DHL Express and Dubai-based developer SAF One have signed a first-of-its-kind offtake agreement, marking the integration of the Middle East’s first sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility into DHL’s global supply network.
Under the ten-year agreement, DHL Express will receive 25,000 metric tonnes of unblended (neat) SAF annually from SAF One’s flagship plant in Bahrain. Total deliveries are expected to reach 250,000 metric tonnes over the term of the contract, with production scheduled to commence in 2028.
The partnership is a cornerstone of DHL’s strategy to increase its use of sustainable aviation fuels to 30% by 2030. By sourcing fuel from Bahrain, DHL aims to reduce lifecycle CO2 emissions across its regional and intercontinental air networks while diversifying its global supply chain.
“Partnering with SAF One allows us to accelerate regional decarbonisation, strengthen local innovation ecosystems, and offer our customers credible and transparent emission-reduced shipping solutions,” said Abdulaziz Busbate, CEO of DHL Express MENA.
The SAF One facility in Bahrain will utilise renewable feedstocks and next-generation refining technologies to produce certified, high-quality fuel. The long-term commitment from DHL Express provides the “demand market stability” necessary to scale clean energy infrastructure in the region.
Deepak Munganahalli, Co-Founder and CEO of SAF One, expressed gratitude to Bahraini stakeholders, including BAPCO Energies and the Bahrain Economic Development Board, noting that the agreement is an “important step toward bringing a landmark sustainable aviation fuel facility to the Middle East.”
The fuel supplied through this agreement will be managed via a verified “book and claim” model. This system allows DHL to replace fossil fuels with SAF within its network and allocate the environmental benefits to customers through its GoGreen Plus service.
The approach enables businesses to reduce their indirect Scope 3 emissions even if their specific shipments are not physically transported on a SAF-powered aircraft. Travis Cobb, EVP of Global Network Operations & Aviation at DHL Express, emphasised that the deal “expands our SAF footprint geographically” and demonstrates how regional innovation can deliver global climate impact.
The partnership reinforces Bahrain’s emerging role as a hub for sustainable energy, aligning local industrial expertise with the global logistics industry’s urgent transition toward net-zero emissions.
