The railway project linking Aqaba with Al-Shidiya and Maan is moving forward with the potential to reshape the transportation and logistics system in southern Jordan. The project is expected to improve the efficiency of transporting mining products, strengthen integration between ports and production areas, and create a more attractive environment for local and foreign investment.
اضافة اعلان
The project, which is being developed as part of the Jordanian-Emirati partnership, is one of the strategic initiatives aimed at upgrading transportation infrastructure, enhancing the competitiveness of Jordanian exports and expanding the development impact of major projects across multiple economic sectors and geographic areas. It is also expected to strengthen Aqaba’s role as a maritime and logistics gateway for the national economy.
In following up on the railway project and its implications for the transportation and logistics sectors, the importance of integrating it with plans to develop Aqaba’s ports and the Aqaba-Maan Land Port project has become increasingly evident. During his visit on Monday, Prime Minister Jafar Hassan stressed the need to continue developing port infrastructure and logistics services alongside the railway project to improve shipping and storage efficiency, expand transit trade and reinforce Aqaba’s position as a regional transportation and logistics hub.
Dr. Mohammad Al-Thneibat, Chairman of the Jordanian-Emirati Railway Company, told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the Aqaba-Al-Shidiya-Maan railway is a strategic, high-quality investment project that will enhance the competitiveness of the national economy and support the transportation, mining and logistics sectors. He said the project’s investment value is estimated at around $2.5 billion.
He explained that the project will have a total length of 403 kilometers, including 360 kilometers dedicated to phosphate and potash routes and 43 kilometers for the Al-Shidiya-Maan link. The railway is designed to transport up to 16 million tons annually, including 13 million tons of phosphate and nearly 3 million tons of potash, connecting key locations in Aqaba, Al-Shidiya, Ghor Al-Safi and Maan.
Al-Thneibat said the project will create a significant development impact by providing around 5,000 new jobs in southern Jordan, supporting employment and helping reduce unemployment. It will also be integrated with the Maan Land Port project.
Regarding the timeline, he said work has already begun with the awarding of the first contract, worth approximately $10 million, for the construction of roads needed to access railway sites, tunnels and bridges in preparation for the main construction works. He expects major construction to begin in early 2027 and continue for approximately five years.
He said the project’s economic impact will extend to Aqaba, Maan, Al-Shidiya and eastern Amman, with the possibility of future expansion toward neighboring countries, including the Iraqi, Syrian and Turkish borders, as well as Gulf countries, to establish an integrated regional transportation network.
Aqaba is expected to be one of the main beneficiaries as a maritime gateway supporting port activity and logistics investment while stimulating economic activity.
Regarding ownership and operational sustainability, Al-Thneibat said the details of the Jordanian-Emirati railway partnership agreement are publicly available and clear. He explained that ownership of the project will be transferred to the Jordanian government after the agreement’s 30-year term, with the possibility of an extension under its provisions. The project would then return to the government in good operating condition and ready for continued use.
For his part, Chairman of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, Shadi Al-Majali, said the railway project represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen integration between Aqaba Port and production and mining areas, while developing a multimodal transportation system that supports cargo movement and improves logistics efficiency.
Al-Majali said the project’s importance is not limited to transporting phosphate and potash. It also extends to establishing an integrated logistics network linking ports with industrial zones, storage facilities and distribution centers, allowing for the expansion of economic activities associated with trade and transportation.
He added that developing rail connectivity alongside infrastructure and logistics projects would enhance Aqaba’s ability to attract new investment in transportation, storage, handling and support services, while creating broader opportunities for private-sector participation in economic activities linked to the project.
Al-Majali noted that the authority, in coordination with relevant stakeholders, is working to develop the Aqaba-Maan Land Port project. This would strengthen integration between the railway network and logistics facilities, expand the benefits of the railway project to Maan and other southern governorates, and reinforce Aqaba’s role as a logistics and trade center.
He said shifting toward rail transportation could improve the efficiency of cargo movement, reduce some logistics costs and provide greater regularity in shipments. It could also ease pressure on roads caused by heavy truck traffic, supporting road safety and helping preserve road infrastructure.
Al-Majali explained that stronger links between production areas and the port would enhance the competitiveness of Jordanian exports by improving the reliability of supply chains and providing more efficient transportation options, positively affecting companies’ ability to manage their commercial and export operations.
He stressed that the authority’s role is to create a suitable investment environment, coordinate efforts among relevant stakeholders and link infrastructure projects with available economic opportunities. This would support investment diversification, increase added value to the national economy and create new employment opportunities.
