Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - His Majesty King Abdullah II on Thursday laid the foundation stone of a new port in the southern part of the city of Aqaba and checked on progress of work at Ayla Oasis and Saraya Aqaba projects.

The first phase of the port project will be implemented at total cost of JD200 million.

The new port is one of Jordan’s national infrastructure priorities, and will constitute a major element of the country’s long-term economic growth, as it is part of its sole maritime gateway and a key component of ASEZA’s emerging positioning as a leading, multi-modal, logistical, trade gateway for the Levant region on the Red Sea.

Chief Commissioner of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) Nasser Madadha said the new Aqaba port is part of other projects that will be implemented in the southern area of Aqaba.

He said the Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) is committed to implementing the project in the nearest possible time, despite the world's economic and financial conditions which reflected negatively on investments and projects around the world.

The King was briefed by CEO of Aqaba Development Corporation Ghassan Ghanim on plans and programs to implement the new port project.

He said the first phase of the project, which will carried out at a total cost of JD200 million will be completed within 2 years.

The King also checked on the Saraya Aqaba project, where work stopped due to financial reasons.

His Majesty was briefed by board chairman of the company on steps that will be taken to resume the implementation of the project.

Saraya Aqaba and its man-made lagoon, located on the western tip of Aqaba, is a project that covers approximately 634,000sqm of master planned development combining hotels, shopping, dining, entertainment, cultural activities and freehold residences. The total project construction cost is estimated at over US$ 1 billion.

The project features luxurious hotels, grand villas, villas, grand townhouses, garden and terrace townhouses, duplexes, lofts and apartments, as well as a water park, a convention center and business offices.

King Abdullah also checked on the Ayla Oasis project which will feature a range of facilities and amenities, including a variety of up-market hotels, unique residential communities, a golf course and a town center encompassing a marina, retail units, cafes, entertainment and recreational facilities, built around a man made lagoon. The total area of the Ayla Oasis site is approximately 430 hectares (1.060 acres) with a 250 meters (820 feet) sea frontage on the Gulf of Aqaba.

CEO of Ayla Oasis Project Sahil Dodain briefed on stages of the project's implementation.

The King was accompanied by Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh, Director of the King's Office Imad Fakhoury and Royal Court Advisor Amer Hadidi.



*Petra