Governmental determination has been renewed to move forward with the implementation of the Ma’an Land Port project after a hiatus lasting more than two decades. This step reflects a clear orientation toward reviving strategic projects in the Ma’an Governorate and strengthening its role as an economic and logistical hub at the national level.
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This move follows the government’s recent announcement regarding the completion of agreements for the Aqaba Port Railway project. This signals the start of actual implementation procedures for the project, which costs approximately $2.3 billion, funded equally between Jordan and the United Arab Emirates—bringing long-awaited momentum back to development projects in the governorate.
Furthermore, the government announced the commencement of studies to link the railway track to mining areas in Shidiya, reaching the Ma’an Development Area. This will enhance the prospects of establishing the Ma’an Land Port project, which serves as the core of a promising logistical, industrial, and customs zone.
The Ma’an Land Port project is considered one of the most prominent strategic projects proposed more than 20 years ago without being implemented, due to funding challenges and high construction costs, alongside the repercussions of regional crises and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Dr. Jafar Hassan emphasized during a Cabinet session held in Ma’an Governorate early last year that putting the project back on track and linking it to the Aqaba railway is a government priority, given its role in stimulating economic development in the governorate.
Experts and stakeholders told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the project will constitute a qualitative leap for Ma’an’s economy by stimulating investment, expanding the production base, and attracting new industries. Additionally, it is expected to provide thousands of jobs and improve the efficiency of transport and shipping services.
In this context, the Chairman of the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company, Dr. Mohammad Thneibat, stated that linking the Aqaba railway with the Ma’an Land Port would create at least 5,000 job opportunities and achieve financial savings estimated at $40 million, thereby enhancing the direct economic impact of the project.
For his part, the CEO of the Ma’an Development Company, Eng. Mohammad Abu Tayeh, confirmed that the project represents a genuine lever for the industrial, transport, and logistics sectors. He noted that the Ma’an Development Area possesses integrated infrastructure—including roads, energy, water, and telecommunications—making it an ideal incubator to support port operations and reduce operational costs.
He explained that the strategic location of the development area, acting as a link between the Port of Aqaba, the capital Amman, and neighboring countries, will enhance the efficiency of national supply chains and relieve pressure on the Aqaba Port. It will also benefit from clean energy provided by the solar complex in the region.
He pointed out that the integration between the land port and the Ma’an Development Area will create an attractive investment environment and open the way for attracting new industries and regional distribution centers, which will reflect positively on the local community through sustainable job creation and revitalized economic activity.
The former Mayor of Ma’an, Khaled Al-Shammari, stated that the governorate possesses basic infrastructure that can be built upon, including vast areas designated for logistical yards and a road network that requires upgrading. He also highlighted the availability of qualified human resources and an active transport sector, confirming that these assets are developable to meet the project's requirements.
The Deputy Governor of Ma’an, Eng. Mohammad Al-Mahameed, noted that implementing the Ma’an Land Port project would stimulate economic growth in the governorate, strengthen the national transport system, and accelerate handling operations and the transfer of goods from Aqaba ports to the land port in Ma’an with higher efficiency.
He added that the project would directly contribute to reducing transport and shipping costs, making it a primary tributary for economic development, in addition to its role in supporting productive and service sectors and enhancing the investment climate in the governorate.
Furthermore, the Head of the Economics Department at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, Dr. Akram Al-Awad, explained that the project's expected impact is not limited to job creation but extends to reshaping the economic structure of the governorate. This will be achieved by redistributing logistical activity and enhancing supply chain efficiency, contributing to lower costs and higher competitiveness for the national economy.
He pointed out that the project will support Ma’an's transformation into a regional logistical center and enhance the integration of the Jordanian economy into regional value-added chains, especially given its geographical location connecting the Gulf states and the Levant, contributing to long-term sustainable economic growth.
Source: Petra
