Jordan Times
Monday, December 6, 2004
New ASEZA projects give
Aqaba a face-lift
By Rami Abdelrahman
Aqaba — As part of ongoing projects to modernise the southern port city of Aqaba,
construction work is expected to start soon on a new bus terminal, two
commercial towers and an “old market area,” adding to the numerous projects
already under way.
The new projects are to be run by the Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC),
according to its head and deputy chief commissioner and commissioner for
investment and economic development, Imad Fakhoury.
“We are going to restructure the Aqaba Port's operations, redevelop the marina
areas, enhance the cargo area and add new logistics areas at the airport,”
Fakhoury said, noting that these projects are now the main priority of ADC.
“The second priority is to make Aqaba an e-city, where all facilities are
user-friendly for investors, inhabitants, workers and tourists,” Fakhoury added.
ADC is a special task force established to act as the body in charge of Aqaba's
development. It is half owned by the government, and half by the Aqaba Special
Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), the legal heir of both the Aqaba Region
Authority and Aqaba Municipality.
Concerning current projects, Fakhoury said he expects the Inter.Continental
Hotel to start receiving tourists ahead of spring 2005.
“Also, two new four-star hotels are currently under construction in the suburbs
of the city, while a new five-star hotel is being built in Tala Bay.”
“we expect this hotel to provide approximately 330 rooms which would make it the
biggest hotel in Aqaba,” Fakhoury said.
During the first quarter of 2005, according to ADC, work on the Aqaba lagoon
project will start. Fakoury added that two shopping malls are now open in Aqaba,
with a third one expected to open in January 2005.
ADC will also play a role in transforming Aqaba into a student city, with the
establishment of the American University in Aqaba, due to open in 2009. ASEZA
has also signed a deal with International Global Education Systems to build a
new school in Aqaba at a cost of $8 million, catering mostly for children of
foreign residents.
In August 2000, Parliament passed a law which established ASEZA as the statutory
institution empowered with regulatory, administrative, fiscal and economic
responsibilities within the ASEZ.