Aqaba

While most business activity in Jordan is still concentrated in and around Amman, as the only sea¬port city in Jordan, Aqaba plays an important role in the country’s economy. Since the decision to turn the coastal port city and its surroundings into a special economic zone was announced in 2001, it has grown in significance as an economic base and a tourist destination. Aqaba borders both Israel and Saudi Arabia, 360 km to the south of Amman on the Red Sea’s north-eastern tip, and extends to the territorial waters of Egypt. The city has a long tradition of being a regional centre for trade going back to 4000 BCE, with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) serving as the catalyst for recent large-scale expansion. This chapter contains an interview with Nasser Shraideh, Chief Commissioner, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority.