ENOC and Emirates Petroleum sign MOU to bolster aviation fuel supply continuity
ENOC Group and Emirates Petroleum sign MOU to create a business continuity plan securing aviation fuel supply continuity for UAE airports and airlines.
ENOC Group and Emirates Petroleum (Emarat) have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint business continuity framework aimed at safeguarding aviation fuel supply continuity across the United Arab Emirates. The agreement, announced in a statement issued on April 24, 2026, formalises coordinated procedures for managing fuel deliveries to airports and responding to operational disruptions. Company officials said the partnership will streamline logistics and improve resilience for airlines, passengers and the wider aviation ecosystem.
MOU establishes formal coordination mechanisms
The memorandum of understanding sets out an organised framework for shared responsibilities between ENOC and Emirates Petroleum. It specifies clear procedures for managing fuel inventories, approving contingency measures and coordinating real-time responses during service interruptions. This formalised cooperation is intended to reduce ambiguity during crises and deliver predictable outcomes for airport fuelling operations.
Pipeline transfers and truck-loading operations detailed
Under the agreement, the companies will coordinate fuel transfers through pipeline systems and truck-loading operations to ensure regular supply lines remain operational. The framework includes protocols for prioritising fuel movements to key airports and adjusting transport modes when one channel is constrained. Operational leaders will be required to maintain readiness to switch between pipeline and road logistics to prevent supply gaps.
Continuity plan mandates drills, equipment tests and staff training
A core element of the business continuity plan is a programme of regular tests, exercises and equipment checks designed to validate operational readiness. Both organisations will run joint drills that simulate disruption scenarios, assess communications procedures and rehearse rapid mobilisation of resources. Staff training and periodic audits of pumps, meters and communications links are included to keep response times and reliability at high standards.
ENOC emphasises proactive resilience for UAE aviation
ENOC Group’s chief executive, Hussein Sultan Lootah, said the partnership reflects a proactive approach to continuity planning and leverages shared technical expertise. He noted that closer coordination will help maintain smooth operations within the UAE’s aviation sector and support the country’s position as a global aviation hub. Lootah added that jointly developed logistical solutions and emergency response strategies will be central to delivering uninterrupted fuel supplies.
Emirates Petroleum frames supply continuity as a national duty
Burhan Al Hashimi, chief executive of Emirates Petroleum, characterised maintaining aviation fuel supplies as a national responsibility and said the MOU welds the two companies’ capabilities into a practical preparedness plan. He highlighted that pre-agreed procedures and unified command during disruptions will strengthen operational flexibility. According to Al Hashimi, this reliability is critical not only for airlines and passengers but also for the broader economy that depends on the UAE’s aviation leadership.
Implications for airlines and the wider aviation network
The agreement is expected to reduce the risk of localised shortages that can cascade into flight delays, cancellations and increased costs for carriers. By synchronising inventory management and transport logistics, the partners aim to ensure predictable fuel availability at major airports across the federation. Industry observers say such measures can lower operational uncertainty for carriers and enhance the UAE’s appeal as a dependable transit and hub destination.
The memorandum signals a coordinated private-sector response to operational risks facing aviation, and both companies have committed to publishing periodic updates on joint exercises and readiness assessments. As the plan is implemented, its success will depend on sustained testing, transparent communication with airport and airline stakeholders, and the ability to scale responses swiftly during major incidents.
