History

Aqaba has always stood at the crossroads of culture and trade. Human habitation of the city dates back to 4000 BC a result of the city’s strategic location at the junction of trading routes between Asia, Europe, and Africa. The city, once known as Ayla, grew in regional importance as a northern port on the Red Sea, and was a center for copper smelting. In Roman times, the great Via Nova Traiana passed through Aqaba, connecting Damascus with Egypt.

A bold and timely initiative

The Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) was inaugurated in 2001 as part of the Jordanian government efforts in formulating an attractive investment environment and to ensure Aqaba’s commercial and cultural prominence continues into the twenty – first century. With this transformation, Aqaba is recalled (ASEZ) pouring its historical role as a regional hub for trade, tourism, and culture.

(ASEZ) is a private sector-driven development initiative that maximizes private sector participation in a duty free, tax-advantaged and flexible regulatory operations environment providing a model approach to environmentally sustainable development and governance, a unique tourist destination on the Red Sea with a duty free shopping oasis accompanied with a high quality of life.