Aqaba: Arab Bridge Maritime Co. (ABM) launched a new phase of its investment projects in Jordan and Egypt, including the development of a passenger and Ro-Ro cargo terminal at Aqaba Port, the establishment of a dedicated customs zone for Egyptian agricultural products in Aqaba and the launch of a ship repair and maintenance yard project at Port Safaga.
According to Jordan News Agency, the project's memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in Cairo under the auspices of the transport ministers of Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq. This marked the start of a comprehensive Arab investment strategy aimed at developing maritime infrastructure and enhancing logistics services at Red Sea ports. The memo was signed between ABM and Red Sea Ports Authorities, under the patronage of Jordanian Transport Minister Nidal Qatamin and Egyptian Transport Minister Kamel Wazir.
The project aims to establish the first Arab ship repair and maintenance yard in the region under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model. Qatamin praised ABM's unprecedented achievements, noting that the company's expansion in maritime infrastructure projects reflects the founding states' commitment to turning the Red Sea into a fully integrated Arab hub for transport and logistics.
Qatamin described the Safaga shipyard project as the first step in a unified approach connecting Arab Red Sea ports, adding that the benefits will soon extend to Aqaba, where a passenger and Ro-Ro terminal is being developed in cooperation with Aqaba Development Corporation. He said ABM's new strategy for maritime infrastructure reflects the founding states' vision for effective Arab economic integration, aligning with Jordan's economic modernization goals and representing a successful model of shared expertise and investment.
Wazir said ABM's strategic projects are a tangible result of Arab joint action and a model for balanced economic cooperation. He added that the Safaga shipyard exemplifies the potential of Arab integration, supporting Egypt's 2030 vision to transform its ports into global logistics hubs and enhancing regional and international trade.
The new shipyard project will improve logistics services, create quality job opportunities, and elevate Safaga Port and the Red Sea Economic Zone as specialized centers for ship repair and maintenance. Iraqi Deputy Transport Minister Hazem Khafagi affirmed Iraq's support for Arab maritime integration projects, praising ABM's leadership role in advancing this collaborative path.
ABM's General Manager, Adnan Abadleh, described the project as a strategic turning point, redefining the Arab maritime industry by establishing the first comprehensive Red Sea shipyard. He said the memo translates the vision set by the company's general assembly in early 2025, expanding investments to include maritime infrastructure, supporting industries, and logistics services in both Jordan and Egypt.
Abadleh added that the Safaga project serves as a developmental pillar that will turn the Red Sea into a regional hub for ship maintenance and logistics, creating jobs and transferring knowledge to the region. He outlined ABM's upcoming strategic projects, including the Aqaba passenger and Ro-Ro terminal, the dedicated customs zone for imported agricultural products in Aqaba, the Safaga shipyard, and a potential development of leisure and private boat repair facilities in Sharm El-Sheikh in partnership with the Red Sea Ports Authority.
He affirmed that ABM remains committed to becoming a model for sustainable Arab maritime integration, backed by the support of transport ministries in the founding states and the company's experienced workforce in regional maritime project management.