The Middle East

In recent years, Aqaba’s port complex has been undergoing major redevelopment and expansion. At the same time, as Jordan’s sole seaport and main import-export funnel, Aqaba has been responding to the challenges posed by regional security issues, while remaining a major charger for the kingdom’s economic growth. Indeed, the most recent...

Renewed work on a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Amman marks a positive development for Jordan, promising improved connectivity for the capital. A burgeoning national population, estimated at nearly 7m and expected to reach 8.5m by 2025, is putting growing pressure on transport infrastructure against a backdrop of rapid urbanisation. As...

A major engine of domestic growth, Jordan’s financial services sector maintained an upward trajectory in 2014 despite a rising tide of regional instability. The kingdom’s mature, well-developed banking sector in particular is a major strength, with profits and lending both showing an increase.

Jordan’s multitude of free trade agreements (FTAs) has created a vehicle for both domestic economic development and greater integration with the global economy. In 1997 King Hussein signed the Greater Arab Free Trade Agreement (GAFTA), marking the first of a series of trade-related accords. Throughout the 2000s, Jordan signed more than seven...

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is located in the heart of the Middle East, in a region often termed the Levant. Jordan’s bordering countries include Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south, Israel and Palestine to the west, and Syria to the north. In total, Jordan covers 89,342 sq km of land and shares 1635 km of land border with...

For decades, various Middle Eastern countries and factions have clashed over land disagreements, religious differences and historical grievances. Against this backdrop, Jordan has emerged as a bulwark of stability. The kingdom has a history of political security and has long acted as a haven for individuals and families seeking refuge from...