Aqaba

Aqaba is Jordan’s only port city, strategically located and long inhabited as a major trading hub. This role is well supported by extensive archaeological evidence, including the Mamluk Fort, the Ayla Byzantine city, Tell al-Khaleifeh from the Iron Age, and what archaeologists believe to be the oldest church in the world.

The city is also home to a museum featuring exhibits and information about Aqaba’s past. The museum building was once the residence of Ash-Sharif Hussein bin Ali, the great-great-grandfather of His Majesty King Abdullah II.

In recent years, Aqaba has been designated a special free trade zone, encouraging significant industrial development through favorable customs and tax regulations.

As a Red Sea port city, Aqaba offers all the attractions of a beach holiday destination, including sandy beaches, dive centers, resort hotels, and a wide range of water activities. Visitors can take diving courses or snorkel among some of the world’s most colorful coral reefs. Other water sports include windsurfing, parasailing, water skiing, jet skiing, and banana boat rides. For those seeking a more relaxed experience, glass-bottom boats cruise along the reefs, offering a dry-foot view of the vibrant underwater world.

Visitors should be aware that Aqaba is currently undergoing a major development phase. Over the next six years, plans include the addition of approximately 7,000 hotel rooms, along with villas, marinas, lagoons, golf courses, and other resort-city amenities. These projects are expected to create around 90,000 new jobs, prompting further construction of housing and municipal services. During this period, visitors may experience construction noise and temporary inconveniences as the city continues to grow.