positioning Fujairah as a regional hub for low-carbon fuel innovation.
“Developing a national SAF ecosystem requires the full value chain to scale together—from production to distribution and reliable offtake,” said Hussain Sultan Lootah, the acting CEO of ENOC Group. “This partnership reflects ENOC’s alignment with the UAE's national priorities. We are focused on making SAF commercially viable and operationally sustainable.”
H.E. Mohamed Saeed Al Raqbani, the chairman of MENA Biofuels, added, “This MOU with ENOC marks an important step in establishing a fully localized SAF supply chain for the UAE. By aligning our production capabilities with ENOC’s distribution strength, we are advancing the UAE’s ‘SAF Roadmap 2030’ and accelerating the transition to low-carbon aviation.”
MENA Biofuels CEO Gati Al-Jebouri said, “Our cooperation with ENOC creates the alignment needed to scale SAF production in the UAE and turn national targets into practical supply. It helps position the country as a regional center for SAF and ensures that our output from MENA Biofuels contributes directly to the UAE’s 2030 roadmap.”
The partnership significantly bolsters the UAE’s domestic capacity to supply SAF, according to ENOC Group, not just locally but across the wider region.
“It exemplifies the critical, coordinated industry collaboration essential for rapidly scaling SAF production, distribution and adoption, paving the way for a greener future in aviation,” the company stated.
