Aqaba

Aqaba العقبة
City
Aqaba city, from right to left and from above to below: Shatt Al-Ghandour Gardens, view of Aqaba, diving in Red Sea and Aqaba's skyline
Seal
Nickname(s): The Bride of the Red Sea
Aqaba
Coordinates: 29°31′00″N 35°00′00″E / 29.5167°N 35°E / 29.5167; 35
Country	Jordan
Governorate	Aqaba Governorate
Founded	4000 BC
Authority	2001
Government
• Chief Commissioner	Hani Mulki
Area
• Total	375 km2 (145 sq mi)
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Population (2014)
• Total	188,160
• Density	502/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Aqabawi
Time zone	+2 Eastern European Standard Time
• Summer (DST)	+3 Arabia Standard Time (UTC)
Postal code	77110
Area code(s)	+(962)3
Website	Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority

Aqaba (English pronunciation: /ˈækəbə/;Arabic: العقبة‎‎) is the only coastal city in Jordan and the largest and most populous city on the Gulf of Aqaba. Situated in southernmost Jordan, Aqaba is the administrative centre of the Aqaba Governorate. The city has a population of 188,160 and a land area of 375 square kilometres (144.8 sq mi). Today, Aqaba plays a major role in the development of the Jordanian economy, through the vibrant trade and tourism sectors. The Port of Aqaba also serves other countries in the region.

Aqaba's strategic location at the northeastern tip of the Red Sea between the continents of Asia and Africa, has made its port important over the course of thousands of years. The ancient city was called Ayla, its strategic location and proximity to copper mines, made it a regional hub for copper production and trade in the Chalcolithic period. Ayla became a bishopric under Byzantine rule and later became a Latin Catholic titular see after Islamic conquest around 600 AD, when Ayla became known as Aqaba. The Great Arab Revolt's Battle of Aqaba, depicted in the film Lawrence of Arabia, resulted in victory for Arab forces over the Ottoman defenders.

Aqaba's location next to Wadi Rum and Petra has placed it in Jordan's golden triangle of tourism, which strengthened the city's location on the world map and made it one of the major tourist attractions in Jordan. The city is administered by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, which has turned Aqaba into a low-tax, duty-free city, attracting several mega projects like Ayla Oasis, Saraya Aqaba, Marsa Zayed and expansion of the Port of Aqaba. They are expected to turn the city into a major tourism hub in the region. However, industrial and commercial activities remain important, due to the strategic location of the city as the country's only seaport.