Talks to Reopen Egypt-Jordan Maritime Line

Egypt and Jordan's ministers of transport have begun talks to reopen the sole maritime tourism line connecting the Red Sea ports of Taba and Aqaba. The line between the Jordanian port of Aqaba and the Sinai peninsula was closed by Egypt in June 2011 in accordance with a sovereign decision. Ferry services still operate from Jordan to Nuweiba. Jordan’s minister of transport Alaa Bataineh told the state-run MENA news agency that his Egyptian counterpart has promised to discuss the issue with the relevant Cairo authorities. He hopes the line will reopen soon, he added.

"Our country cares about the reopening of the Taba-Aqaba maritime touristic line as there is important tourism movement between the two countries, estimated as at least 250,000 tourists per day," Bataineh was quoted as saying. The line was run by Arab Bridge Maritime, a joint venture between the governments of Jordan, Egypt and Iraq founded in November 1985.