Emirates has partnered with Shell Aviation to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its Dubai International Airport (DXB) for the first time. Under the agreement, Shell will supply over 300,000 gallons of blended SAF to Emirates for use at DXB. The initial delivery is due before the end of the year.

Emirates will use Avelia, a blockchain solution developed by Shell Aviation, Accenture, Energy Web, and American Express Global Business Travel, to track its SAF usage and make verifiable claims about emissions reductions from the fuel. Meanwhile, Shell’s corporate travel division will purchase environmental credits associated with the SAF to reduce its own carbon footprint.

Emirates President Tim Clark said the agreement was would enable greater progress on SAF adoption in the UAE and wider region. With no domestic SAF production, partnerships are key to growing supply, he said.

Earlier this year, Emirates completed the Middle East’s first flight using 100% SAF, without blending. Its first SAF-blended flight took place back in 2017 on a Chicago-Dubai route. Since then, Emirates has expanded its use of blended biofuel to flights originating from European cities, such as Lyon, Oslo, Paris, and Stockholm.