The UAE's Abu Dhabi Ports Group and Jordan inaugurated the first cruise terminal in the Jordanian coastal city of Aqaba on Monday, coinciding with the arrival of the cruise vessel MSC Splendida which is carrying more than 2,000 visitors.
The Aqaba Cruise Terminal marks the launch of the first of five strategic mega-projects planned between AD Ports Group and Aqaba Development Corporation to advance the coastal city’s tourism, logistics and transport sectors.
Under the agreement, AD Ports Group will develop, manage and operate the Aqaba Cruise Terminal, a stop for international cruise passengers visiting Jordan, specifically Aqaba, Petra and Wadi Rum.
More than 50 vessels are scheduled to dock at the terminal over the next four months, bringing tens of thousands of visitors to the popular winter-sun destination, the two companies said.
Trade value between the UAE and Jordan was about $3 billion last year, and the Emirates’ investments in Jordan reached more than $17 billion, said Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, the UAE ambassador to Jordan.
“The UAE is a key strategic partner for Jordan in a number of fields and is keen to propel mutual economic and investment co-operation to greater heights, while building on existing partnerships across different domains," Sheikh Khalifa said.
“Ties between the UAE and Jordan have been strengthened even further thanks to the progressive vision and interests of both countries, representing a robust and growing strategic partnership across several vital areas."
The Aqaba Cruise Terminal comprises a 700-metre quay wall, passenger and luggage hall, indoor retail spaces, free Wi-Fi, prayer rooms and offices.
It is a one-stop-shop for government stakeholders serving the cruise business, improving procedures and services.
It is an attractive destination for cruise lines, increasing ship call opportunities and passenger volumes, while boosting the overall economy.
“We remain committed to transforming the city of Aqaba into a competitive investment, commercial and tourism destination on the Red Sea, and the successful inauguration of the Aqaba Cruise Terminal today aligns with these endeavours,” said Nayef Fayez, chief commissioner of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, and chairman of Aqaba Development Corporation.
Apart from the terminal, four strategic agreements are planned between AD Ports and Aqaba Development Corporation.
They concern the development of Marsa Zayed, the Maqta Ayla advanced ports community system, the Aqaba Multipurpose Port, and the development, management and operation of King Hussein International Airport.
The new projects aim to make Aqaba a catalyst for investment attraction and economic development.
Last week, AD Ports Group, the operator of industrial cities and free zones in Abu Dhabi, announced its partnership with Angolan organisations to enhance maritime connectivity along Africa’s west coast.
Established in 2006, AD Ports Group owns and operates 10 ports in the UAE.
They include Khalifa Port, Zayed Port, Mussaffah Port, Fujairah Terminals, Community Ports, Kamsar Port and the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal.
It also operates a terminal in Guinea.
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX INFO
Schedule (All times UAE)
First practice: Friday, 5-6.30am
Second practice: Friday, 9-10.30am
Third practice: Saturday, 7-8am
Qualifying: Saturday, 10-11am
Race: Sunday, 9am-midday
Race venue: Suzuka International Racing Course
Circuit Length: 5.807km
Number of Laps: 53
Watch live: beIN Sports HD
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Types of policy
Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.
Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.
Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.
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Notable salonnières of the Middle East through history
Al Khasan (Okaz, Saudi Arabia)
Tamadir bint Amr Al Harith, known simply as Al Khasan, was a poet from Najd famed for elegies, earning great renown for the eulogy of her brothers Mu’awiyah and Sakhr, both killed in tribal wars. Although not a salonnière, this prestigious 7th century poet fostered a culture of literary criticism and could be found standing in the souq of Okaz and reciting her poetry, publicly pronouncing her views and inviting others to join in the debate on scholarship. She later converted to Islam.
Maryana Marrash (Aleppo)
A poet and writer, Marrash helped revive the tradition of the salon and was an active part of the Nadha movement, or Arab Renaissance. Born to an established family in Aleppo in Ottoman Syria in 1848, Marrash was educated at missionary schools in Aleppo and Beirut at a time when many women did not receive an education. After touring Europe, she began to host salons where writers played chess and cards, competed in the art of poetry, and discussed literature and politics. An accomplished singer and canon player, music and dancing were a part of these evenings.
Princess Nazil Fadil (Cairo)
Princess Nazil Fadil gathered religious, literary and political elite together at her Cairo palace, although she stopped short of inviting women. The princess, a niece of Khedive Ismail, believed that Egypt’s situation could only be solved through education and she donated her own property to help fund the first modern Egyptian University in Cairo.
Mayy Ziyadah (Cairo)
Ziyadah was the first to entertain both men and women at her Cairo salon, founded in 1913. The writer, poet, public speaker and critic, her writing explored language, religious identity, language, nationalism and hierarchy. Born in Nazareth, Palestine, to a Lebanese father and Palestinian mother, her salon was open to different social classes and earned comparisons with souq of where Al Khansa herself once recited.
The%20Sandman
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
