Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Jordan's King break ground on Aqaba rail project
In short
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, arrived in Aqaba, Jordan, on 5 October on a working visit, and was received by King Abdullah II at King Hussein International Airport. The two attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Aqaba–Al-Shidiyeh–Maan Railway Project, which business outlets describe as a multi-billion-dollar rail link connecting the Port of Aqaba with Jordan's mining centres. Reports differ on the project's cost and length, citing $2.3 billion and 403 kilometres, and $2.5 billion and 360 kilometres.
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Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, arrived in Aqaba, Jordan, on Monday 5 October on a working visit to take part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Aqaba–Al-Shidiyeh–Maan Railway Project, according to official and business outlets. King Abdullah II led those receiving him at King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba, alongside several senior officials, and his aircraft was escorted by military aircraft from the Royal Jordanian Air Force as it entered Jordanian airspace, in what the reports described as a gesture of welcome. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The Abu Dhabi Media Office and WAM reported that King Abdullah and Sheikh Khaled witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony, and Economy Middle East reported the same. The National reported that the Crown Prince also met with officials involved in the project. [ 7 , 8 , 10 , 11 ]
Details of the project differ between outlets. The National reported that it entails a 403-kilometre, $2.3 billion transport network connecting the Port of Aqaba with major mining centres in Al Shidiya and Ghor Al Safi, including about 55 bridges and six tunnels. Economy Middle East, in a separate report, put the project at $2.5 billion and, in earlier background, described a 360-kilometre rail network. The documents do not reconcile the figures. [ 6 , 8 , 11 ]
Economy Middle East reported that in April 2026 the UAE and Jordan signed a $2.3 billion infrastructure partnership to build the Aqaba Port Railway and set up the UAE–Jordan Railway Company, structured as an equal partnership between Abu Dhabi-based Lunate Holding and a consortium including the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company, Arab Potash Company, the Government Investments Management Company and the Social Security Investment Fund. The National reported that the UAE signed the project in July, with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, in attendance, and that Monday's project is developed by the Jordanian-Emirati Railways Company. [ 6 , 11 ]
Sheikh Khaled said the project reflected the two countries' commitment to further strengthening their bilateral partnership across key sectors, according to The National. Dr Mohammad Thneibat, Chairman of the Jordan-UAE Railway Company, said the groundbreaking marked the beginning of a new chapter in the Jordan-UAE partnership, adding that the project's significance lay in its ability to connect production centres with the ports of Aqaba and regional and global markets, enhance the transport and logistics ecosystem, strengthen the competitiveness of national exports and reinforce Jordan's position in regional and international trade. [ 11 ]
Why it matters
The ceremony begins construction on a rail link that outlets say is meant to connect Jordan's phosphate and potash mining areas to the Port of Aqaba, part of an effort to modernise the country's logistics and export routes. It also extends UAE infrastructure investment in Jordan, following partnership agreements reported earlier in 2026. The documents give no completion date for the railway.
Key facts
- Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, arrived in Aqaba, Jordan, on Monday 5 October on a working visit. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- King Abdullah II received him on arrival at King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba, alongside several senior Jordanian officials. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
- His aircraft was escorted by Royal Jordanian Air Force military aircraft as it entered Jordanian airspace. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The visit was to take part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Aqaba–Al-Shidiyeh–Maan Railway Project. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 10 , 11 ]
- King Abdullah and Sheikh Khaled witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony. [ 7 , 8 , 10 , 11 ]
- The National reported the project as a 403-kilometre, $2.3 billion network linking the Port of Aqaba with mining centres in Al Shidiya and Ghor Al Safi, including about 55 bridges and six tunnels. [ 11 ]
- Economy Middle East reported the project cost at $2.5 billion and separately described a 360-kilometre rail network. [ 6 , 8 ]
- Sheikh Khaled met officials involved in the project and said it reflected the two countries' commitment to strengthening their bilateral partnership across key sectors, according to The National. [ 11 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi arrived in Aqaba, Jordan, on a working visit on 5 October. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- King Abdullah II led those receiving him at King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba, alongside several senior officials. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 11 ]
- His aircraft was escorted by military aircraft from the Royal Jordanian Air Force in a gesture of welcome. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The purpose of the visit was to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Aqaba–Al-Shidiyeh–Maan Railway Project. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- King Abdullah and Sheikh Khaled witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony, as reported by official and business outlets. [ 7 , 8 , 10 , 11 ]
Still unclear
- The cost of the railway project, reported as $2.3 billion and as $2.5 billion. Two business outlets cite different figures for the same project, and the official documents do not give a cost.
- The length of the railway network, given as 360 kilometres and as 403 kilometres. The two figures come from different single business sources and are not reconciled in the documents.
- How the April 2026 UAE–Jordan infrastructure partnership relates to the project launched on Monday. The link between the earlier agreements and Monday's groundbreaking is described by a single business outlet.
- The project's ownership structure, described as an equal partnership between Lunate Holding and a consortium including the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company, Arab Potash Company, the Government Investments Management Company and the Social Security Investment Fund. This detail appears in only one document.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The Abu Dhabi Media Office reports the Crown Prince's arrival in Aqaba and his reception by King Abdullah. [ 1 ]
- WAM publishes the same arrival account, including the air-force escort. [ 3 ]
- Emirates 24|7 reports the arrival and calls the railway a key infrastructure initiative supporting economic development; Gulf News also publishes the arrival account. [ 4 , 5 ]
- Economy Middle East reports the arrival and adds background on the April 2026 UAE–Jordan infrastructure partnership. [ 6 ]
- The Abu Dhabi Media Office reports that King Abdullah and Sheikh Khaled witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony. [ 7 ]
- Economy Middle East reports the groundbreaking and puts the project at $2.5 billion. [ 8 ]
- WAM reports the groundbreaking ceremony. [ 10 ]
- The National reports the ceremony, project details and quotes from Sheikh Khaled and the Jordan-UAE Railway Company chairman. [ 11 ]