AMMAN — Detailed designs for the third phase of the Potash Railway Line have been completed, marking progress on a project to establish a railway linking Aqaba’s industrial port with the Kingdom’s mining areas, according to a first-half 2026 progress report on the implementation of the Economic Modernisation Vision’s Executive Programme for 2026-2029.

 

The report said the project is part of efforts to develop Jordan’s transport and logistics infrastructure and strengthen links between the country’s industrial and mining sectors and Aqaba Port.

 

It also highlighted progress on a number of major transport and logistics projects during the first half of the year, including roads, ports, airports, border crossings and public transport, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

 

In Aqaba, the port management and truck control system was launched and actual operations began, contributing to the development of logistics and port services in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone.

 

The system is also expected to improve operational efficiency and facilitate the movement of trucks and supply chains through advanced digital solutions.

 

Progress was also recorded on the Irbid Ring Road, with bridge columns completed and preparations underway for culvert works. Work also began on a number of roads under a project to maintain and rehabilitate the Kingdom’s arterial and main road network.

 

The report also said all studies and designs for the King Hussein Bridge Station project had been completed, while implementation had begun on a project to develop regular transport services between Amman and governorate and district centres.

 

Companies responsible for organising queues for routes covered by the project were established, and operating contracts and agreements with partner companies were signed.

 

In the aviation sector, work began to upgrade meteorological monitoring systems on the runways at Amman Civil Airport and King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba to improve the accuracy of meteorological data used for air navigation.

 

The work is part of a project to enhance the efficiency of Jordanian airspace, ensure flexible, efficient and sustainable operations and facilitate air traffic in the Aqaba area.

 

The report also said a framework agreement had been finalised and signed with the investor designated as developer and operator of King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba, while preliminary studies and designs had begun.

 

A tender was floated for the second phase of the development of Aqaba’s Oil Port, aimed at increasing the port’s capacity to handle petroleum products and enhancing public safety measures.

 

Under the Land Freight Transport Sector Development Plan, a study is being prepared on freight transport patterns in the Kingdom, while a proposal to establish a national Jordanian land transport company is also being examined.

 

Two contracts were signed to license new transport companies operating through smart applications under a project to regulate passenger transport using smart applications.

 

The report said the internal network covering all sites of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, including directorates, maintenance workshops and weighbridges, had been completed and linked to a central control and monitoring room.

 

Information had also been collected and site assessments completed as part of updated studies for the Irbid Ring Road and Salt Ring Road.

 

At the Dura Border Crossing, finishing works on sewage, water and electricity networks had been completed, along with waterproofing works on station roofs. A tender was also floated for works in the passenger and cargo areas.

 

Under a project to construct buildings for anti-smuggling and customs escort centres in Al Karama, Al Sultani, Azraq and Ma’an, the residential building in Al Karama had been occupied and put into use, providing accommodation for customs employees.

 

Construction work had also begun on the anti-smuggling and customs escort building in Azraq.

 

The report added that business process analysis and re-engineering had been completed for 16 organisational units at customs directorates and centres, in addition to an analysis of four systems related to customs operations, as part of the Comprehensive Customs Operations System project.

 

Under the second phase of the project to modernise and develop the Jordanian Trade Facilitation Portal, procedures for 26 of 72 targeted commodities had been updated and documented. The report said 15 liaison officers working on the portal had also received training.

 

The transport and storage sector’s gross domestic product reached JD522 million in the first quarter of this year, while the number of waybills processed through the E-Commerce Centre reached 1.46 million.

 

A total of 16,366 customs declarations were also processed through the centre.