Special Economic Zones in the OIC Region:
Learning from Experience
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Table 5-18 – Aqaba Ports Overview
Port Purpose
Main Port
Comprises 12 berths and can handle vessels with a draft up to 14.4m.
Used for handling general cargo, grain and phosphate export.
Middle Port
Comprises 7 berths including Mo’ta Berth, Moshterak Berth, the
Container Terminal, Ro-Ro berth and Yarmouk Berth (passenger
terminal)
These berths are primarily used for handling containers, rice,
livestock, cement, vegetable oil and passengers.
Southern Industrial Port
Comprises 4 berths including an Oil Jetty, Timber Berth and an
Industrial Terminal
These berths are used primarily for handling oil, timber and serve the
imports and exports of the industrial complex products such as
fertilisers, sulphur, salt, potash and chemicals.
Source: Aqaba Ports (2017)
5.5.3 Legislative and Regulatory Framework
SEZ Act and Regulations
The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Law was established in 2000. Under Article 3 of the Law it
states that the “aim of the establishment of the Zone is to enhance economic capability in the
Kingdom by attracting different economic activities and investments”.107
The SEZ law established the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) and mandated
that it should have juridical personality with financial and administrative autonomy. The law
enabled the ASEZA to acquire movable and immovable property and perform all legal acts
necessary to achieve its objectives including concluding contracts, accepting aids, grants and
donations and litigating. The ASEZA is the regulator for the Aqaba SEZ.
107 Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (2000) The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Law no (32) for the Year 2000 and its
amendments.