Dubai Airports Leader Tapped to Accelerate Global Sustainable Aviation Fuel Push

The Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Airports, Paul Griffiths, was appointed as the new CEO Champion of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Pathfinder Initiative, a global effort to accelerate the adoption and scaling of sustainable aviation fuels. The initiative brings together public-sector leaders, policymakers and industry stakeholders to tackle aviation’s significant carbon footprint by expanding SAF production and market uptake.

The SAF Pathfinder Initiative aims to address key barriers in the aviation industry’s transition to lower-carbon operations, including mobilising investment, generating demand signals, advocating for policy alignment and supporting infrastructure development. SAF is widely regarded as one of the most effective near-term options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from air travel, as it can cut lifecycle emissions significantly compared with conventional jet fuel.

Griffiths’ leadership role reflects Dubai’s increasing engagement in sustainability and green innovation within the aviation sector. Under his tenure, Dubai Airports has enhanced its sustainability credentials through cross-industry collaborations, strategic partnerships and infrastructure improvements at major hubs, reflecting a broader regional commitment to environmentally responsible aviation development.

Industry participants see the initiative as a critical step in aligning public-sector climate ambitions with tangible decarbonisation pathways for the global aviation sector. By promoting regulatory coherence, facilitating investment and encouraging coordinated action across the value chain, the SAF Pathfinder Initiative aims to help meet long-term climate targets while supporting continued growth in air travel.

Dubai Airports' leadership in global SAF advocacy will shape how airport-level procurement, blending infrastructure and levy structures evolve, which affects every airline operating through the region. Our energy-transition and supply-chain-and-operations teams help clients evaluate SAF-linked positioning and cross-jurisdiction fuel strategy.