diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9e148fbde..7b4e4f609 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -397,6 +397,9 @@ $(eval $(call assert_boolean,SPIN_ON_BL1_EXIT))
 $(eval $(call assert_boolean,TRUSTED_BOARD_BOOT))
 $(eval $(call assert_boolean,USE_COHERENT_MEM))
 
+$(eval $(call assert_numeric,ARM_ARCH_MAJOR))
+$(eval $(call assert_numeric,ARM_ARCH_MINOR))
+
 ################################################################################
 # Add definitions to the cpp preprocessor based on the current build options.
 # This is done after including the platform specific makefile to allow the
@@ -404,6 +407,8 @@ $(eval $(call assert_boolean,USE_COHERENT_MEM))
 ################################################################################
 
 $(eval $(call add_define,ARM_CCI_PRODUCT_ID))
+$(eval $(call add_define,ARM_ARCH_MAJOR))
+$(eval $(call add_define,ARM_ARCH_MINOR))
 $(eval $(call add_define,ARM_GIC_ARCH))
 $(eval $(call add_define,ASM_ASSERTION))
 $(eval $(call add_define,COLD_BOOT_SINGLE_CPU))
diff --git a/docs/firmware-design.md b/docs/firmware-design.md
index bd6e2f697..0fdc941c1 100644
--- a/docs/firmware-design.md
+++ b/docs/firmware-design.md
@@ -16,8 +16,9 @@ Contents :
 11. [Use of coherent memory in Trusted Firmware](#11--use-of-coherent-memory-in-trusted-firmware)
 12. [Isolating code and read-only data on separate memory pages](#12--isolating-code-and-read-only-data-on-separate-memory-pages)
 13. [Performance Measurement Framework](#13--performance-measurement-framework)
-14. [Code Structure](#14--code-structure)
-15. [References](#15--references)
+14. [ARMv8 Architecture Extensions](#14--armv8-architecture-extensions)
+15. [Code Structure](#15--code-structure)
+16. [References](#16--references)
 
 
 1.  Introduction
@@ -2208,7 +2209,39 @@ in this implementation.
 5.  `pmf_helpers.h` is an internal header used by `pmf.h`.
 
 
-14.  Code Structure
+14.  ARMv8 Architecture Extensions
+----------------------------------
+
+ARM Trusted Firmware makes use of ARMv8 Architecture Extensions where
+applicable. This section lists the usage of Architecture Extensions, and build
+flags controlling them.
+
+In general, and unless individually mentioned, the build options
+`ARM_ARCH_MAJOR` and `ARM_ARCH_MINOR` selects the Architecture Extension to
+target when building ARM Trusted Firmware. Subsequent ARM Architecture
+Extensions are backward compatible with previous versions.
+
+The build system only requires that `ARM_ARCH_MAJOR` and `ARM_ARCH_MINOR` have a
+valid numeric value. These build options only control whether or not
+Architecture Extension-specific code is included in the build. Otherwise, ARM
+Trusted Firmware targets the base ARMv8.0 architecture; i.e. as if
+`ARM_ARCH_MAJOR` == 8 and `ARM_ARCH_MINOR` == 0, which are also their respective
+default values.
+
+See also the _Summary of build options_ in [User Guide].
+
+For details on the Architecture Extension and available features, please refer
+to the respective Architecture Extension Supplement.
+
+### ARMv8.1
+
+This Architecture Extension is targeted when `ARM_ARCH_MAJOR` >= 8, or when
+`ARM_ARCH_MAJOR` == 8 and `ARM_ARCH_MINOR` >= 1.
+
+*  The Compare and Swap instruction is used to implement spinlocks. Otherwise,
+   the load-/store-exclusive instruction pair is used.
+
+15.  Code Structure
 -------------------
 
 Trusted Firmware code is logically divided between the three boot loader
@@ -2252,7 +2285,7 @@ FDTs provide a description of the hardware platform and are used by the Linux
 kernel at boot time. These can be found in the `fdts` directory.
 
 
-15.  References
+16.  References
 ---------------
 
 1.  Trusted Board Boot Requirements CLIENT PDD (ARM DEN 0006B-5). Available
diff --git a/docs/user-guide.md b/docs/user-guide.md
index c68565b76..7ae5b9ce0 100644
--- a/docs/user-guide.md
+++ b/docs/user-guide.md
@@ -181,6 +181,14 @@ performed.
     is used to determine the number of valid slave interfaces available in the
     ARM CCI driver. Default is 400 (that is, CCI-400).
 
+*   `ARM_ARCH_MAJOR`: The major version of ARM Architecture to target when
+    compiling ARM Trusted Firmware. Its value must be numeric, and defaults to
+    8. See also, _ARMv8 Architecture Extensions_ in [Firmware Design].
+
+*   `ARM_ARCH_MINOR`: The minor version of ARM Architecture to target when
+    compiling ARM Trusted Firmware. Its value must be a numeric, and defaults
+    to 0. See also, _ARMv8 Architecture Extensions_ in [Firmware Design].
+
 *   `ARM_GIC_ARCH`: Choice of ARM GIC architecture version used by the ARM
     Legacy GIC driver for implementing the platform GIC API. This API is used
     by the interrupt management framework. Default is 2 (that is, version 2.0).
diff --git a/lib/locks/exclusive/aarch64/spinlock.S b/lib/locks/exclusive/aarch64/spinlock.S
index 1ca591232..bdc9ea0f7 100644
--- a/lib/locks/exclusive/aarch64/spinlock.S
+++ b/lib/locks/exclusive/aarch64/spinlock.S
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright (c) 2013-2016, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+ * Copyright (c) 2013-2017, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
  *
  * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
  * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
@@ -33,7 +33,66 @@
 	.globl	spin_lock
 	.globl	spin_unlock
 
+#if (ARM_ARCH_MAJOR > 8) || ((ARM_ARCH_MAJOR == 8) && (ARM_ARCH_MINOR >= 1))
 
+/*
+ * When compiled for ARMv8.1 or later, choose spin locks based on Compare and
+ * Swap instruction.
+ */
+# define USE_CAS	1
+
+/*
+ * Lock contenders using CAS, upon failing to acquire the lock, wait with the
+ * monitor in open state. Therefore, a normal store upon unlocking won't
+ * generate an SEV. Use explicit SEV instruction with CAS unlock.
+ */
+# define COND_SEV()	sev
+
+#else
+
+# define USE_CAS	0
+
+/*
+ * Lock contenders using exclusive pairs, upon failing to acquire the lock, wait
+ * with the monitor in exclusive state. A normal store upon unlocking will
+ * implicitly generate an envent; so, no explicit SEV with unlock is required.
+ */
+# define COND_SEV()
+
+#endif
+
+#if USE_CAS
+
+	.arch	armv8.1-a
+
+/*
+ * Acquire lock using Compare and Swap instruction.
+ *
+ * Compare for 0 with acquire semantics, and swap 1. Wait until CAS returns
+ * 0.
+ *
+ * void spin_lock(spinlock_t *lock);
+ */
+func spin_lock
+	mov	w2, #1
+	sevl
+1:
+	wfe
+	mov	w1, wzr
+	casa	w1, w2, [x0]
+	cbnz	w1, 1b
+	ret
+endfunc spin_lock
+
+	.arch	armv8-a
+
+#else /* !USE_CAS */
+
+/*
+ * Acquire lock using load-/store-exclusive instruction pair.
+ *
+ * void spin_lock(spinlock_t *lock);
+ */
 func spin_lock
 	mov	w2, #1
 	sevl
@@ -45,8 +104,17 @@ l2:	ldaxr	w1, [x0]
 	ret
 endfunc spin_lock
 
+#endif /* USE_CAS */
 
+/*
+ * Release lock previously acquired by spin_lock.
+ *
+ * Unconditionally write 0, and conditionally generate an event.
+ *
+ * void spin_unlock(spinlock_t *lock);
+ */
 func spin_unlock
 	stlr	wzr, [x0]
+	COND_SEV()
 	ret
 endfunc spin_unlock
diff --git a/make_helpers/build_macros.mk b/make_helpers/build_macros.mk
index 2312d2c92..93db2d664 100644
--- a/make_helpers/build_macros.mk
+++ b/make_helpers/build_macros.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2015-2016, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2015-2017, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 # modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
@@ -81,6 +81,16 @@ define assert_boolean
     $(and $(patsubst 0,,$(value $(1))),$(patsubst 1,,$(value $(1))),$(error $(1) must be boolean))
 endef
 
+0-9 := 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
+
+# Function to verify that a given option $(1) contains a numeric value
+define assert_numeric
+$(if $($(1)),,$(error $(1) must not be empty))
+$(eval __numeric := $($(1)))
+$(foreach d,$(0-9),$(eval __numeric := $(subst $(d),,$(__numeric))))
+$(if $(__numeric),$(error $(1) must be numeric))
+endef
+
 # IMG_LINKERFILE defines the linker script corresponding to a BL stage
 #   $(1) = BL stage (2, 30, 31, 32, 33)
 define IMG_LINKERFILE
diff --git a/make_helpers/defaults.mk b/make_helpers/defaults.mk
index 0b93dfcac..b47ea46e3 100644
--- a/make_helpers/defaults.mk
+++ b/make_helpers/defaults.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2016, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2016-2017, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 # modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ ARCH				:= aarch64
 # port can change this value if needed.
 ARM_CCI_PRODUCT_ID		:= 400
 
+# ARM Architecture major and minor versions: 8.0 by default.
+ARM_ARCH_MAJOR			:= 8
+ARM_ARCH_MINOR			:= 0
+
 # Determine the version of ARM GIC architecture to use for interrupt management
 # in EL3. The platform port can change this value if needed.
 ARM_GIC_ARCH			:= 2