Jordan and the United Arab Emirates held the groundbreaking ceremony for a freight railway to carry phosphate and potash from Jordanian production areas to Aqaba’s industrial port on the Red Sea on 5 October 2026. The project has now entered its announced implementation phase, but official announcements give different figures for its planned length and cost.
What railway are Jordan and the UAE building?
The Aqaba–Al-Shidiyeh–Maan Railway Project is a freight line intended to connect mineral-producing areas in Jordan with Aqaba. Its stated purpose is to move phosphate and potash more efficiently to the port for export. The October 5 groundbreaking ceremony in Aqaba was witnessed by Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed.
The ceremony followed project agreements signed in April 2026, which included establishing a joint company to develop the railway. The October announcement identifies the Jordan-UAE Railway Company as the project developer.
Where will the railway run, and what is planned?
The planned route links the Al-Shidiya and Ghor Al-Safi mining areas with Aqaba. Announcements at different stages describe the project at different scales:
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| Announcement | Reported length | Reported investment | Other stated details |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 agreement, as reported by Etihad Rail | 360 kilometres | Approximately US$2.3 billion | Route connecting Al-Shidiya and Ghor Al-Safi mining areas to Aqaba |
| October 2026 groundbreaking, as reported by Abu Dhabi Media Office | 403 kilometres | Approximately US$2.5 billion | About 55 bridges and six tunnels |
The announcements do not explain whether the differing length and investment figures reflect a changed scope, a different route definition or an updated estimate. They should therefore be read as figures attached to separate announcements, not as one reconciled project specification.
How much phosphate and potash is it expected to carry?
The April agreement set out a target of about 16 million tonnes of phosphate and potash combined per year. Jordan’s Prime Ministry gave an approximate split of 13 million tonnes of phosphate and 2.6 million tonnes of potash annually. Separately, the Royal Hashemite Court described the first phase as expected to carry about 13 million tonnes of phosphate per year from Shidiya. That first-phase phosphate figure is not the same as the combined annual target.
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Who is developing the project?
The project was announced as an equal Jordanian-Emirati partnership. Jordan’s participating entities are the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company, Arab Potash Company, Government Investments Management Company and Social Security Investment Fund; the UAE is represented by L’Imad Holding. The October announcement names the Jordan-UAE Railway Company as developer.
When is construction expected to finish?
Jordan’s Prime Ministry said financial close was expected in early 2027 and execution would take five years. These are announced expectations, not confirmed milestones or a guaranteed completion date. The October groundbreaking marks the ceremonial start of implementation; it does not by itself establish when the full railway will enter service.
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How does the project fit Jordan’s wider rail plans?
The railway is presented as part of Jordan’s broader national railway plans, focused here on connecting mineral production with Aqaba. Jordan’s Prime Ministry has also referred to studies and strategic plans for potential extensions toward Ma’an and farther north, as well as regional connections. Those are plans and studies, not completed links or a commitment to cross-border railway service.
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