Aqaba – Aqaba has emerged as a leading model for institutional Arab cooperation in addressing complex environmental challenges, following its recent hosting of the First Technical Meeting of the Arab Program for Reducing Marine Disaster Risks and the First Arab Marine Pollution Simulation Exercise.
اضافة اعلان
The selection of Aqaba as the host city reflects its growing role as a regional center for environmental and marine security, and as a real-world laboratory for testing joint Arab solutions in a safe and operational environment. With its advanced maritime infrastructure, strategic geographic location, and accumulated experience in crisis management, Aqaba has proven to be the Arab world’s gateway to an integrated environmental system capable of protecting marine resources and coastal communities.
The event brought together representatives from 13 Arab countries, alongside Jordanian environmental and security experts, in a scene that underscored the strong regional consensus on the importance of this issue. Participants agreed that confronting marine disasters is a regional responsibility that requires long-term vision and cross-border cooperation.
Arab experts and participants noted that the event provided a rare opportunity to train Arab personnel on the latest response technologies, enhance institutional readiness, and exchange experiences among countries—especially at a time when environmental challenges linked to urban expansion, maritime activities, and climate change are growing.
The hands-on exercise, implemented for the first time at the Arab level, served as a realistic test of marine pollution scenarios and the efficiency of coordination among various agencies in a crisis-simulation environment.
Dr. Mustafa Al-Saadi, Head of the Arab Coordination Mechanism for Disaster Risk Reduction at the Arab League, emphasized that the meeting laid the foundation for new levels of Arab integration in environmental safety. He called for establishing a regional center in Aqaba to coordinate efforts and provide technical support to member states—further cementing Aqaba’s status as a strategic hub for Arab environmental planning at a time of mounting risks and heightened need for collective action.
He added that Aqaba demonstrated how political will, when combined with technical competence, can make a tangible difference in protecting marine environments and safeguarding the future of coming generations. He also expressed deep appreciation to Jordan and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority for hosting the event.
Focus on Preventive Measures
Al-Saadi stressed that the Arab League remains committed to serving as a unifying platform for dialogue, coordination, and joint action, noting that addressing marine disasters requires long-term strategies, regional cooperation, and integration between all relevant entities.
He explained that the Arab Program for Reducing Marine Disaster Risks prioritizes risk-reduction methodology through a focus on preventive measures, early-warning systems, and building sustainable national and community capacities. The program adopts a participatory approach that brings together governments and relevant actors, while joint action represents a significant step toward building an integrated Arab system that protects marine resources, supports coastal communities, and enhances environmental security.
Representatives from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Yemen, Sudan, Egypt, Syria, Morocco, Mauritania, Iraq, and Libya participated in the exercise—reflecting a high level of regional alignment and further confirming Aqaba’s emergence as a central hub for unifying Arab efforts in environmental safety.
Dr. Ola Arafat, Deputy Director of the Integrated Simulation Center at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (Egypt), stated that the practical exercise implemented in Aqaba—the first of its kind in the Arab region—tested the real efficiency of coordination and response to marine pollution incidents. She added that the participating delegations found Aqaba to be an ideal environment for training and planning, supported by genuine partnership and clear political will to advance joint Arab action.
She noted that the practical exercise also offered a rare opportunity to test complex marine pollution scenarios and evaluate the readiness of national teams in a realistic environment. She affirmed that Jordan’s experience in port management and marine environmental protection deserves to be studied and replicated.
Challenges and Opportunities
Taghreed Al-Maaytah, Director of the Environmental Protection and Sustainability Directorate at the Aqaba Authority, explained that hosting the event represented both a challenge and an opportunity. Jordanian teams worked for months to ensure the success of the exercise and provide a realistic and safe training environment.
She noted that, alongside the practical drills, technical discussions covered key issues such as developing early-warning systems, unifying response protocols, strengthening cooperation between environmental and security agencies, and improving data and information sharing in emergencies. Participants expressed particular interest in Jordan’s experience in integrating the environmental dimension into security policies and leveraging technology for coastline monitoring and rapid response.
Dr. Al-Moatasem Al-Hindawi, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Urban Affairs at the Aqaba Authority, affirmed that hosting this major Arab event in Aqaba reflects Jordan’s commitment to supporting marine and environmental security. He highlighted the readiness of Aqaba’s maritime infrastructure to implement practical exercises and facilitate knowledge exchange at the regional level.
He added that the meeting represents a pivotal step toward establishing a unified Arab system for early-warning and effective response to escalating marine risks. He noted that the Arab region is witnessing rapid growth in coastal and maritime activities and their associated challenges—making improved readiness, enhanced cooperation, and harmonized response procedures essential to protecting shared marine environments and coastal ecosystems.
Al-Hindawi emphasized that such meetings represent a shared responsibility and an opportunity to strengthen national and regional capabilities in responding to marine pollution incidents and improving coordination among relevant entities. He expressed gratitude to the Arab League and all partners and maritime and security bodies in Aqaba for supporting the success of this pioneering Arab event, stressing that its outcomes will help develop an integrated Arab system for reducing marine disaster risks.
At the end of the meeting, a joint statement was issued affirming the importance of continuing such gatherings, expanding cooperation to include joint training, experience exchange, and developing sustainable financing mechanisms for environmental programs. The statement also called for the establishment of a regional center in Aqaba dedicated to coordinating Arab efforts in marine disaster risk reduction and providing technical support to member states.
