AD Ports Group, a leading facilitator of trade and logistics, have appointed a consortium of Jordan’s Dar Al Omran and Maisam Group to develop the masterplan for the Marsa Zayed mega-project in Aqaba, in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The appointment follows AD Ports Group’s signing of multiple agreements with the Aqaba Development Corporation in 2021 for the development of tourism, transport, logistics and digital infrastructure in the area, strengthening Aqaba’s status as a key regional tourism and business hub.

The consortium of Jordan’s leading architectural consultants will develop the masterplan for a total land area of 3.2 million sqm across the Marsa Zayed site, which will consist of several districts comprising residential, retail, F&B, commercial and office space, hotel, and leisure areas.

Abdullah Al Hameli, Chief Executive Officer - Economic Cities & Free Zones Cluster, AD Ports Group said: “AD Ports Group lays great importance on developing the project in cooperation with leading local companies. The appointment of the consortium of market leaders Dar Al Omran and Maisam Group for the Marsa Zayed development is a manifestation of this philosophy. As leading firms in the market, they each have the local expertise, on the ground experience, and a shared vision of creating the ambitious projects necessary to drive Aqaba’s position as a major tourism and business destination in the region.

“The Marsa Zayed development, along with other strategic projects underway in Aqaba, will boost the wider efforts of the leadership of Abu Dhabi and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to drive trade and tourism in the region, and to develop world-class infrastructure to significantly expand the facilities available to travellers and businesses via sea, land, and air.”

As part of the wider series of agreements between AD Ports Group and the Aqaba Development Corporation, the Marsa Zayed project will include a new state-of-the-art cruise terminal in Aqaba and will serve an increase in footfall owing to the development of King Hussein International Airport. The site will also enjoy proximity to a modernised multi-purpose port.

With its connected ecosystem, in addition to easy access from the south coast highway and close to the city centre, Marsa Zayed is set to become a prime location for local and international investors, looking to lease, own, or jointly develop serviced plots in the mixed-use and entertainment development.