Aqaba

Aqaba is the only coastal city in Jordan and the largest city on the Gulf of Aqaba. Located in the southernmost part of the country, it is the administrative center of the Aqaba Governorate. In 2015, the city had a population of 148,398 people and covers an area of 375 square kilometres (144.8 sq mi). Aqaba is important for trade and tourism, with the busy Port of Aqaba serving not just Jordan but also other countries in the region.

Because of its location at the northeastern tip of the Red Sea, Aqaba has been important for thousands of years. In ancient times, it was called Elath, or Aela in Latin, and later Ayla in Arabic. Its position near important copper mines made it a key place for trade during the Chalcolithic period.

Aqaba has a rich history. It became a bishopric under Byzantine rule and later a Latin Catholic titular see after the Islamic conquest around AD 650. The name Aqaba came into use in medieval times. During the Great Arab Revolt, Arab forces won the Battle of Aqaba against Ottoman defenders.

Today, Aqaba is a major tourist destination, partly because of its close proximity to Wadi Rum and Petra. The city is managed by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, which has made it a low-tax, duty-free area. This has led to big projects like Ayla Oasis, Saraya Aqaba, and Marsa Zayed, along with expansions of the Port of Aqaba. Despite these developments, the city's role as Jordan's only seaport keeps industrial and commercial activities very important. Aqaba is right across the border from Eilat, Israel's only port on the Red Sea. Although there were plans after the 1994 Israel–Jordan peace treaty to create a joint tourism and economic area, few of these plans have actually been carried out.

Name

Elath and derivates

The old name of the city was Elath or Ailath. The name might come from a tree called Pistacia, or from an old word for "ram." A similar name appears in the Hebrew Bible. Today, the nearby city of Eilat also gets its name from this ancient place. During Greek times, the city was called Berenice, but the old name stayed. Later, under Roman rule, it was known as Aila, Aela, or Haila. The crusaders called it Elyn.

Aqaba

The current name al-ʿAqaba means "the mountain-pass of Ayla." This name appeared in the 12th century. The word "ʿaqaba" means slope or pass. Some think it refers to the road north, while others think it points to the path south toward Mecca.

History

Excavations at two archaeological mounds a few kilometres north of modern-day Aqaba revealed settlements from around 4000 BC during a time called the Chalcolithic period. People there made copper on a large scale. They also built a small building with drawings of humans and animals, suggesting it was used for religious purposes. They grew crops like grapes, olives, and wheat using an advanced water system. Many clay pots were found, showing copper production was very important.

The Edomites, who lived south of the Dead Sea, built the first port in Aqaba around 1500 BC and named it Elath. This helped them trade copper with help from the Phoenicians. The city grew because of its location on important trade routes between Asia and Africa.

Later, the Romans took control in 64 BC and named the city Aela. It became a major trading hub. During Roman times, a long road called the Via Traiana Nova connected many places to Aela. The Aqaba Church was built between 293 and 303 and is considered the oldest purpose-built Christian church in the world.

In the 7th century, Muslim armies took over Aqaba. A new city was built outside the old walls. Aqaba continued to be important for trade, especially for spices from India. It was also a stop for pilgrim caravans traveling to Mecca.

During World War I, Ottoman forces left Aqaba in 1917 after a battle led by T. E. Lawrence and Arab forces. This helped the British support the Arab forces. In 1918, Aqaba became part of the Kingdom of the Hejaz. Later, it became part of Transjordan.

In 1965, King Hussein of Jordan made a land exchange with Saudi Arabia, gaining extra coastline for Aqaba. The Aqaba Marine Reserve was created in 1997 to protect the area's natural beauty.

Nearby Chalcolithic sites

Main article: Elath

Main articles: History of the Romans in Arabia, Arabia Petraea, and Via Traiana Nova

Further information: Lordship of Transjordan

Geography

Aqaba is the only coastal city in Jordan. It is located at the southernmost point of the country, right on the tip of the Red Sea at the Gulf of Aqaba. This special location makes it important because it sits where the continents of Asia and Africa meet, and it borders three countries: Israel, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

Climate

Aqaba has a hot desert climate. Winters are mild and sometimes warm, while summers are very hot and dry. Very cold temperatures below zero happen only a few times each year. The hottest temperature ever recorded there was 49.6 °C (121.3 °F) on August 14, 2025, and the coldest was −3.9 °C (25.0 °F) on January 16, 2008, similar to temperatures in nearby Eilat.

Local government

In August 2000, a special group called the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) was created. This group helps manage the city and its economy.

Jordan has 12 main areas called Governorates. The Aqaba Governorate has 3 Districts. Some of these Districts are split into smaller areas called Subdistricts, which are made up of villages.

Economy

Aqaba is a special economic zone in Jordan, meaning it has special rules that make it easier for businesses to grow. The city's economy is mainly based on tourism and its port. Being next to famous places like Wadi Rum and Petra, Aqaba has become a popular tourist spot. The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority helps the city by making it a low-tax area with no extra fees on goods, which has brought big projects like Ayla Oasis, Saraya Aqaba, and Marsa Zayed. These projects aim to make Aqaba a major tourism spot in the region. The city is also important for industry and trade because it is Jordan's only seaport.

Aqaba is Jordan's only seaport, so most of the country's exports leave from here. The city also has factories for heavy machinery, such as the Land Rover Aqaba Assembly Plant. Many big projects are happening in Aqaba, including large developments like Marsa Zayed, a huge project with homes, shops, entertainment, and hotels. Other projects include Saraya Aqaba, a luxury resort, and Ayla Oasis, a resort with a golf course and unique buildings along canals. These projects will bring more visitors and help the city's economy grow.

Tourism

Aqaba has many luxury hotels, including the Tala Bay resort, which is a popular spot for beachgoers and scuba diving. The city offers over thirty diving spots suitable for divers of all levels, with reefs stretching for many miles toward the Saudi border. Aqaba also has desert activities, coffee shops serving local foods like mansaf and knafeh, and a historic Turkish Bath (Hamam) built in 306 AD where people relax.

In 2006, about 432,000 tourists visited Aqaba, with most being Jordanians and many from Europe. The city plans new projects to attract even more visitors, including waterfront buildings and high-rise apartments. Aqaba was named the Arab Tourism City in 2011. During holidays like the end of Ramadan and Eid Al-Adha, the city welcomes many visitors, filling hotels to capacity. These development projects also help local people by creating new opportunities and bringing together people from different places for mutual benefit.

Demographics

Aqaba is one of the fastest-growing cities in Jordan. In 2007, the city had about 98,400 people, and by 2011, the population grew to around 136,200. Many of the buildings in Aqaba were built after 1990.

Religion

Most people in Aqaba follow Islam, but there is also a Christian community. About 5,000 Christian families live in the city, and there are several churches and Christian schools, such as Rosary Sisters School Aqaba.

Cityscape

Residential buildings in Aqaba are made up of 4 stories, covered with sandstone or limestone. The city does not have any tall buildings, but a project called Marsa Zayed plans to build several tall towers. These towers will include hotels, homes, offices, and clinics.

Culture

Museums

The biggest museum in Aqaba is the Aqaba Archaeological Museum.

Lifestyle

Aqaba has grown a lot in recent years, especially with more tourists coming to visit. This has brought more fun activities and places to enjoy at night.

Transport

Rail

The Aqaba railway used to carry phosphate to the old port, but it stopped working in 2018. There are plans for a new railway to carry phosphate from Al Shidiya and Ghor es-Safi to the new terminal at the Port of Aqaba. There have also been ideas to connect Eilat to Aqaba by train.

Airports

King Hussein International Airport is the only airport outside of Amman in the country, and it is located north of Aqaba. It is about a 20-minute drive from the city center. There are regular flights from Amman to Aqaba, taking about 45 minutes, operated by Royal Jordanian Airlines and Jordan Aviation Airlines. Several international airlines fly to Aqaba from places like Istanbul, Dubai, Alexandria, and Sharm el-Sheikh, as well as other destinations in Asia and Europe.

Roads

Aqaba is linked to surrounding countries by a modern highway system that stretches 8,000 kilometres (5,000 mi). The city connects to the rest of Jordan through the Desert Highway and the King's Highway, which lead to resorts and settlements near the Dead Sea. Aqaba is also connected to Eilat in Israel by taxi and bus services through the Wadi Araba crossing, and to Haql in Saudi Arabia through the Durra Border Crossing. There are many bus services between Aqaba and Amman, as well as other major cities in Jordan. Companies like JETT and Trust International operate tourist buses that are spacious, have air conditioning, and include bathrooms.

Port

The Port of Aqaba is the only port in Jordan. There are daily ferry services to Taba, operated by several companies including Sindbad for Marine Transportation and Arab Bridge Maritime. These ferries mainly serve Egyptian coastal cities on the gulf, such as Taba and Sharm Al Sheikh. In 2006, the port was named the "Best Container Terminal" in the Middle East by Lloyd's List, thanks to its recent improvements and its ability to handle both local and international traffic for four neighboring countries.

Wildlife

The Gulf of Aqaba is full of amazing sea creatures. It is home to about 500 different kinds of fish. Some fish, like the lion fish and octopus, stay there all the time. Others, like the very fast sailfish and the huge whale shark, visit in the summer. The gulf is also a home for animals like hawksbill sea turtles and bottle nosed dolphins.

Many types of birds live around the gulf too, including the greater flamingo, great white pelican, and the pink-backed pelican. Sadly, some shark numbers are going down because of fishing and pollution, but people are working to help protect them.

Education

Aqaba is home to a branch of the University of Jordan. This helps students in the area to study and learn in their own city.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Jordan

Aqaba has friendly connections with several cities around the world. These include:

• Alcamo, Italy
• Basra, Iraq^{[citation needed]}
• Hammamet, Tunisia
• Saint Petersburg, Russia
• Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
• Ürümqi, China