- SAFFA Fund to invest up to $30 million in SAF One’s Middle East SAF facility, with production targeted by end-2028
- Tata Projects and Honeywell UOP selected as EPC and process technology partners for a first-of-its-kind SAF plant in the region
- Project adds momentum to global SAF scale-up as aviation faces tightening decarbonisation mandates and supply constraints
SAF One Energy Management has secured new investment and technology partners for a Middle East sustainable aviation fuel project that is expected to break ground this year, positioning the company to become an early producer of SAF in a region central to global aviation traffic.
The Dubai-based developer confirmed that the SAFFA Fund will inject up to $30 million into the project, with $10 million already committed. The remaining capital will be deployed in stages as construction advances and SAF deliveries to airlines begin. The facility is targeting commercial production by the end of 2028, although the precise site location has not yet been disclosed.
The financing decision comes as airlines face mounting regulatory and investor pressure to decarbonise, while SAF supply remains constrained globally. Middle Eastern hubs, which account for a growing share of long-haul aviation, are increasingly viewed as critical nodes for future SAF production and distribution.
Institutional capital moves into SAF supply
The SAFFA Fund is managed by Burnham Sterling Asset Management and was established to accelerate global SAF production. Its investor base includes Airbus, Air France-KLM Group, BNP Paribas, CMA-CGM, Mitsubishi HC Capital and Qantas Airways, alongside other strategic partners. Combined commitments from the fund’s eight partners total around $208 million.
“Scaling SAF globally requires collaboration across the ecosystem and SAF One is an ideal partner that has made excellent progress on its project in the Middle East,” said Michael Dickey Morgan, Executive Managing Director of Burnham Sterling. “We look forward to SAF One becoming a key supplier of SAF for the global aviation industry.”
For airlines and aircraft manufacturers, early access to SAF volumes is becoming a strategic issue as blending mandates tighten in Europe and other jurisdictions, and voluntary offtake agreements expand elsewhere.
Engineering and technology backbone
Alongside the investment, SAF One announced two major industrial partners for the project. Tata Projects, part of India’s Tata Group, has been selected as engineering, procurement and construction lead, while Honeywell UOP will supply its Ecofining process technology.
Tata Projects said its role will cover overall project integration, constructability-driven design development and execution readiness for what it described as a first-of-its-kind SAF facility in the region.
“As EPC partner, we will deliver an integrated, scalable project solution, leveraging its approach of standardised designs, advanced construction methodologies and optimised modular execution strategies,” the company said. “This approach is aimed at improving schedule predictability, optimising capital efficiency and enabling faster replication of SAF facilities across multiple geographies.”
The project will integrate proven pre-treatment and hydroprocessing technologies designed to handle multiple waste-based feedstocks while meeting ASTM D7566 SAF specifications.
“By combining standardised design philosophies with modular construction and disciplined project delivery, we aim to enable faster deployment of SAF projects globally,” said Rajiv Menon, President and COO, Energy and Industrial Business at Tata Projects.
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Proven SAF technology at scale
Honeywell’s UOP Ecofining process technology, developed with Eni, converts waste fats, oils and greases into renewable diesel and SAF and has been used in commercial SAF production since 2016.
“Our Ecofining process technology broadens the potential feedstock base for SAF and enables producers to adapt to shifting market conditions and resource availability. By leveraging our experience and continuous advancements in process engineering, we aim to make SAF production more economically feasible,” said Rajesh Gattupalli, President, Honeywell UOP.
“The installation of our Ecofining process technology with SAF One and Tata Projects demonstrates our leadership in SAF production and ability to help produce renewable fuels at scale.”
Regional ambition with global implications
SAF One has positioned the Middle East project as the first step in a broader global portfolio that also includes plans for India. Tata Projects and SAF One confirmed they are already progressing discussions on a potential Indian SAF facility.
Welcoming the investment, Mounir Kuzbari, co-founder and Executive Chair of SAF One, said he believes the project will be the first to deliver SAF from the Middle East region. Chief Executive Deepak Munganahalli framed the strategy around airline demand.
“SAF One’s mission is to deliver customised solutions to its aviation industry customers, recognising that customer adoption and support is critical to scaling SAF production globally,” he said.
Responding to the appointment of Tata Projects and Honeywell UOP, Munganahalli added: “Their techno-commercial expertise supports SAF One’s ‘design one, build many’ approach across our pipeline of SAF projects. This collaboration strengthens our platform and enables us to work with our customers on scalable long-term decarbonisation solutions.”
As governments, investors and airlines converge on SAF as aviation’s primary near-term decarbonisation lever, projects that combine committed capital, proven technology and scalable execution are likely to shape the next phase of global fuel supply.
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