Jordan to start 5.8 billion US dollar National Water Conveyance Project

The Jordanian government will begin implementing the National Water Conveyance Project on November 18, 2026, to enhance national water security. The Ministry of Water and Irrigation will oversee the initiative, which carries an estimated total cost of 5.8 billion US dollars including financing costs. The project aims to address limited water resources and increasing demand across the country.

Project scale and objectives

The strategic initiative involves the desalination of 300 million cubic meters of Red Sea water annually in Aqaba. This water will be transported through a 450-kilometer pipeline system to meet approximately 40% of the drinking water needs of Jordan. By increasing the supply, the project intends to raise the annual per capita water share from 60 to 110 cubic meters. Furthermore, the government aims to increase the weekly water supply from 1 day to 3 days.

The capital cost of the project is approximately 4.3 billion US dollars. To support the energy requirements of the desalination and transport processes, the project includes solar power fields with a capacity of 300 MW. These solar power fields are expected to cover about 30% of the total energy requirements for the project.

Financing and international cooperation

The project is supported by 29 donor agencies and international financial institutions. Additional funding is provided by private sector financiers, Jordanian commercial banks, and the Social Security Investment Fund. In September 2025, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation approved a loan of up to 1 billion US dollars and political risk insurance of up to 800 million US dollars for the initiative.

The Jordanian Cabinet approved completing financing procedures in November 2026. This process involves cooperation with the German Development Bank for 16 million euros. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan witnessed the signing of the final technical and legal agreement for the project in April 2026.

Implementation timeline

Construction and implementation of the National Water Conveyance Project is expected to take approximately 4 years. The project timeline includes a schedule where water pumping is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2030. This infrastructure is designed to provide a stable water supply to the region and mitigate the effects of limited water resources.

Glossary

• Ministry of Water and Irrigation — The Ministry of Water and Irrigation is a government body that oversees water initiatives. It works alongside water companies and security authorities to manage water networks and resources.
• Social Security Investment Fund — The Social Security Investment Fund is an entity that provides funding for projects. It is one of the sources of financing for the National Water Conveyance Project.
• U.S. International Development Finance Corporation — The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is an organization that supports projects through funding, such as loans. It is a partner in international cooperation for large-scale initiatives.