Attacks on Red Sea Ships Disrupt Jordan’s Commercial Sector

A Houthi military helicopter flies over a cargo ship in the Red Sea. (Reuters)
A Houthi military helicopter flies over a cargo ship in the Red Sea. (Reuters)
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Attacks on Red Sea Ships Disrupt Jordan’s Commercial Sector

A Houthi military helicopter flies over a cargo ship in the Red Sea. (Reuters)
A Houthi military helicopter flies over a cargo ship in the Red Sea. (Reuters)

Jordan relies on imports to cover the majority of its food needs, most of which cross the country’s only seaport of Bab al-Mandab strait, as the Houthi group continues to attack commercial ships in the Red Sea.
Jordanian imports cover between 85 and 90 percent of the country’s food needs. 65 percent of the volume of these imports cross Bab al-Mandab Strait towards the port of Aqaba. Fears have been mounting over the repercussions of the security crisis in the Red Sea and the continuous attacks by the Houthis against commercial ships.
According to a report by the Arab World Press (AWP), the Houthi attacks disrupted global trade in the Red Sea, and major shipping companies diverted their ships, choosing longer route around Africa instead of passing through the Suez Canal.
Yemen’s Houthi groups are targeting ships in the Red Sea, in support of the Hamas movement, which is fighting Israel in the Gaza Strip in a war that broke out on Oct. 7.
These attacks led to higher shipping costs and longer delivery times, as stated by Mahmoud Al-Daoud, owner of a small company that imports canned food in Jordan.
Al-Daoud told AWP that his company's financial capabilities do not give him much room for adventure or to bear losses if the tanker carrying his goods was “sabotaged or seized,” or even to incur additional shipping and delivery costs.
“The profit margin after transportation and storage costs in normal situations does not exceed 20 percent, from which the company pays the salaries of employees and workers and other operational costs. Therefore, any additional expenses will cause losses in profits and may reach capital,” he remarked.
In December, Maersk, one of the largest shipping companies in the world, suspended shipping through the Red Sea and Suez Canal “until further notice”, after one of its ships was attacked by the Houthis off Yemen. The attack was confronted by American forces stationed in the area. US Central Command said that its helicopters sank three Houthi boats.
Maersk had resumed shipping through the Red Sea on Dec. 24 after the United States announced the start of an operation to protect ships near Yemen with the participation of more than 20 countries.
However, “the challenge is great” for the commercial sector in Jordan, said the head of Jordan’s Chamber of Commerce, Khalil Haj Tawfiq, especially with regard to the flow of goods into the country and shortages in local markets.
As the Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea continued, the Jordanian Ministry of Transport quickly concluded an agreement with the Arab Bridge Maritime Company to operate the Arab line for land and sea transport between the port of Aqaba and the Egyptian ports overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The Arab Bridge Maritime Company was established in 1985 after an agreement between the governments of Jordan, Egypt and Iraq, as its website explains.
In a meeting held last week in the Amman Chamber of Industry, Jordanian Minister of Transport Wissam Al-Tahtamouni confirmed that the cessation of shipping lines through the Red Sea will lead to an increase in the cost of insurance in addition to longer delivery times, for imports and exports.
He added that the currently proposed alternative is the continued flow of goods through the land and sea transport lines of the Arab Bridge company.



Saudi Arabia Calls for Global Water Cooperation to Advance Integrated Management

The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)
The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)
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Saudi Arabia Calls for Global Water Cooperation to Advance Integrated Management

The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)
The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)

The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday with the participation of top scientists, experts, decision-makers from around the world.

Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley, with the participation of World Water Council President Loïc Fauchon, inaugurated the official logo of the World Water Forum 2027.

In his remarks, Alfadley emphasized Saudi Arabia’s call for strengthened international cooperation and joint efforts among countries and organizations to tackle global water challenges. He underscored the importance of ensuring universal access to water and sanitation services as a key pillar in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6).

“Saudi Arabia prioritizes the water sector through various measures, including the adoption of a national strategy encompassing water production, storage, transportation, distribution, treatment, and reuse, all within a comprehensive institutional framework,” Alfadley added.

He further stated that the Kingdom has implemented Integrated Water Resources Management and enhanced supply chain governance. This is supported by the release of a long-term supply and demand plan that extends to 2050, alongside a commitment to environmental, social, and economic considerations in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.

Highlighting the Kingdom's leading role in supporting regional and international water issues, Alfadley pointed to the launching of the Global Water Organization, aimed at fostering international collaboration, and the establishment of an International Water Research Center focused on water economics, water security, advanced technologies, and digital transformation.

Fauchon said the council, in collaboration with Saudi authorities, has developed a comprehensive framework outlining the thematic, regional, and political components that will shape the roadmap for the 11th edition of the forum that is being held in the Middle East for the first time.

He stressed the need to make water a top global priority, adding that this gathering will lay the foundation for future water policies. “The way ahead is still long, but we are confident we’re on the right path toward real solutions—solutions that can change lives,” he said.

Deputy Minister for Water at the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Dr. Abdulaziz Alshaibani underscored the urgency of the current moment, describing the preparatory meeting as a call for serious and immediate action. Alshaibani emphasized the need to build upon existing progress in the water sector and to move decisively towards solidifying priorities.

He stressed the importance of greater coherence and integration across all sectors, along with the unification of all efforts, to achieve tangible solutions to global water challenges and to meet SDG 6. Alshaibani further noted that effective solutions must be anchored in several key pillars, including financing, innovation, diplomacy, and environmental considerations.

The World Water Forum 2027, organized by the World Water Council in Saudi Arabia, is a significant international platform for exchanging ideas and experiences in water management.