King checks on progress in port relocation, tourism projects in Aqaba

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday checked on progress in the removal of the old port of Aqaba to commence the third phase of Marsa Zayed Project, a Royal Court statement said.

His Majesty stressed the importance of cooperation among all concerned institutions to have the site ready by the end of September, as Marsa Zayed, a major development project, is an added investment value and a promising project for Aqaba and the Kingdom in general.

The King pointed out the need to take preventive measures to conserve nature and ensure safety during the processes of removing and transferring rubbles from the old facilities, which have been replaced by a modern port in the southern edge of Aqaba.

For the new southern port, His Majesty noted that high quality facilities and services have to be available to ensure smooth and efficient flow and storage of goods, which would contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of Aqaba ports in the region.

During the visit, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) Chief Commissioner Nasser Shraideh briefed the King on the executive plan to hand over the port's site and the third phase of the Marsa Zayed project.

Shraideh said that relocating the port and preparing the administrative buildings and other facilities at the new port will be completed before the end of this month.

The new Aqaba Port will begin its operations at the beginning of next month, he added, while works at the new port will be finished by September.

He added that preparing the infrastructure at the old port and demolishing and removing the rubbles of the old facilities such as the warehouses, silos and other parts will be accomplished at the end of August.

Also in Aqaba, His Majesty chaired a meeting at ASEZA that was attended by Prime Minister Hani Mulki to follow up on a number of strategic projects in the fields of tourism and transport.

During the meeting, the King stressed the importance of preparing comprehensive investment packages that feature frameworks, goals, blueprints and timeframes.

He noted the importance of improving and diversifying the tourism products in Aqaba and building on its touristic characteristics to turn it a regional attraction.

The meeting included a briefing by Shraideh on several projects including a railway project to link Aqaba port with Maan land port, which will be implemented during the next three years at a cost of JD265 million.

In press remarks, Shraideh said that Maan port will be a place for customs review and clearance received from Aqaba and will have a train station with a maintenance workshop, parking for trucks and container yards.  

On Marsa Zayed, which is implemented by Eagle Hills Jordan, an Abu Dhabi-based private real estate investment and development company, the commissioner said the project would contribute to enhance the port city’s competitiveness through increasing the number of hotel rooms and other quality tourism services that would lead to increase the number of visitors.