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Abu Dhabi-based AD Ports Group has announced the opening of its first cruise terminal in the Jordanian city of Aqaba, marking the first of five strategic mega-projects it has planned in the kingdom. AD Ports Group will manage and operate the new cruise terminal.
The Aqaba Cruise Terminal, a world-class facility for international cruise passengers wishing to visit Jordan, especially Aqaba, Petra and Wadi Rum, will be managed and operated by AD Ports Group.
The opening of the terminal coincides with the arrival of the cruise ship MSC Splendida carrying more than 2,000 tourists to Jordan.
The new Aqaba Cruise Terminal marks the first of five strategic mega-projects planned by global logistics, industry and trade facilitator AD Ports Group and the Aqaba Development Corporation to boost tourism, logistics in the coastal city and transport sector development, it said.
The inauguration took place under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Bisher Khasawneh, UAE Ambassador to Jordan Sheikh Khalifa Bin Mohammed Bin Khalid Al Nahyan and Deputy Prime Minister and Jordanian Minister of Local Administration Tawfiq Kreishan.
This is a joint project between AD Ports Group and Aqaba Development Corporation to strengthen the coastal city’s position as a regional tourism hub and gateway for visitors to the Red Sea.
Over the next four months, more than 50 ships will call at the Aqaba Cruise Terminal, bringing tens of thousands of tourists to this popular winter destination.
An example of a successful public-private partnership, the Aqaba Cruise Terminal provides an exceptional travel experience, making Jordan a key destination for leisure travelers and a sign of economic prosperity, said a statement from AD Ports Group.
The Aqaba Cruise Terminal includes 700 meters of quay walls, passenger and baggage halls, interior retail spaces, free Wi-Fi, prayer rooms and offices.
Serving the cruise business as a one-stop shop for multiple government stakeholders, the ultra-modern facility improves processes, procedures and services to make it an attractive destination for cruise lines, increasing ship calls and passenger traffic , while ultimately boosting the economy as a whole, it said.
Sheikh Khalifa and Kreishan conducted the tour and were briefed by Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, on the various facilities and services at the facility to cater to international tourists visiting the Kingdom needs and expectations.
Sheikh Khalifa said: “The Aqaba Cruise Terminal is the result of active cooperation and strategic partnership between the UAE and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Our historically long and deep-rooted fraternal relationship has today reached advanced coordination in many respects level, both countries have become models of cooperation, wisdom, rationality, peace, tolerance and forgiveness in the region and the world.”
“The UAE is an important strategic partner of Jordan in multiple fields, and is keen to push mutual economic and investment cooperation to a higher level, while establishing existing partnerships in different fields. Last year, the trade volume was about 3 billion US dollars, and the UAE Investments in Jordan exceed $17 billion,” he noted.
Group Chairman Falah Mohammad Al Ahbabi said the inauguration reflected the ongoing cooperation and strategic partnership between the two fraternal countries, taking them to new heights.
“As the first and only facility of its kind in the country, Aqaba Cruise Terminal not only provides unprecedented access to the rapidly growing cruise industry, but also allows us to share our longstanding expertise in operating a leading cruise terminal, Also supporting AD Ports Group’s international growth strategy by leveraging Aqaba’s key location and enormous potential as a regional hub on the Red Sea,” he said.
Engineer Nayef Fayez, Chief Commissioner of ASEZA and Chairman of Aqaba Development Corporation, said: “We remain committed to making Aqaba City a competitive investment, business and tourism destination on the Red Sea with the successful opening of the Aqaba Cruise Terminal today. Consistent with those efforts.”
“We thank our partners in AD Ports Group for believing in the great potential of Aqaba and for sharing our ongoing efforts to stimulate and strengthen sustainable economic activity in one of Jordan’s most important gateways,” he added.
Captain Al Shamisi said the new facility aims to elevate the tourist experience in Aqaba and capitalize on its prime location and growth potential to attract tens of thousands of international tourists to explore Jordan’s popular attractions, thereby establishing its status as a destination At the same time adding economic value to the coastal city the first choice of the Levant region.
Hussein Safadi, CEO of Aqaba Development Corporation, said: “This strategic partnership is a testament to the strong cooperation between Jordan and the UAE, firmly positioning Aqaba as a major player on the global stage, while Helps facilitate national planning and drive economic prosperity.”
“More than that, the subsequent digital transformation brought about by this partnership will also foster a new ecosystem that will significantly enhance the resilience of Aqaba’s maritime sector,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service
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