By : Business Editor
Jordan Daily – Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) and Abu Dhabi Ports Group signed a strategic partnership on Thursday to manage and operate Aqaba’s multipurpose port, aiming to strengthen Jordan’s Red Sea city as a regional logistics hub.
Under the agreement, the partnership will be limited to the management and operation of the multipurpose port, while ownership of all port assets and land will remain with the Jordanian government through ADC. Aqaba Ports Company will continue to operate other port facilities with its existing workforce.
The agreement includes direct capital investment exceeding JD130 over the concession period, with cumulative returns expected to surpass 300 million dinars, ADC said in a statement seen by Jordan Daily.
The partnership seeks to improve port efficiency by introducing smart terminal operating systems, upgrading berth and yard management, reducing handling times and increasing productivity. It also aims to attract new cargo types and enhance Jordan’s trade competitiveness.
The agreement would support Aqaba’s role as a regional and global logistics centre by developing new corridors to neighbouring countries, lowering logistics costs for importers and exporters, particularly in roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vehicle shipping.
It will also include investment in infrastructure upgrades, modern equipment, and training programmes to build Jordanian technical and managerial capabilities, with a focus on safety and green energy readiness.
The multipurpose port handles general cargo, grain, livestock and project cargo, with an annual capacity of about 11 million tonnes. In 2025, it handled more than 5 million tonnes of goods, around 85,000 vehicles and nearly one million livestock.
The agreement was signed on behalf of Aqaba Development Company by Chief Executive Hussein Al-Safadi and on behalf of Abu Dhabi Ports Group by Ahmed Al Mutawa, Regional Chief Executive Officer.
The signing ceremony was attended by Shadi Al-Majali, chief commissioner of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, Captain Mohamed Al Shamisi, Managing Director & Group CEO of AD Ports Group, and the UAE embassy’s chargé d’affaires, Hamad Al-Matrooshi.
