DHL Express Signs Bahrain SAF Uptake Agreement with SAF One

DHL Express has announced the signing of a Bahrain SAF uptake agreement with SAF One, bringing the first sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility in the Middle East into DHL's global SAF supply network.

A DHL Cargo Plane Being Refueled - Courtesy DHL Express

On Tuesday (May 12, 2026), DHL Express announced the signing of a landmark SAF uptake agreement in Bahrain with Dubai-based next generation SAF developer SAF One.  This brings the first sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility in the Middle East into DHL’s global SAF supply network. Under the agreement, DHL Express will receive long-term access to 25,000 metric tons of unblended (neat) SAF annually, a total of 250,000 metric tons over a ten-year term from start of production, planned from 2028.  The SAF will be produced at SAF One’s flagship plant in Bahrain, enabling measurable lifecycle CO₂ reductions across DHL's regional and intercontinental air network. 

In Tuesday’s announcement, DHL Express’ CEO – MENA, Abdulaziz Busbate, said,

“We are proud to see the Middle East playing a central role in the global shift toward emission-reduced aviation.  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.”

Also commenting on the landmark SAF uptake agreement, DHL Express’ EVP – Global Network Operations & Aviation, Travis Cobb, said,

“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.  This agreement not only expands our SAF footprint geographically but also strengthens our resilience by diversifying our sourcing. Collaborating with SAF One demonstrates how regional innovation can deliver global climate impact.”

SAF One’s Co-Founder and CEO, Deepak Munganahalli, added,

“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.  We would also like to thank all stakeholders in Bahrain who actively supported this project, including BAPCO Energies and the Bahrain Economic Development Board.”

The SAF One production facility in Bahrain is one of the most advanced SAF plants in the region, utilizing renewable feedstocks and next generation refining technologies designed to deliver high quality, scalable, and certified sustainable aviation fuel.  DHL Express’ long-term uptake agreement provides crucial demand market stability and supports the continued growth of clean energy infrastructure across the Middle East.  This reinforces DHL Express’ strategy to collaborate closely with leading SAF producers worldwide to secure reliable, long-term access to sustainable fuels.  The SAF supplied under this agreement will be allocated globally through a verified book and claim model, enabling customers to reduce Scope 3 emissions even on routes not directly fueled with SAF.

Ensuring transparent delivery of emissions reductions to customers, DHL integrates the SAF volumes into their decarbonization offering through GoGreen Plus.  DHL’s GoGreen Plus products provide decarbonized solutions across the company’s core offerings by leveraging sustainable fuels and low carbon technologies.  The products are based on true value chain decarbonization enabled by the ‘book and claim’ approach.  This allows DHL to directly replace fossil fuels with sustainable fuels within their network and allocate the environmental benefits to paying customers, even when their shipments are not physically transported using assets powered by these fuels.

Source: DHL Express