Jaber Border Centre officially reopened after deal concluded

AMMAN — The Jaber/Nasib crossing between Jordan and Syria was back to business as usual on Monday, after it was reopened for passenger and cargo movement under certain conditions agreed between the two countries.

The crossing was closed for three years due to the security situation in southern Syria. 

The government announced, on the same day, the terms of the agreement reached by Jordanian-Syrian technical committees to reopen the border crossing between Jordan and Syria, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

This included that the working hours on both sides of the border start from 8:00am until 4:00pm.

Jordanian citizens are allowed to leave for Syria in their own vehicles or as ordinary passengers and Jordanian cargo is also allowed to leave for Syria without prior permission.

Jordanians residing in Syria can also enter the Kingdom through the border centre and Syrians residing in Jordan or in a third country may also travel to Syria via the border centre, provided they hold valid travel documents.

As for Syrian citizens coming to Jordan, they are allowed to enter the Kingdom after obtaining prior security approval. Syrian transit passengers are allowed to cross into Jordan, provided they present a residency permit or entry visa to the country they are coming from or heading to.

Syrians holding investor cards are allowed to enter the Kingdom with their vehicles without prior approval.

The agreement also allows Syrian cargo to enter the Kingdom after conducting applicable inspection procedures.

Syrians are also allowed to bring in their own vehicles that do not carry a Syrian licence plate, on condition that they present complete legal documents required under the Customs Law, whether they are coming to Jordan or just passing through its territories.

Under the deal, drivers of Syrian public vehicles are also allowed to enter the Kingdom carrying passengers without prior approval and in accordance with the procedures agreed upon between the two sides.

Meanwhile, the Jaber Border Centre was witnessing “significant activity in the movement of passengers towards the Nasib crossing with Syria since its official reopening early Monday,” Petra reported.

Meanwhile, Governor of Mafraq Yaser Adwan and a number of security directors inspected the workflow at the facility following its official reopening, the agency said.

The first day of the reopening was limited to the movement of a number of citizens and investors, while cargo movement remained unchanged as clearance offices at the Jaber crossing were not operational and owners of these offices were in the process of relicensing their businesses.

Also on Monday, a Syrian economic delegation arrived at the Jaber Crossing for talks with the Jordanian side, according to Petra.

Amman Chamber of Industry Chairman Senator Ziyad Homsi reiterated that the reopening Jaber/Nasib border crossing would facilitate the Jordanian exports to the Balkans, Turkey and Lebanon, and make it easier for Jordanian industrialists to import the raw materials necessary for their industries from Syria and other countries.