Etihad Rail to Oversee $2.3bn Rail Project in Jordan

The state-owned rail company has signed an agreement with the Jordanian Ministry of Transport to facilitate the development of railway projects in Jordan, aiming to build a 360km network connecting phosphate and potash mines to the Port of Aqaba.

Etihad Rail CEO Shadi Malak stated, “We are committed to leveraging our proven expertise in developing and operating the UAE national railway network to support the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s ambitious plans for advancing its rail infrastructure and driving economic growth.”

The project will see the UAE and Etihad Rail overseeing the construction of the rail network and related infrastructure, including loading and unloading terminals, while providing maintenance, repair, and operation services for the system.

The investment also involved Etihad Rail signing two memorandums of understanding with the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company and the Arab Potash Company for the rail transport of approximately 16 million tonnes of phosphate and potash per year to Aqaba.

According to the Jordanian government, construction is not expected to begin until 2030, as detailed studies on its development will be conducted by the end of next year. Bids for construction work are set to open in early 2026.

Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh stated that the project would significantly enhance the country’s logistics and export capabilities by improving efficiency and creating new jobs in logistics, mining, and railway sectors.

The project marks Etihad Rail’s continued expansion outside of the UAE, building on the 900km rail system it developed within the UAE, which currently operates solely as a freight network.

Earlier this year, Etihad Rail signed a contract with a Siemens Mobility-led consortium for the construction of a 303km line connecting the UAE’s rail network with Oman.