ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) and Evolve Fuels AG, a company of the Smartenergy Group, have signed a strategic collaboration agreement at ADIPEC 2026 to explore investment opportunities and the potential development of synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) production in Abu Dhabi.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The agreement establishes three key areas of cooperation: connecting potential Abu Dhabi investors and partners with Evolve Fuels’ international project pipeline, supporting the development of policy and regulatory frameworks for e-SAF, and developing a strategy and roadmap for potential e-SAF production in the Emirate.
Under the collaboration, both parties will assess the technical and commercial feasibility of producing e-SAF in Abu Dhabi, leveraging the Emirate’s renewable energy, hydrogen and carbon capture resources. The assessment will cover infrastructure and technology requirements, potential industrial partners, future customers and opportunities for investment, knowledge exchange, technology transfer and local capacity building.
A joint steering committee will also be established to oversee the assessment of potential initiatives and projects.
The agreement comes amid growing efforts by the global aviation industry to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels. e-SAF is produced using renewable electricity, hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide, offering a potential pathway to reduce aviation-related emissions. Increasing fuel requirements in Europe and the UK are expected to drive demand for these fuels, creating new investment and industrial development opportunities.
For Abu Dhabi, the partnership represents an opportunity to expand its clean energy and advanced technology sectors, attract international investment and strengthen its position in the emerging sustainable aviation fuel market. It also supports the Department of Energy’s broader efforts to establish enabling policies and regulatory frameworks that encourage innovation, facilitate investment and advance the Emirate’s long-term energy and economic priorities.
H.E. Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Obaidli, Director General of Regulatory Affairs at the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, said the agreement would help assess how Abu Dhabi’s energy resources and industrial capabilities could contribute to the development of the sustainable aviation fuel market.
He noted that the collaboration would create opportunities for investment and technology partnerships, while focusing on establishing the regulatory and commercial foundations necessary to ensure that future projects are competitive, practical and capable of delivering long-term value.
Horst H. Mahmoudi, CEO and Executive Chairman of Smartenergy, said Evolve Fuels serves as an investment platform that aggregates and accelerates e-SAF projects, initially in Europe, at a time when the market requires greater scale and speed.
He said the agreement would open Evolve Fuels’ international project pipeline to Abu Dhabi investors and partners while enabling both sides to evaluate the potential for local e-SAF production by utilising the Emirate’s renewable energy, Power-to-X (PtX) and carbon capture resources.
Mahmoudi added that the company aims to help position Abu Dhabi as a leading global player in the rapidly expanding e-SAF market, particularly as sustainable aviation fuel mandates in Europe and the UK come into effect.
The next phase of cooperation will focus on identifying priority opportunities and evaluating the technical, commercial and regulatory requirements for potential projects. Any future investments or production facilities will remain subject to further assessment and separate agreements to ensure alignment with market demand, commercial viability and Abu Dhabi’s long-term industrial priorities.
