First cruise ship docks in Aqaba since year-long hiatus

Aqaba's cruise terminal welcomed its first ship since the recent regional unrest, carrying 2,500 tourists from Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah port. The visitors are set to explore the "Golden Triangle" of Aqaba, Petra, and Wadi Rum.

Read more: Declining bookings, visitor numbers plague Jordan's tourism sector

The ship also carried a crew of approximately 1,500, with most of the tourists holding Saudi nationality.

Cruise ship arrivals to Aqaba had been suspended following the launch of the Operation Aqsa Typhoon by Palestinian resistance against the Israeli occupation on October 7, 2023.

The ongoing conflict, marked by “Israel’s” military campaign against Gaza, has destabilized the region, leading to a near-total halt in tourism activities.