Stem cell function is an exquisitely regulated process. To date, however, the contribution of metabolic cues to stem cell function is poorly understood. Here we identify a novel PML - Peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor delta (PPARδ) - fatty acid oxidation (FAO) pathway for haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) maintenance. We have found that loss of Ppard profoundly affects the maintenance of HSCs. Moreover, treatment with PPARδ agonists improves these HSC functions, whereas, conversely, inhibition of mitochondrial FAO induces loss of the HSC compartment. Importantly, we demonstrate that PML exerts its essential role in HSC maintenance through regulation of PPAR signalling and FAO. Mechanistically, the PML-PPARδ-FAO pathway controls HSC asymmetric division. Depletion of Ppard or Pml, as well as FAO inhibition, results in symmetric commitment of HSC daughter cells while, conversely, PPARδ activation increases asymmetric division. Thus, our findings identify a new metabolic switch for the control of HSC cell fate with important therapeutic implications.