UAE, Jordan launch work on 403km cargo railway

The UAE and Jordan have broken ground on a $2.5 billion railway project linking the port of Aqaba with mining and production areas around Al-Shidiyeh and Ma’an. The 403-kilometre network will support the movement of bulk cargo, including phosphate and potash, across southern Jordan.

The railway is expected to carry about 16 million tonnes of minerals each year from production sites to Aqaba’s port, providing a rail alternative to road transport. This could reduce pressure on roads and cut phosphate and potash cargo transport costs by about $40 million a year.

The project will include railway tracks, around 55 bridges and six tunnels. It will also connect production centres with inland logistics facilities, helping cargo move more efficiently towards regional and global markets.

The railway is being developed by the Jordan-UAE Railway Company through joint UAE-Jordan investment. It is expected to create about 5,000 jobs in southern Jordan and generate opportunities for companies involved in construction, engineering, maintenance, logistics and technology.

Dr Mohammad Thneibat, Chairman of the Jordan-UAE Railway Company, said the project would “enhance the efficiency of the transport and logistics ecosystem” and strengthen the competitiveness of Jordanian exports.