Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have formally called on the International Maritime Organization to consider alternatives to its Net-Zero Framework (NZF), according to Ship & Bunker. The two oil-producing nations argue that the current proposal could unfairly burden long-haul trade routes and remote economies.
According to Ship & Bunker, the countries raised their concerns in a submission to the IMO last month, ahead of the first of two scheduled inter-sessional meetings. These meetings are set for September 1-4 and November 23-27, taking place before MEPC 85, which runs from November 30 to December 3.
Uneven Burden Across Routes
In their submission, Saudi Arabia and the UAE stated that a uniform global compliance cost would not translate into an even economic impact across different shipping routes, commodities, and countries. Ship & Bunker quotes the submission as saying, “In shipping, cost incidence is not uniform because freight markets and trade demand are not uniform,” adding that “these features imply that a uniform global compliance cost can produce uneven real-world burdens.”
The two countries also highlighted concerns over what they described as a distance-based markup embedded in the NZF. According to the submission cited by Ship & Bunker, this structure “increases the delivered cost of goods more sharply for longer routes, which can disadvantage remote exporters, long-haul importers, and trade-dependent economies, particularly import-dependent economies.”
Additionally, the submission warned that these effects could intensify during tight freight markets, when measures such as speed reductions might reduce effective shipping capacity and push freight rates higher, Ship & Bunker reports.
Background on the NZF Vote
The NZF failed to secure a final vote in October 2025, following opposition from a bloc led by the US and Saudi Arabia, according to Ship & Bunker. As a result, a decision on the framework was postponed by a year. The upcoming inter-sessional meetings in September and November are intended to help build broader consensus ahead of the MEPC 85 session.
Does This Matter to You?
For those monitoring global regulatory developments affecting fuel costs and compliance strategy, this submission signals continued uncertainty around the NZF’s final structure and timeline. Shipping routes involving long-haul trade, remote export economies, or import-dependent regions could see different cost outcomes depending on how the framework evolves, according to the concerns raised by Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The source material does not provide specific figures on projected cost differences or a finalized alternative proposal, so the precise financial impact remains unclear at this stage. Stakeholders tracking IMO regulatory timelines may want to follow the outcomes of the September and November inter-sessional meetings ahead of MEPC 85.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
