Dubai Municipality has signed an agreement with Neutral Fuels LLC to replace diesel in its vehicles with clean biodiesel, making Dubai the first city in the world to formally adopt biodiesel made 100-percent locally from 100-percent waste cooking oil for use in its municipal vehicles, according to Neutral Fuels.

Neutral Fuels has been producing biodiesel in the United Arab Emirates since 2010, when it became the first biodiesel manufacturer ever to be licensed in Dubai, according to the company.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, is driving initiatives to promote fuel efficiency and create a sustainable city within the next three decades, under the UAE Vision 2021 and Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030. These initiatives include the rational use of energy and fuel, encouraging conversion of waste to energy, and sustainable transport infrastructure.

"Dubai will be one of the world’s most sustainable cities by 2020, when the city hosts the World Expo. Our biodiesel initiative is a huge leap towards achieving this," said Hussain Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality. "We are pleased to take this next step with Neutral Fuels as they share our vision and have provided a solution that meets the needs of our growing city."