Mansour bin Zayed and the Jordanian Prime Minister witness the signing of an agreement to establish a joint company and establish a railway network in the port of Aqaba

Today, at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the State, Deputy Prime Minister, Chief of the Presidential Cabinet, and Prime Minister of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Dr. Jaafar Hassan, witnessed the signing of an agreement between the United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to develop a railway network in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and establish the Emirati-Jordanian Railway Company, which will construct and operate the 360-meter railway project. km, to connect the main mining areas of Al-Shidiya and Ghor Al-Safi with the port of Aqaba, with the aim of transporting 16 million tons annually of phosphate and potash, with a total value of the project amounting to 2.3 billion US dollars.

The agreement was signed by the UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, and by the Jordanian Minister of Transport, Dr. Nidal Al Qatamin.

Within the framework of the agreement, the establishment of the Emirati-Jordanian Railway Company was signed, a joint company between the Emirati “Lemad” Holding Company and a number of shareholders in the Kingdom of Jordan.

The agreement was signed by the Chairman of the Department of Finance in Abu Dhabi, Managing Director and CEO of Limad Holding Company, Jassem Buataba Al Zaabi, on the UAE side.
On the Jordanian side, it was signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Phosphate Mines, Dr. Muhammad Al-Thanibat, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Potash Company, Eng. Shehadeh Abu Hadeeb, the Chairman of the Social Security Fund Investment Fund, Dr. Ezzedine Kanakrieh, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Government Investment Management Company, Wadah Barqawi.

Under the agreement, the joint company will undertake the tasks of implementing, operating and maintaining the railway network in Jordan, through its executive arm, Etihad Rail Company, the developer and operator of the national railway network in the United Arab Emirates.

His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed that this agreement reflects the depth of the established fraternal relations between the United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which is based on a common vision to lead the two countries in consolidating the foundations of cooperation and integration and promoting sustainable development paths.

His Highness pointed out that the strong relations between the two countries constitute an advanced model of partnerships based on trust, unified visions, and joint work to achieve the interests of the peoples, and advance the wheel of economic development in a way that serves stability and prosperity in the region, as these partnerships reflect the commitment of the two countries to adopting qualitative projects that contribute to building more diversified and sustainable economies, and enhance opportunities for growth and integration, in line with the aspirations of the next stage.

His Highness stressed that the UAE is continuing to strengthen its strategic relations with Jordan, in a way that supports the process of joint development, and embodies the keenness of the leadership of the two countries to build a more prosperous future based on cooperation and effective partnership.

Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei stressed that the agreement embodies a strategic direction towards building an effective partnership in the field of transport between the United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and enhances the strategic position of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and its ability to effectively contribute to the global trade movement through the port of Aqaba.

Al Mazrouei added that this partnership reflects the UAE’s commitment to developing sustainable strategic relations with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which opens broader horizons for development and creates qualitative opportunities that support the common economic priorities of the two countries.

For his part, the Jordanian Minister of Transport said: “We have a strong brotherly relationship with the United Arab Emirates that is now turning into a tangible reality that serves the future of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. This railway network will create a qualitative shift in the Jordanian mining sector, as it will significantly reduce the costs of transporting phosphate and potash and enhance our competitiveness in global markets, in addition to its contribution to creating thousands of job opportunities for the people of the Kingdom.”

This agreement represents a natural extension of the $5.5 billion investment agreement, signed at the end of 2023 in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, and King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The project contributes to enhancing the export capabilities of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and raising its logistical efficiency, by linking phosphate and potash production sites directly to the port of Aqaba, which significantly reduces transportation time and costs, supports the process of comprehensive economic development, and opens broad horizons for creating new job opportunities in various sectors, by benefiting from the extensive expertise of Etihad Rail. Emirati.

On this occasion, Jassim Mohammed Buataba Al Zaabi, Managing Director and CEO of Limad Holding, said: “This agreement reflects our firm belief that investment in transportation infrastructure is the basic foundation for any real economic renaissance. We in the United Arab Emirates believe that the prosperity of the region is a shared responsibility, and this project is the best expression of our commitment to supporting our partners in building a more interconnected and competitive future at the regional and international levels.”

Prior to signing the agreements, His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Dr. Jaafar Hassan held a bilateral meeting, during which they reviewed the fraternal relations between the UAE and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and discussed ways to enhance and develop bilateral cooperation in various fields, in a way that achieves the aspirations of the leadership of the two countries and common interests, and brings goodness and development to the two brotherly peoples.

The project embodies an extension of the UAE’s role in supporting strategic development projects in the region, enhancing economic partnerships based on long-term investment and transferring qualitative expertise. It reflects the country’s commitment to supporting the development of vital infrastructure, which contributes to enhancing economic integration with sisterly and friendly countries, translating its established fraternal relations into concrete development projects that contribute to supporting regional economic growth and consolidate its position as a reliable partner in building an integrated transportation and logistics system at the regional and international levels.