ADFD’s Landmark Investment of AED9.4 Billion in Jordanian Development

Since 1974, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has invested over AED9.4 billion in various development initiatives in Jordan, positively impacting critical sectors such as healthcare, infrastructure, renewable energy, food security, and water management.

This substantial funding underscores the robust partnership between the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, with numerous key projects aimed at boosting economic growth, enhancing public services, and elevating the quality of life for Jordanians.

Key projects include the Jordan Digital Health Centre (Virtual Hospital), expansion of grain silo storage in Al Juwaideh and Aqaba, the Amman Development Corridor, and the Sheikh Zayed Solar Power Complex in Quweira, alongside the Kufranja Dam initiative.

These efforts align with Jordan's national development objectives, emphasizing improvements in healthcare, food and water security, renewable energy, and infrastructure advancement.

Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, the Director-General of ADFD, highlighted the deep-rooted historical connections between the UAE and Jordan, marked by mutual cooperation and developmental aspirations. He noted that ADFD has played an instrumental role in Jordan's development for decades, making strategic investments that foster economic and social progress.

Al Suwaidi disclosed that under the Gulf Development Programme, the ADFD oversaw AED4.6 billion dedicated to projects across healthcare, education, transportation, energy, water, and food security sectors, with AED4.459 billion already utilized by the end of 2016.

In 2024, the Jordan Digital Health Centre, funded by a UAE grant as part of Jordan's Economic Modernisation Programme, aimed to digitize healthcare by linking hospitals and healthcare facilities through a unified platform for medical records, enhancing service quality. Initial phases connected five hospitals and three healthcare centers, expediting medical access. The ambitious US$100 million project, implemented with Presight, is central to Jordan’s healthcare digitalization efforts.

To bolster food security, ADFD allocated AED258.7 million for augmenting grain silo storage capacity in Al Juwaideh and Aqaba, raising the limit to 250,000 and 200,000 tonnes respectively, in support of Jordan’s National Food Security Strategy 2025.

In terms of infrastructure, the ADFD-backed Amman Development Corridor is vital for enhancing transportation links between the capital and other governorates, facilitating movement across regional borders.

In 2013, the fund also contributed AED551 million to the Sheikh Zayed Solar Power Complex in Quweira, which now generates 103 megawatts of clean energy, servicing over 50,000 households and reducing reliance on imported fuels while lowering energy costs.

The Kufranja Dam project has emerged as a significant water resource in Jordan, boasting a storage capacity of 7 million cubic meters, and playing a crucial role in agricultural irrigation, drinking water supply, and comprehensive flood prevention measures.

In related efforts, the Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX) recently inked a financing deal with Capital Bank for AED73.4 million, propelling trade initiatives and aiding UAE exporters in penetrating the Jordanian market.

With total investments in Jordan surpassing AED9.4 billion by 2026, ADFD remains dedicated to fortifying both economic and developmental alliances between the UAE and Jordan through sustained investments that promote sustainable growth and regional cohesiveness.