ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Jordan has broken ground on a $2.5 billion railway linking Aqaba with major mining and logistics centres, launching the country’s largest rail project and laying the groundwork for a broader national network.
The 403-kilometre Aqaba-Al-Shidiyeh-Maan Railway Project will connect the Red Sea port city with key phosphate and potash production sites and the Maan Logistics Zone.
The network is expected to carry about 16 million tonnes of minerals annually while cutting transport costs and easing pressure on Jordan’s road network.
"The Aqaba Al-Shidiya Ma’an Railway Project is one of Jordan’s most significant rail transport initiatives and represents a cornerstone of the strategic development of the country’s transport sector, " Jordan’s Minister of Government Communication, Dr Mohammad Hussein Saad Al-Momani, told Aletihad in an exclusive interview.
Dr Al-Momani explained that the railway forms part of Jordan’s long-term plans to expand its national transport network and strengthen the country’s position as a logistics link between regional and global markets.
"It will serve as a nucleus for a wider network of future projects, with the potential to connect Jordan with the GCC, Syria, Türkiye and Europe," he said.
The 403-kilometre rail network is being developed by the Jordan-UAE Railway Company through a joint UAE-Jordanian investment of about $2.5 billion.
His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony for the project in Aqaba earlier this week.
Al-Momani said the groundbreaking ceremony also carried importance for relations between Jordan and the UAE, which have expanded cooperation across investment, infrastructure and development.
"This occasion reaffirms the historic ties between Jordan and the UAE and builds on the strong foundations of bilateral relations that continue to drive cooperation across all fields, serving the interests of both countries and supporting sustainable development,” he added.
The project follows the vision and directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and King Abdullah II to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries through joint projects with long-term economic benefits.
The railway will connect Aqaba with major mining and production sites and the Maan Logistics Zone, providing a rail system for moving bulk cargo and containers between ports, production centres and inland logistics facilities.
Al-Momani said the line is also intended to work alongside other logistics infrastructure, including the Ma’an Land Port project.
“The network aims to enhance the efficiency of Jordan’s transport system, reduce transportation costs, creating new opportunities for investment,” Al-Momani said.
Once operational, the network is expected to cut annual phosphate and potash transport costs by about $40 million and create around 5,000 jobs in southern Jordan. It is also expected to generate opportunities for local companies across engineering, construction, maintenance, logistics, technology and related industries.
Construction will include about 55 bridges, six tunnels and associated engineering works across the 403km route.
Dr Al-Momani stressed that, besides improving Jordan’s domestic transport network, the railway project also supports Jordan’s ambition to use its location, ports and growing logistics infrastructure to connect markets across the Middle East and beyond.
"The Railway is not simply an infrastructure project; it is an investment in Jordan’s economic future, regional connectivity and role as a vital link between the region and global markets."