EBRD and EU support growth of Aqaba Digital Hub in Jordan

• EBRD to provide JOD 10 million (US$ 14.1 million) loan for the expansion of Aqaba Digital Hub
• Financing supported by EU-funded EFSD+ guarantee and FINTECC grant for green technology investments
• Complementary technical assistance will support launch of Aqaba Digital Academy to develop ICT and cybersecurity skills, with focus on women and young people

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), with the support of the European Union (EU), is strengthening Jordan’s position as a regional digital hub with a JOD 10 million (US$ 14.1 million) loan to Aqaba Digital Hub (ADH). Capital Bank of Jordan, an existing lender to ADH, acts as parallel lender in the financing.

The EBRD loan will fund the fit-out and expansion of ADH’s existing data centre, including settling supplier commitments and constructing a second hall. The site is Jordan’s largest Tier 3, carrier neutral data centre.

The financing will be complemented by technical assistance to support the launch of Aqaba Digital Academy, which will deliver specialised training in information and communications technology (ICT) and cybersecurity in response to growing market demand. The Academy will place particular emphasis on promoting skills development among women and young people, ensuring equal access to economic opportunities in Jordan’s technology sector.

The investment benefits from a first loss guarantee under the EU’s EFSD+ Guarantee Digital Transformation Platform and is fully aligned with the EU’s Global Gateway and the Pact for the Mediterranean priority objective of supporting open, secure and resilient digital infrastructure.

The EBRD’s financing will also be complemented by a grant from the Bank’s Finance and Technology Transfer Centre for Climate Change (FINTECC) to support the adoption of green technologies.

ADH is a leading Jordanian digital infrastructure and technology group that operates a data centre, fibre-optic networks and subsea cables. Its platform brings together colocation, interconnection, and connectivity services, serving local, regional and international clients and serves as a key landing station for terrestrial and subsea cables linking Jordan to European and global networks.

The Coral Bridge subsea cable, which ADH constructed jointly with Telecom Egypt, connects Jordan to Africa, as well as to Europe. ADH also serves as the landing station for the Blue Raman Subsea Cable System, developed by an international consortium including Telecom Italia Sparkle connecting Europe, Middle East, and Asia, another strategic asset supporting secure global connectivity.

The financing was signed in Jordan by the Bank’s Head of the Eastern Mediterranean, Gretchen Biery, the EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica and Aqaba Digital Hub’s CEO, Eyad Abu Khorma in the presence of the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Zeina Toukan.

Ms Biery said: “Aqaba Digital Hub is at the centre of the region’s digital transformation. We are delighted to partner with the EU and Capital Bank of Jordan to support strategic investments in ADH that will strengthen Jordan’s digital economy. This project, supported under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, will expand critical digital infrastructure while promoting secure connectivity, skills development and inclusive growth across the country.”

Minister of Planning and International Cooperation said: “We highly appreciate EBRD and EU’s support to the Aqaba Digital Hub. This financing will support the expansion of the digital infrastructure in Aqaba that will further strengthen its positioning as a connectivity corridor contributing to digital economic integration. It will also strengthen Jordan’s position as a regional hub for technology and innovation in line with its Economic Modernization Vision".

EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica noted: “The expansion of Aqaba Digital Hub is a testament to the strength of EU-Jordan cooperation in shaping the digital infrastructure of the future. In a world where connectivity is power, this initiative reinforces Jordan’s role as a trusted regional hub for secure, resilient, and sustainable digital networks. Today we are not only unlocking Jordan’s economic potential, but also strengthening the digital bridges between Europe, the Middle East, and India.”

Mr. Khorma, CEO of Aqaba Digital Hub, said: “Aqaba Digital Hub is proud to partner with the EBRD, the European Union, and Capital Bank of Jordan on this investment. This financing will expand our carrier-neutral digital infrastructure, strengthening Aqaba’s role as a connectivity corridor linking Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. As demand for resilient, diversified routes grows, we are well positioned to support new Asia–Europe connectivity, including emerging Mediterranean routes. We are also investing in local talent to support Jordan’s evolving digital economy.”

The EBRD began operating in Jordan in 2012 and has since provided more than €2.2 billion across 84 projects in the country, of which more than 70 per cent have been in the private sector. This has included financial support to the banking sector for the provision of loans, subordinated debt and trade finance facilities to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Pact for the Mediterranean launched in November 2025 considers secure and trusted digital infrastructures across the Mediterranean as a fundamental goal which will bring EU and Southern Mediterranean partners’ economies and citizens closer together. Data flows are vital for economic and societal development and will open new opportunities for people, businesses and organisations across the Mediterranean.

EFSD+ was established in June 2021 and offers EU partner countries assistance with key investments through grants or financial guarantees. In this way, the EU mobilises additional financial resources for sustainable development from the public and private sectors. EFSD+ has a total global guarantee capacity of €39.8 billion for the period from 2021 to 2027, of which €22.5 billion will be used in the EU’s enlargement and neighbourhood regions.