Jordan and the UAE have broken ground on a major railway project linking the Port of Aqaba with key mining and logistics centres in southern Jordan. The Aqaba–Al-Shidiyeh–Maan Railway Project involves an investment of about $2.5 billion and will cover a 403-kilometre rail network.
The project is being developed by the Jordan-UAE Railway Company, a joint venture between UAE and Jordanian entities. Etihad Rail will provide technical expertise and serve as the project’s executing arm.
The railway will connect the Port of Aqaba with phosphate and potash production areas, including Al-Shidiya, while also linking the Maan Logistics Zone. The first phase is expected to transport around 13 million tonnes of phosphate annually from Shidiya to Aqaba. The wider network is designed to carry around 16 million tonnes of phosphate and potash each year.
The project includes around 55 bridges and six tunnels. It is expected to reduce pressure on Jordan’s road network, lower transportation costs and improve the efficiency of mineral exports to regional and global markets. The project is also expected to create around 5,000 jobs.
The railway is part of Jordan’s broader plan to develop a national rail network and strengthen Aqaba’s position as a regional transport and logistics hub. Future expansion could connect the network to other parts of Jordan and neighbouring countries.
The project also marks a significant expansion of economic cooperation between Jordan and the UAE, with both countries seeking to use transport infrastructure to strengthen trade, logistics and mining competitiveness.
