Arab Bridge Maritime

Arab Bridge Maritime Company, commonly known as AB Maritime or ABM, is a maritime transport company established by the governments of Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq. Founded in November 1985, it was created to strengthen commercial and passenger links between Arab countries in Asia and Africa. Its headquarters are in Aqaba, Jordan, with branches in Amman and Cairo and a wider network of offices serving important travel, trade, and pilgrimage markets in the region. The company’s principal activity is ferry and short-sea transportation in the Red Sea. Its best-known route is the Aqaba–Nuweiba service linking Jordan with Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. The service carries passengers, goods, and vehicles, and has operated under an exclusive concession granted by the governments of Jordan and Egypt. The route gives AB Maritime a strategic role in regional mobility because it provides a maritime alternative to longer land journeys around the northern end of the Red Sea. The company has also operated or publicized connections involving Aqaba and Taba, as well as international and regional lines associated with Morocco–Spain and Malta–Libya. AB Maritime began operations with chartered vessels and later developed its own fleet. Reference material identifies vessels including The Princess, Babel, Sinaa, Bridge, Aylah, Amman, UR, and Al Hussein, although the published descriptions are not fully consistent about the total fleet count. The company has used high-speed craft such as Babel, The Princess, and Queen Nefertiti for tourism-oriented services serving South Sinai destinations including Taba, Nuweiba, Dahab, and Sharm El Sheikh. These services have been positioned as part of a broader tourism corridor connecting Sinai with Jordan’s Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and Petra attractions. In addition to vessel operations, AB Maritime provides ticketing, agency, and logistics-related services. Its “Book in Advance” system was introduced to let customers reserve travel before departure through company offices in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, and Gulf Arab states. The company has maintained agency relationships in Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Gulf markets, and has been selected to act as an agent for Iraqi land and maritime imports moving through Jordan. It also has interests in related maritime and education organizations, including Arab Ship Management Company and the Jordan Academy for Maritime Studies. A desalination plant in Nuweiba is also identified among its assets or associated activities. The business is managed through an executive team nominated by its board of directors. Its geographic footprint includes permanent offices in Aqaba, Amman, and Cairo, together with offices or representatives in Alexandria, Sharm El Sheikh, Taba, Baghdad, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Mecca, Medina, Doha, and Riyadh. AB Maritime’s positioning combines state-backed regional connectivity, passenger ferry transportation, vehicle and cargo movement, tourism services, and maritime agency operations. Public reference material does not provide enough current information to assess its present route schedule, financial performance, ownership percentages, or fleet composition beyond the historical descriptions cited here.

Arab Bridge Maritime was established in November 1985 as a trilateral joint venture of Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq. Its founding purpose was to improve commercial and passenger connections between Arab countries located in Asia and Africa. The company was structured as a government-backed maritime enterprise rather than a conventional privately controlled carrier, with its board representing the participating states and its executive management nominated by that board. The company’s early operations relied on hired vessels. Its principal strategic opportunity was the short sea crossing between Aqaba and Nuweiba, a route connecting Jordan with Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. Jordanian and Egyptian authorities granted AB Maritime an exclusive concession to operate the service for passengers, goods, and vehicles. This concession made the company an important part of the transport infrastructure linking the Levant, the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, and wider African markets. Over time, AB Maritime developed its own fleet and expanded beyond basic ferry transportation. The company’s published fleet references include The Princess, Babel, Sinaa, Bridge, Aylah, Amman, UR, and Al Hussein. The source descriptions differ on the number of vessels in service, so the exact current fleet size cannot be established from the available material. High-speed craft, including Babel, The Princess, and Queen Nefertiti, were associated with tourism services designed to connect Aqaba with South Sinai resorts such as Taba, Nuweiba, Dahab, and Sharm El Sheikh. These services were also promoted as part of a tourism itinerary joining Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and Petra in Jordan with Sinai destinations in Egypt. The company broadened its commercial role through ticketing, agency, and logistics activities. Its Book in Advance automated service enabled customers to reserve tickets before departure through offices in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, and Gulf Arab states. AB Maritime also maintained commercial agency contracts in Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Gulf markets. It was selected as an agent for Iraqi land and maritime imports routed through Jordan, giving it a role beyond the direct operation of passenger vessels. Its physical network developed around Aqaba, Amman, and Cairo, with additional offices or representation in Alexandria, Sharm El Sheikh, Taba, Baghdad, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Mecca, Medina, Doha, and Riyadh. The company also became involved in related maritime and sectoral institutions. Available reference material identifies a 50 percent interest in Arab Ship Management Company and a 30 percent interest in the Jordan Academy for Maritime Studies, as well as a desalination plant in Nuweiba. These interests indicate an attempt to support vessel management, maritime training, and port-adjacent infrastructure. AB Maritime has also publicized shipping connections beyond its core Aqaba–Nuweiba route, including Morocco–Spain and Malta–Libya services. The available material does not establish the duration, frequency, or current status of each of these lines. Similarly, it does not provide sufficient recent information to confirm the company’s current executives, fleet, ownership structure, financial condition, or complete route map. The company is nevertheless documented as a regional maritime operator whose central identity remains tied to Red Sea ferry transport and government-backed Arab connectivity.

• 1985

  Company founded

  [1]Arab Bridge Maritimeen.wikipedia.org

  Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq established Arab Bridge Maritime as a joint maritime enterprise to improve commercial and passenger links between Arab countries in Africa and Asia.

• Aqaba–Nuweiba concession established

  [1]Arab Bridge Maritimeen.wikipedia.org

  The governments of Jordan and Egypt granted AB Maritime an exclusive concession to operate ferry transportation for passengers, goods, and vehicles between Aqaba and Nuweiba.

• Fleet ownership expanded

  [1]Arab Bridge Maritimeen.wikipedia.org

  After beginning with hired vessels, the company developed an owned fleet for its regional ferry and shipping activities.

• Advance booking service launched

  [1]Arab Bridge Maritimeen.wikipedia.org

  AB Maritime introduced the Book in Advance automated service, allowing customers to reserve tickets through offices in several Middle Eastern markets before departure.

• Tourism ferry services introduced

  [1]Arab Bridge Maritimeen.wikipedia.org

  High-speed craft services were introduced to support travel between Aqaba and South Sinai resorts and to promote combined Jordan–Egypt tourism itineraries.

A state-backed regional maritime connector providing ferry transportation, vehicle and cargo movement, tourism links, and related shipping services between Arab markets in Africa and Asia.

• Passenger, vehicle, and cargo ferry

  Aqaba–Nuweiba ferry service

  AB Maritime’s core documented service links Aqaba in Jordan with Nuweiba on Egypt’s Sinai coast. It is designed to transport passengers, vehicles, and goods across the northern Red Sea and has operated under a concession from the Jordanian and Egyptian governments. The route supports regional travel and trade between the Levant, Egypt, and onward Arab markets.

• Tourism ferry service

  Aqaba–Taba services

  AB Maritime has operated or publicized maritime services connecting Aqaba with Taba and nearby South Sinai destinations. The tourism-oriented concept was intended to make access to Taba, Nuweiba, Dahab, and Sharm El Sheikh easier while linking these destinations with Aqaba and Jordan’s major tourism attractions.

• Ticketing service

  Book in Advance

  Book in Advance is an automated reservation service that allows customers to arrange ferry tickets before travel. The service was made available through AB Maritime offices in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, and Gulf Arab countries, reflecting the company’s effort to serve passengers outside its immediate port locations.

• Maritime logistics

  Regional shipping and agency services

  Beyond operating vessels, AB Maritime has provided shipping agency and logistics support in markets including Syria, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf. Reference material also identifies the company as an agent for Iraqi land and maritime imports moving through Jordan. Additional publicized shipping lines include Morocco–Spain and Malta–Libya, though current operating details are not available.

• South Sinai and Jordan tourism connections

  Jordan · Egypt

  AB Maritime used high-speed craft services to encourage tourism between Aqaba and South Sinai destinations, including Taba, Nuweiba, Dahab, and Sharm El Sheikh. The concept also promoted combined itineraries incorporating Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and Petra.

  Outcome. The available reference material describes the tourism objective but does not provide measured results or verified campaign performance.

  Source

• 1985

  Create a trilateral government-backed maritime carrierStrategy

  Background

  Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq sought to strengthen commercial and passenger connections between Arab countries in Asia and Africa.

  Action taken

  The three governments established Arab Bridge Maritime as a jointly owned shipping company.

  Aftermath

  The company became a regional operator focused particularly on Red Sea ferry transportation.

  Source

• Develop an owned fleetStrategy

  Background

  AB Maritime initially relied on vessels hired from other owners while operating its regional routes.

  Action taken

  The company expanded into ownership and operation of its own vessels.

  Aftermath

  An owned fleet supported the company’s ferry, cargo, and tourism activities, although the exact current fleet composition is unclear.

  Source

• Launch Book in Advance reservationsProduct launch

  Background

  Passengers in regional source markets needed to arrange ferry travel before reaching the port.

  Action taken

  AB Maritime introduced an automated advance-booking service through its offices and regional distribution network.

  Aftermath

  The service extended the company’s customer-access infrastructure across Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Gulf markets.

  Source

• Expand into maritime affiliates and supporting infrastructureStrategy

  Background

  The company sought to broaden its role beyond direct ferry operations.

  Action taken

  AB Maritime acquired or maintained interests in Arab Ship Management Company and the Jordan Academy for Maritime Studies and was also associated with a desalination plant in Nuweiba.

  Aftermath

  These activities connected the company with ship management, maritime education, and port-related infrastructure.

  Source

1. 1Arab Bridge Maritimeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Arab Bridge Maritime official websiteabmaritime.com.jo