DHL Express has signed an agreement with Dubai-based SAF One to secure supplies of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), marking its first such partnership in the Middle East.
Under the long-term deal, DHL will have access to 25,000 metric tonnes of unblended SAF annually, amounting to 250,000 metric tonnes over a 10-year period. The fuel will be produced at SAF One’s upcoming facility in Bahrain, with production expected to begin in 2028, aircargo news reported.
The agreement is expected to help reduce lifecycle carbon emissions across DHL’s regional and international air network. It also supports the company’s target of increasing SAF use to 30 per cent by 2030.
Abdulaziz Busbate said the partnership highlights the growing role of the Middle East in advancing lower-emission aviation and will help strengthen regional innovation while offering customers cleaner shipping options.
Travis Cobb said the deal expands the company’s SAF sourcing and improves supply resilience, adding that regional initiatives can contribute to global climate goals.
DHL said the SAF volumes will be distributed using a “book and claim” system, allowing customers to benefit from emission reductions even if the fuel is not used directly on their shipment routes.
The company will include these reductions under its GoGreen Plus programme, which offers lower-emission logistics solutions by using sustainable fuels and other cleaner technologies.
