en.Wedoany.com Reported - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union jointly announced on May 11, 2026, a loan of 10 million Jordanian dinars (approximately US$14.1 million) to the Aqaba Digital Hub (ADH) in Jordan, for the expansion of the data center's infrastructure. The loan is supported by a first-loss guarantee from the EU's European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), with Jordan Capital Bank participating as a parallel lender. According to an EBRD official announcement, the total estimated cost of the financing project is approximately US$28.3 million, forming part of a €135 million package of agreements under the EU-Jordan Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership framework.
The loan funds will be specifically used for the equipping and expansion of ADH's existing data center, including settling supplier commitment payments and constructing a second data hall. ADH is the largest Tier 3 carrier-neutral data center in Jordan.
The core infrastructure value of ADH lies in its submarine cable landing capabilities. The hub serves as the landing station for the "Coral Bridge" submarine cable and the "Blue Raman Submarine Cable System." "Coral Bridge" is a joint venture between ADH and Telecom Egypt, connecting Jordan, Africa, and Europe; "Blue Raman" is developed by an international consortium including Telecom Italia Sparkle, linking Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. ADH CEO Eyad Abu Khorma stated that the financing will expand the company's carrier-neutral digital infrastructure, solidify Aqaba's role as a connectivity corridor linking Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and that the company is capable of supporting new Asia-Europe connectivity demands, including emerging Mediterranean routes.
The financing project is also accompanied by technical assistance to launch the "Aqaba Digital Academy." The academy will specifically provide training in information communication technology (ICT) and cybersecurity, with a focus on women and youth, in response to the growing market demand for digital skills. The EBRD financing also received a grant from the Bank's Finance and Technology Transfer Centre for Climate Change (FINTECC) to support ADH in adopting green technologies.
Gretchen Biery, EBRD Head of the Eastern Mediterranean region, noted that the Aqaba Digital Hub is at the heart of the region's digital transformation, and this strategic investment will expand critical digital infrastructure, promoting secure connectivity, skills development, and inclusive growth in Jordan. Jordan's Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Zeina Toukan, stated that the financing supports the expansion of Aqaba's digital infrastructure, further consolidating its positioning as a connectivity corridor. EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, said the expansion of the Aqaba Digital Hub exemplifies EU-Jordan cooperation, an initiative that strengthens Jordan's role as a trusted regional hub for secure, resilient, and sustainable digital networks.
The financing agreement was jointly signed in Jordan by Biery, Šuica, and ADH CEO Eyad Abu Khorma, witnessed by Toukan. According to previously published EBRD data, the Bank's cumulative investment in Jordan since 2012 has reached approximately €2.2 billion, covering sectors including power and renewable energy, water, transport, tourism, and digital infrastructure. The EBRD's Jordan Country Strategy (2025-2030), released in January 2026, lists digitalization as one of its priorities.
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