The Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister of Jordan Dr. Jafar Hassan oversaw the signing of a bilateral agreement on 16th April 2026 aimed at advancing railway network development in Jordan. The agreement establishes the UAE-Jordan Railway Company and sets the foundation for a major infrastructure initiative linking key industrial zones to export routes. This step marks a significant milestone in railway network development, reinforcing cooperation between the two countries in transport and logistics.
The agreement outlines the construction and operation of a 360-kilometre railway that will connect the mining hubs of Al-Shidiya and Ghor Al-Safi with the Port of Aqaba. Designed to handle 16 million tonnes annually of phosphate and potash, the project carries a total investment value of US$2.3 billion. It was signed on behalf of the UAE by Suhail bin Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and on behalf of Jordan by Dr. Nidal Al-Qatamin, Minister of Transport of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. As part of the initiative, the UAE-Jordan Railway Company has been formally established as a joint venture between Abu Dhabi’s L’IMAD Holding Company (L’IMAD) and multiple Jordanian stakeholders, further strengthening railway network development efforts across the region.
The founding agreement for the company was signed by Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Finance and Managing Director and Group CEO of L’IMAD Holding, alongside key Jordanian representatives including Dr. Mohammad Thneibat, Chairman at Jordan Phosphate Mines Company, Eng. Shehada Abu Hdeib, Chairman of Arab Potash Company, Dr. Ezzeddin Kanakrieh, Chief Executive Officer of the Jordan Social Security Investment Fund (SSIF) and Waddah Barqawi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Government Investments Management Company. Under the terms of the agreement, the joint venture will oversee implementation, operations, and maintenance of the railway network through its executing arm, Etihad Rail, which is responsible for the UAE’s national railway network. This structure is expected to support efficient railway network development and long-term operational sustainability.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed stated that the agreement reflects the deep-rooted fraternal relations between the UAE and Jordan, built on a shared vision of cooperation, integration, and sustainable development. He emphasized that such partnerships represent a model of collaboration driven by trust and aligned strategic objectives, contributing to economic growth and regional stability. Al Mazrouei highlighted that the agreement represents a strategic step toward strengthening transport partnerships and enhancing Jordan’s role in global trade via the Port of Aqaba. The project builds on the US$5.5 billion investment agreement signed at the end of 2023 and is expected to enhance export capacity, improve logistics efficiency, reduce transportation costs, and create employment opportunities, further reinforcing railway network development across key sectors.
