Middle East and Africa The Middle East offers promising potential for clean fuels to be unlocked by policy measures, while efforts to scale up the development and certification of low-carbon aviation fuels (LCAF) continue. UAE’s government has publicly discussed its ongoing work to introduce a SAF mandate,81 while the Gulf Cooperation Council recently launched a unified Civil Aviation Authority to promote harmonized aviation regulations across states, which could pave the way to better policy integration across the region. Saudi Arabia and Oman are exploring SAF policies, but no final announcements have been made as of February 2026. No substantial SAF policy developments were seen in Africa in 2025, although momentum kept building. Several governments, including Senegal, continued to explore SAF opportunities as part of ICAO’s Assistance, Capacity-building and Training programme (ACT-SAF), which aims to build capabilities in emerging markets. As part of the programme, Côte d’Ivoire completed multiple feasibility studies to explore local SAF production.81 The private sector is also coming together to advocate for the development of new SAF legislation, as signalled by a policy consensus document signed by several aviation players in Africa in late 2025.83 Central and South America In South America, after signing SAF policy into law in 2024, the Brazil Government, along with other committed countries, launched the “Belém 4x Pledge” at COP30 to scale up low-carbon fuels four times by 2035, compared to 2024 volumes.84 This collaboration highlights Brazil’s increasing efforts to raise awareness of the low-carbon fuels agenda internationally, after gaining prominence at the G20 in 2024. Brazil is aiming to maintain collaboration on sustainable aviation and strengthen market opportunities for its domestic biofuels industry at a time of market and feedstock disruptions. Underpinned by analysis from the International Energy Agency (IEA), a total of 23 countries signed the Belém pledge, including Chile and Guatemala, as well as Armenia, Canada, India, Italy, Japan and Mozambique. In 2025, Chile continued to refine the regulatory and technical details of its SAF roadmap, introduced in 2024, ahead of the implementation of pilot plants in the country.85 ICAO’s ACT-SAF programme continues to assist countries in developing their SAF roadmaps and exploring the feasibility of production facilities, including in Argentina, Mexico, Panama and Peru.86 Brazil, along with 23 other countries, launched the “Belém 4x Pledge” at COP30 to scale up low-carbon fuels four times by 2035, compared to 2024 volumes. Policy alignment and pragmatic support While SAF policy momentum is building globally, approaches remain fragmented. Europe has reaffirmed its ReFuelEU targets, including the 6% SAF by 2030 mandate, while the US, Asia-Pacific and other regions are pursuing distinct incentive structures, mandates and fuel eligibility and sustainability criteria. This divergence creates complexity for investors, fuel producers and air operators, complicating cross- border fuel supply, compliance planning and long- term investment decisions. As a result, stakeholders interviewed for this report have highlighted the need for more consistent and aligned international policy. A global SAF mandate has been seen by many as a promising avenue to create a level playing field across regions. Nevertheless, several stakeholders questioned the feasibility of such a mechanism and the timeline for creation and implementation. In the light of these challenges and to maintain momentum, executives engaged in the Forum’s aviation decarbonization discussions have highlighted various complementary, pragmatic actions that industry and governments should be jointly aiming to advance in 2026 (see Box 1). On top of fostering global synergy among countries in which policy already exists, executives highlighted how international efforts should continue to support policy development across all regions, especially those with great feedstock potential. This could take the form of project implementation assistance and global cooperation projects, and would ensure that the economic and social opportunities the SAF market brings do not remain concentrated in selected markets. Global Aviation Sustainability Outlook 2026 26