Post by : Badri Ariffin

MENA Biofuels, part of the Mercantile & Maritime Group, has begun implementing the UAE’s first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production facility in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) — a milestone in the nation’s journey toward cleaner skies and Net Zero 2050.

The plant will transform used cooking oil and waste-based feedstocks into internationally certified SAF, directly supporting the UAE’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Roadmap 2030.

In its first phase, the facility will produce 125 million litres of SAF annually, meeting around 18% of the UAE’s 2030 target. A second phase will double capacity to 250 million litres per year, contributing up to 36% of the nation’s SAF goal. The total investment stands at US$300 million across both phases.

Over the past year, MENA Biofuels has swiftly moved from concept to reality — completing feasibility studies, securing land adjacent to MENA Terminals from the Government of Fujairah, and appointing Dynatron FZE as project manager. The company also finalised topographic and hydrological surveys, engaged MUC Engineering for environmental studies, and selected an international technology provider to power the conversion process.

Momentum built further during ADIPEC 2025, where MENA Biofuels signed a strategic offtake MoU with Emarat in the presence of UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei. A similar agreement is expected at the Dubai Airshow, setting the stage for a home-grown SAF supply chain.

To advance construction, MENA Biofuels has issued the first Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning (EPCC) tender for the facility’s feedstock receiving, storage, and distribution infrastructure. The second EPCC tender, covering the SAF refinery units and supporting systems, will follow in Q1 2026 — marking a key step toward full-scale implementation.

Located in one of the world’s leading oil and bunkering hubs, the Fujairah facility positions the emirate at the forefront of clean fuel innovation. As the UAE accelerates efforts to decarbonise aviation and diversify its energy mix, the project underlines a clear message — the nation’s sustainable future is already in motion.

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