By Staff Reporter
The UAE has reaffirmed its global leadership in sustainable aviation with the submission of its third State Action Plan for Reducing Aviation Emissions to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), underscoring its long-term commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation in the sector.
Rooted in the environmental vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE has integrated sustainability into its national identity and civil aviation strategy. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) detailed the country’s progress in its new report, “An Inside Look at Civil Aviation in the UAE,” highlighting over 15 years of continuous action toward greener skies.
The UAE was among the first countries to voluntarily adopt the ICAO’s global carbon offsetting scheme, CORSIA, in 2020, and launched the region’s first digital platform to support its implementation in 2024. The country’s regulatory frameworks now promote low-carbon aviation fuels and cross-sector collaboration to advance sustainability.
As Vice Chair of two ICAO environmental committees, the UAE plays a key role in shaping global aviation policy. Nationally, it aims to produce 700 million liters of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) annually by 2030 under its Net Zero by 2050 Strategy, potentially cutting emissions by 4.8 million tonnes of CO2.
Recent initiatives include partnerships with ADNOC, BP, Masdar, Emirates, Etihad, and Shell Aviation to expand SAF production, hydrogen projects, and contrail management. The GCAA has also joined Volar Air Mobility to establish the UAE’s first Green Aviation Technology Hub, supporting clean energy research and innovation.
Through visionary policies, industry collaboration, and international engagement, the UAE continues to shape a more sustainable and forward-looking global aviation landscape.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
