In the world of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the year 2025 marked a major turning point. Regulatory mandates came into force that require fuel suppliers to deliver prescribed amounts of SAF in certain geographies, thereby turning SAF use from an option into an obligation. Air transport companies, in turn, have had to factor mandatory SAF purchases into their efforts to comply with emissions rules all with an eye toward enhancing business value.
With still more countries announcing SAF mandates, the regulatory landscape is getting more complicated – but also more favourable, in important respects, to producers and users of SAF. For fuel suppliers and energy companies in the Middle East, the changes could expand opportunities to engage in SAF production and supply. Even if local authorities do not institute SAF mandates, mandates elsewhere might help create demand for fuels such as bio-SAF and eSAF that may be attractive to Middle Eastern producers.
These prospects underscore the need for companies to analyse their myriad regulatory commitments and to build capabilities for tracking and managing them. Here, we describe regulatory considerations that affect a company’s ability to create value through the production or use of SAF and we offer practical recommendations to help leaders realise opportunities in a complex, changing environment.
