Global logistics company DHL Express has announced a significant milestone in its sustainability efforts by signing a ten-year agreement with Dubai-based sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer SAF One. Under the terms of the deal, DHL will purchase 250,000 metric tons of SAF, equivalent to approximately 327 million liters, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2028. This marks DHL's first offtake agreement for SAF in the Middle East and demonstrates its commitment to reducing aviation-related emissions.
The fuel will be produced at SAF One’s advanced facility in Bahrain, which utilizes renewable feedstocks and cutting-edge refining technology to deliver high-quality, scalable, and certified sustainable aviation fuel. DHL plans to incorporate 25,000 metric tons of SAF annually into its regional and global air freight operations, supporting its goal to increase the use of sustainable fuels to 30% by 2030.
Deepak Munganahalli, Co-Founder and CEO of SAF One, expressed optimism about the partnership, stating, "We are grateful to DHL Express for entering into this offtake agreement with us, which is an important step toward bringing a landmark sustainable aviation fuel facility to the Middle East."
This initiative is part of DHL's broader Sustainability Roadmap launched in 2021, aiming to invest approximately €7 billion over ten years to cut its CO2 emissions. The company targets expanding its zero-emissions fleet, increasing the use of alternative aviation fuels, and achieving climate-neutral buildings. Interim targets include increasing sustainable fuel usage across all transportation modes and electrifying two-thirds of last-mile delivery vehicles by 2030.
DHL highlighted that the SAF will also bolster its GoGreen Plus service, enabling customers to offset their Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas emissions via a verified book-and-claim model. This allows for emission reductions even on routes not directly powered by SAF. Abdulaziz Busbate, CEO of DHL Express MENA, emphasized the importance of regional decarbonization efforts, stating, "Partnering with SAF One allows us to accelerate regional decarbonization, strengthen local innovation ecosystems, and offer our customers credible and transparent emission-reduced shipping solutions. This agreement symbolizes our long-standing commitment to Bahrain and across the region."
