Cargo handling increased by 63.6% at the new Aqaba Port, by 39.3% at the Oil Terminal, by 29.3% at the Passenger Terminal, by 11.2% at the LPG Terminal, and by 6.6% at the Container Terminal

The Jordanian prime minister's office has announced that the country's authorities have given the green light to the rapid expansion of the Aqaba port. This decision comes after a meteoric rise in transit cargo through its multipurpose terminal, which surged by around 46 times to 1.8 million tonnes from 38,900 tonnes in 2025.  The Red Sea port is to be expanded and modernised at speed, according to Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, as a result of a surge in cargo volumes across several terminals.  Hussein Safadi, chief executive of the Aqaba Development Corporation, said container transit traffic rose 151.8% to 115,762 containers, up from 45,981. 

Cargo handling increased by 63.6% at the new Aqaba Port.

Cargo handling increased by 63.6% at the new Aqaba Port, by 39.3% at the Oil Terminal, by 29.3% at the Passenger Terminal, by 11.2% at the LPG Terminal, and by 6.6% at the Container Terminal. Meanwhile, grain handling at the multipurpose port climbed by 45.1%, reaching 3.62 million tonnes compared to 2.5 million tonnes the previous year. Transit grain accounted for 1.67 million tonnes, compared to zero volumes in 2025. Concurrently, vehicle transit traffic surged by 38.4% to 94,530 units, and 79,795 vehicles were processed through the Aqaba Cruise Terminal. The storage capacity for vehicles increased from 6,000 to 17,000 units, providing an extra 150,000 square metres of space.

Hassan also called for the development of ports to move ahead alongside the Aqaba-Shidiya-Ma'an railway and the planned Aqaba-Ma'an dry port. Valued at around $2.5 billion, the Jordan-UAE rail project saw its construction phase launch earlier this month. 

A tender for an additional oil berth 

ADC has launched a tender for an additional oil berth and signed a framework agreement with a private investor for an energy export facility, which could be completed within six to seven months.  Safadi also mentioned a tender for the oil port worth JD47m ($66.3m), for which bids are currently being evaluated, as well as an assessment of the Mu'ta berth for vegetable oil handling, which is expected within three months.  The activity at the oil terminal encompasses the export of Iraqi crude oil, shipments of vegetable oil destined for Iraq, and petroleum products for the Jordanian domestic market.  

 A separate JD20m ($28.2m) tender

A separate JD20m ($28.2m) tender covers rehabilitation of the Durra border crossing. Road lighting between the new Aqaba port and the Durra customs area has been completed, with additional lanes and road upgrades planned.  

The South Aqaba Investment Complex reached full occupancy in 2026 after about JD21m ($29.6m) of investment. It covers more than 1.5m square metres and includes 12 warehouses and four industrial buildings, with ADC considering a further 500-dunum expansion. 

About: The Port of Aqaba

The Port of Aqaba is a global hub where three continents meet, serving as a worldwide destination for both investors and tourists alike. Located on the Gulf of Aqaba, which opens into the Red Sea, it extends to the borders of Israel and Saudi Arabia, touching the regional waters of Egypt. This makes it a comprehensive strategic gateway to regional and international markets, offering a wide range of business opportunities across various sectors and providing an advanced quality of life. The economic significance of ports, in general, lies in their role as a major driver of national economic growth, especially as they form the central link in an integrated transportation chain and are considered fundamental to development, given the impact of their services on the overall national economy.

 # Aqaba port#Jafar Hassan #Hussein Safadi # a tender #Cargo handling #Jordan-UAE rail projec