Masdar and Tadweer Group has signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to progress the development of the first commercial-scale Waste-to-Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) project in Abu Dhabi.
Located in Abu Dhabi, the plant will convert around 500,000 tons of waste into SAF per year, using a hybrid production pathway that combines renewable energy-powered electrolysis to produce green hydrogen and waste gasification turning syngas into SAF through various proven chemical processes.
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) can cut lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80 percent compared with conventional jet fuel, based on International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates.
The project is a key enabler of multiple UAE priorities, including the General Policy for SAF, Abu Dhabi’s Low-Carbon Hydrogen Policy, the National Hydrogen Strategy, the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy, and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative. By converting waste into clean energy, it will support Tadweer Group’s goal of diverting 80 percent of Abu Dhabi’s waste from landfill by 2030 while building new value chains in waste management, green hydrogen, and renewable fuels.
IATA data states that once operational, the project is expected to serve multiple markets, positioning Abu Dhabi as a regional hub for SAF and supporting the decarbonization of a sector that accounted for over 18 percent of the UAE’s GDP in 2023.
Ali Al Dhaheri MD and CEO – Tadweer Group
“This agreement marks a pivotal step in Tadweer Group’s mission to unlock waste as a valuable resource with the potential to be converted to key energy resources. Partnering with Masdar, we are advancing the UAE’s leadership in clean energy innovation by transforming waste into SAF, a vital product for maintaining a cleaner environment.”
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, has reaffirmed Masdar’s commitment to accelerating the global energy transformation through strategic partnerships and innovative solutions designed around customer needs. He underscored that the project will further strengthen the UAE’s leadership in sustainable aviation, nurturing the growth of a sector that is central to the nation’s economic development while simultaneously advancing its decarbonization efforts.
Building on Masdar’s strength in renewable energy and hydrogen and Tadweer Group’s proven ability to turn waste into value, the project will cement the UAE’s role as a pioneer in clean energy innovation. It supports Abu Dhabi’s ambition to lead in low‑carbon fuel production by creating powerful synergies across renewable energy, waste valorization and sustainable transport.
