Abu Dhabi: His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and Dr. Jafar Hassan, Prime Minister of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, today witnessed the signing of an agreement between the UAE and Jordan to develop a railway network in Jordan and establish the UAE–Jordan Railway Company. The agreement covers the construction and operation of a 360-kilometre railway linking the main mining areas of Al-Shidiya and Ghor Al-Safi to the Port of Aqaba. He noted that the strong bilateral relations represent an advanced model of partnerships based on trust, aligned visions, and joint efforts to serve the interests of both peoples and drive economic development, contributing to regional stability and prosperity. "This railway network will mark a qualitative leap in Jordan's mining sector by significantly reducing transport costs for phosphate and potash, enhancing our global competitiveness, and creating thousands of jobs for Jordanians." The agreement represents a natural extension of the US$5.5 billion investment agreement signed at the end of 2023 in the presence of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan. The project will enhance Jordan's export capabilities and logistics efficiency by directly linking phosphate and potash production sites to the Port of Aqaba, significantly reducing transport time and costs. Al-Qatamin said, "Our longstanding fraternal ties with the UAE are today translating into a tangible reality that serves Jordan's future. It will also support comprehensive economic development and open wide prospects for job creation across multiple sectors, leveraging the extensive expertise of Etihad Rail." On this occasion, Bu Ataba Al Zaabi said, "This agreement reflects our firm belief that investment in transport infrastructure is the cornerstone of any genuine economic transformation. It also reflects the country's commitment to advancing vital infrastructure, enhancing economic integration with sisterly and friendly nations, and translating strong bilateral relations into tangible development projects that support regional economic growth and reinforce its position as a trusted partner in building integrated transport and logistics systems at both regional and global levels."
