DHL Express signs ten-year offtake deal with SAF One

Ready for take off! A DHL cargo plane is refueled at DHL's largest hub in Leipzig. As part of DHL's sustainability strategy, the proportion of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) is to reach 30 percent by 2030. Contact: [email protected]

DHL Express has signed a ten-year offtake agreement with Dubai-based SAF developer SAF One, securing 25,000 metric tons of unblended sustainable aviation fuel per year from the first SAF production facility in the Middle East.

The deal covers a total of 250,000 metric tons over the contract period, with production at SAF One’s flagship plant in Bahrain expected to begin in 2028.

The agreement forms part of DHL’s target to increase SAF usage to 30% of its fuel mix by 2030.

“By integrating the first SAF plant in the Middle East into our global supply chain, we are taking another major step toward making sustainable aviation the new normal,” said Travis Cobb, EVP Global Network Operations and Aviation at DHL Express. “This agreement not only expands our SAF footprint geographically but also strengthens our resilience by diversifying our sourcing.”

The SAF will be allocated globally through a book and claim model, allowing DHL to assign the environmental benefits to customers even on routes not directly fuelled with SAF. The volumes will be integrated into DHL’s GoGreen Plus decarbonisation offering, enabling customers to reduce Scope 3 emissions and support their own greenhouse gas reporting.

“We are proud to see the Middle East playing a central role in the global shift toward emission-reduced aviation,” said Abdulaziz Busbate, CEO of DHL Express MENA. “This agreement symbolises our long-standing commitment to Bahrain and across the region.”

Deepak Munganahalli, co-founder and CEO of SAF One, said the offtake agreement is a key step toward bringing the facility to fruition, and thanked regional stakeholders including BAPCO Energies and the Bahrain Economic Development Board for their support.