Khaberni - The Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Sami Samirat, said on Tuesday that Aqaba Digital City assists in the digitization process and building a digital economy, and hosting local, Arab, and international companies that provide digital services.
He added in his conversation with "Al Mamlaka" that Aqaba Digital City was established to contribute to the vision of economic modernization, noting that the residents of Aqaba Digital City are companies that develop software and provide telecommunication services to citizens.
He stated that the existence of Aqaba Digital City enhances cybersecurity in Jordan and data protection.
He added that Jordan is advanced in international communication lines, international fiber networks, and fifth generation services.
Regarding the significance of the inauguration by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the city, Samirat said that the inauguration of the Aqaba Digital City by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is a testament to his great interest in the information technology and communications sector.
Samirat highlighted the importance of the creative industries linked to information technology, emphasizing that those who work in the IT sector have the whole world as their market and are not confined to working in Jordan.
Samirat explained that having data centers assists in rapid processing and defending ourselves digitally.
Regarding the role of the government in Aqaba Digital City, he said that the government's role is to empower the investor and it is in continuous contact with the operators of Aqaba Digital City, with the government role being to facilitate the operation of the digital city.
Regarding the investment advantages in Aqaba Digital City, Samirat said there is an incentive system for IT companies in place and continuing until 31/12/2033, explaining that the system provides incentives, with an income tax on export services at 0% and income tax on services conducted within Jordan at 5%, in addition to assisting with employee salaries and offering grants related to expansion and other incentives established by an official system.
In turn, the founding CEO of Aqaba Digital City, Iyad Abu Khurma, stated that the goal of establishing Aqaba Digital City is to benefit from Jordan's geography and specifically the Aqaba Governorate, which is Jordan's maritime lung.
Abu Khurma added that the goal of the city is to create an international gateway for telecommunication and internet services and to connect the markets of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Abu Khurma emphasized that the opening by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the project is a testament to the royal interest and care for project owners and thinkers in Jordan, and his inauguration of the city is a pride for everyone involved in the project.
Abu Khurma stated that Aqaba has become a place for international connectivity for telecommunication and internet.
"The traffic of communication lines and the internet across the Red Sea constitutes 20-30% of the world's internet, providing us with a market share," according to Abu Khurma.
He emphasized the importance of creative industries, including artificial intelligence, which requires advanced infrastructure, and Jordan is among the countries with advanced infrastructure.
Abu Khurma pointed out that major countries invest in data and artificial intelligence, noting that the Jordanian mind is distinguished in the field of information technology and communications.
He explained that there are international standards governing data operations and laws governing the presence of digital content in countries.
He indicated that the function of the city is to provide a nurturing environment for digital content.
Regarding the investment advantages in Aqaba Digital City, Abu Khurma stated that this file pertains to the government.
Abu Khurma said that the world will need 10 million jobs in cybersecurity over the next two years.
He explained that 85% of Aqaba is covered by the latest fiber optic network available at competitive prices.
He noted that major Arab and international companies and global platforms have come to Aqaba through the Aqaba Digital City project.
His Royal Highness Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, the Crown Prince, inaugurated Aqaba Digital City on Tuesday, which is the first integrated digital project in Jordan and one of the largest data centers and digital infrastructure facilities in the region.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince toured the facilities of the digital city and listened to an explanation from its board chairman and CEO, Iyad Abu Khurma, about the project that includes the kingdom's largest data center with an area of approximately 17,000 square meters and an operational capacity of up to 12 megawatts, ready to accommodate artificial intelligence technologies.
He clarified that the project was established with Jordanian expertise and hosts the first open-access marine cable landing station in the kingdom, enhancing Jordan's role as an independent digital gateway directly connected to international networks.
He indicated that the project includes three marine cables that enhance Jordan's position as a key communication point between Asia, Africa, and Europe, in addition to two other cables that are being developed and connected to the digital city.
The project includes the first neutral data exchange center in the kingdom and the fastest spreading in the region, allowing the hosting of both public and private cloud services, as well as an integrated security system including a security operations center and a secure access platform, making the kingdom a regional destination for hosting sensitive systems for government use and the financial sector.
The project features facilities for training young people and qualifying them in information technology and cybersecurity fields, in addition to data centers for artificial intelligence, electronic game design, and digital content production.
