Aqaba:King Abdullah II of Jordan and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Aqaba-Shidiya-Maan railway project, a significant transport initiative in Jordan.
According to Jordan News Agency, the railway project is designed to enhance the efficiency of mining transport and reduce shipping costs, thereby boosting the competitiveness of Jordanian exports. It aims to establish the Port of Aqaba as a regional transport and logistics hub.
The project, in its initial phase, is set to transport around 13 million tonnes of phosphate yearly from Shidiya to Aqaba, linking with the Maan Land Port project to improve goods transport between Aqaba and Maan. It is part of a broader strategy to develop the Jordan National Railway Network, a flagship project under the Economic Modernisation Vision.
The United Arab Emirates-Jordan Railway Company, formed by a consortium of Jordanian and Emirati companies, is tasked with the project's construction and implementation. During the ceremony, Chairman Mohammad Thneibat highlighted the project's significance, noting its strategic role in enhancing transport sector performance and fostering economic growth through new investment opportunities.
Deputy Chairman and Etihad Rail CEO Shadi Malak emphasized that the railway line would act as a vital economic artery, linking Jordan's resources and production hubs to international markets via the Aqaba Industrial Port. He underscored the project's potential to boost exports, attract investments, and strengthen Aqaba's position as a key trade gateway.
Strategic agreements between Jordan and the UAE, signed in April, include this 360km railway network, which will connect phosphate and potash mines through two main tracks serving Shidiya and Ghor Al Safi to Aqaba Industrial Port. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh, and other officials were present at the ceremony.