MENA Biofuels Advances UAE’s First Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant in Fujairah

One year after its concept debut at ADIPEC 2024, MENA Biofuels, part of the Mercantile & Maritime Group, has officially begun implementing the UAE’s first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) facility in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) — a key stride toward the nation’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Roadmap 2030 and Net Zero 2050 goals.

The USD 200 million Phase I investment will produce 125 million litres per year, meeting nearly 18% of the UAE’s 2030 SAF target. A subsequent Phase II, valued at an additional USD 100 million, will double production to 250 million litres annually, supporting regional exports and contributing up to 36% of the national target. The plant will transform used cooking oil and waste-based feedstocks into internationally certified sustainable aviation fuel.

Over the past year, MENA Biofuels has completed a feasibility study, secured land adjacent to MENA Terminals from the Government of Fujairah, appointed Dynatron FZE as Project Manager, and onboarded top local and international partners for environmental assessment, policy guidance, and technology development.

At ADIPEC 2025, the company signed a strategic MoU with Emirates Petroleum Company PJSC (Emarat), in the presence of H.E. Suhail Mohamed Al-Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, to enable domestic SAF offtake and distribution across the UAE and GCC aviation markets. A similar agreement is planned for signing at the upcoming Dubai Airshow.

To accelerate implementation, MENA Biofuels has launched its first Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Commissioning (EPCC) tender, covering feedstock, SAF, and by-product storage and distribution facilities — the project’s logistical backbone. A second EPCC package for the SAF refinery process units is scheduled for Q1 2026.

“By backing a UAE-built SAF stream in FOIZ, we are creating domestic capacity that airlines can count on — advancing the SAF Roadmap 2030 and Net Zero 2050 while keeping value, jobs, and know-how in the UAE,” said H.E. Ali Khalifa Al Shamsi, CEO of Emarat.

Captain Salem Al Afkham, Director of FOIZ, added: “The UAE’s first SAF plant marks a defining milestone for Fujairah and the nation — moving us toward a diversified, sustainable energy ecosystem.”

H.E. Mohamed Saeed Al-Raqbani, Chairman of MENA Biofuels, noted: “In just one year, we’ve moved from announcement to implementation — demonstrating the UAE’s commitment to clean energy leadership.”

With Fujairah evolving from one of the world’s top oil storage hubs into a fully integrated clean-fuels ecosystem, MENA Biofuels is set to position the UAE as a regional leader in sustainable aviation fuel production, ensuring a reliable domestic SAF supply for airlines across the UAE, GCC, and beyond.