Power-to-Liquids Roadmap: Fuelling the Aviation Energy Transition in the United Arab Emirates

The report argues that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is uniquely positioned to lead the power-to-liquids (PtL) industry due to its high solar efficiency and existing hydrocarbon infrastructure. Because the UAE lacks the biological feedstock required for traditional sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), PtL—which synthesizes fuel from renewable electricity, hydrogen, and captured carbon—is presented as the most viable path to net-zero aviation. The report projects that by 2050, the UAE could produce up to 11 million tonnes of PtL SAF, potentially replacing 73% of conventional jet fuel. This transition is estimated to be economically feasible if the value of avoided carbon is recognized, and could sustain up to 1.42 million jobs. The roadmap recommends government-led funding for demonstration facilities, R&D support, and revenue mechanisms like contracts for difference to attract the estimated $65 billion in required capital.

• The United Arab Emirates faces a critical shortage of biological resources, making traditional waste-to-fuel sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) pathways insufficient to meet its decarbonization needs.
• Aviation fuel consumption in the UAE is projected to nearly double by 2050, increasing from 7.9 million tonnes in 2019 to 15.9 million tonnes.
• The UAE possesses some of the world's highest solar photovoltaic (PV) efficiencies, which can provide a low-cost energy foundation for PtL production.
• The report identifies a 'High' demand scenario where the UAE produces 11.2 million tonnes of PtL SAF by 2050, replacing approximately 73% of conventional jet fuel to align with net-zero ambitions.
• While PtL fuel is currently more expensive than fossil fuels, the combined cost of the fuel and the value of avoided carbon is expected to make PtL cheaper than fossil jet fuel by 2050.
• The development of a large-scale PtL industry could create and sustain up to 1.42 million jobs in the UAE by 2050 across the aviation, power, and construction sectors.
• The total capital expenditure required to build the necessary electricity, carbon capture, and fuel production infrastructure is estimated at up to $65 billion over three decades.
• PtL production is estimated to have a minimal impact on the UAE's water scarcity, with the most ambitious scenario requiring less than 1% of national water demand by 2050.
• The UAE can leverage its industrial sector, particularly cement and steel, to provide point source carbon capture (PSC) as a transition feedstock before scaling direct air capture (DAC).

APA

World Economic Forum (2022). Power-to-Liquids Roadmap: Fuelling the Aviation Energy Transition in the United Arab Emirates. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_UAE_Power_to_Liquid_Roadmap_2022.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Power-to-Liquids Roadmap: Fuelling the Aviation Energy Transition in the United Arab Emirates. 2022. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_UAE_Power_to_Liquid_Roadmap_2022.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Power-to-Liquids Roadmap: Fuelling the Aviation Energy Transition in the United Arab Emirates |date=July 2022 |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_UAE_Power_to_Liquid_Roadmap_2022.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2022powertoliquids, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Power-to-Liquids Roadmap: Fuelling the Aviation Energy Transition in the United Arab Emirates}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2022}, month = jul, url = {https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_UAE_Power_to_Liquid_Roadmap_2022.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }