The European Union and the United Arab Emirates jointly convened a high-level session on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) as part of the Dubai Airshow 2025 Sustainability Program, highlighting the growing momentum for international cooperation on decarbonizing 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.
Participants exchanged insights on scaling up sustainable fuel production, enabling policy frameworks, and strengthening cross-regional partnerships.
Discussions focused on aligning strategies to accelerate the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels, which is a crucial step toward achieving net-zero emissions in aviation.The dialogue highlighted the complementarity between the EU’s RefuelEU Aviation Regulation, which requires a minimum 2 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blend by 2025, rising to 70 percent by 2050, and the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative and National Hydrogen Strategy, both of which prioritise clean fuels within a diversified and sustainable energy mix.
It also emphasized alignment with ICAO’s global vision to reduce CO₂ emissions in international aviation by 5 percent by 2030 through increased use of SAF.
Lucie Berger Ambassador of European Union United Arab Emirates
“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 that, “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 forms part of a broader efforts of the EU under the EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition Project, which promotes partnerships on energy, environment, and sustainable finance across the Gulf region, contributing to shared net-zero ambitions and a more resilient global energy transition.
