His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday emphasised that long-term planning for Aqaba's development should meet the needs of the city's residents, especially in health and education services.

The King made the remark during a visit to Aqaba where he checked on the progress of work at Prince Hashem Ben Abdullah II Hospital and laid the cornerstone for the University of Jordan's (UJ) campus to be established in the port city. The campus is expected to begin receiving students next year.

During his visit, the King expressed support for these projects, which are meant to develop and improve the different services provided to the residents of Aqaba and the surrounding area. After the laying of the cornerstone for the new UJ campus, the King reviewed construction designs for the university, to be built on a 250-dunum plot of land.

Phase one plans include the establishment of five faculties for languages, information technology, maritime sciences, management and finance, and tourism and hospitality.

UJ President Khalid Karaki said the second phase, to commence next year, will include the construction of other buildings, including a medicine faculty, a mosque, a conference centre, a school campus and a teaching hospital, plus other education and sports-related facilities to serve the local community.

“The question of establishing the university at Aqaba was well-examined,” Karaki said, noting that the facility will contribute to the city's development.

“The presence of thousands of students in Aqaba should create significant social activity in the city,” he said, adding that the university plans to open different centres in several areas in the Kingdom.

Elaborating on the importance of the UJ campus in Aqaba, he said: “We are looking forward to relieving the pressure on the Amman campus.”

At the site of the hospital, where construction began a year ago, the King was briefed by Royal Medical Services Director Major General Abdul Latif Wreikat on progress made on the project. The 200-bed hospital, which will begin receiving patients in the middle of next year, will provide services for Aqaba's residents and the people living in the southern Maan Governorate, around 100km north of Aqaba city, Wreikat said.

According to Wreikat, the hospital's services will cover all medical specialties that are currently available at the King Hussein Medical City.

In addition to these specialisations, the hospital will cover other rare fields, such as maritime medicine and air medicine, he added.

The hospital will cost around JD68 million, including the medical equipment it will be supplied with.

Hosni Abu Gheida, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority chief commissioner, said the projects will have a positive impact on the quality of life of Aqaba residents, as well as the tourism experience in the Red Sea resort.