Interior minister spotlights government’s plan to upgrade Kingdom’s border crossings

AMMAN — Minister of Interior Mazen Faraya said on Wednesday that the government attaches great importance to border crossings as they represent the first point of interaction for visitors entering the Kingdom.

Faraya, during a visit to Omari Border Crossing to inspect passenger movement, announced a comprehensive government plan for border crossings including the ongoing construction of a new crossing in Aqaba (the Durra crossing), which will connect Jordan with Saudi Arabia. The foundation stone for this project was laid by Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh in February.

The minister also said that the government has allocated JD600,000 for comprehensive development plans at the Jaber (with Syria) and Karameh (with Iraq) crossings, according to Al Mamlakah TV.

Regarding the King Hussein Bridge, which connects the Kingdom and the Palestinian territories, the government announced a tender for the construction of new buildings and facilities. He also said that the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, in February, completed a project to upgrade the area around the King Hussein Bridge, which included road expansion, sidewalk rehabilitation and central island improvements.

Faraya highlighted the expected increase in arrivals from Saudi Arabia to the Kingdom, citing the entry of 24,000 individuals in a single working day at the Omari Border Crossing in 2023. He also noted that the purpose of his current visit to the crossing is to identify and rectify the shortcomings of 2023, and to overcome challenges by augmenting staff and implementing other measures.