Aqaba

Aqaba is the only coastal city in Jordan and the biggest and maximum populous city on the Gulf of Aqaba. Situated in southernmost Jordan, Aqaba is the administrative centre of the Aqaba Governorate. The city had a population of 148,398 in 2015 and a land location of 375 square kilometres. Today, Aqaba performs a chief position in the improvement of the Jordanian economic system, through the colourful change and tourism sectors. The Port of Aqaba additionally serves other nations inside the area. Aqaba's strategic area at the northeastern tip of the Red Sea among the continents of Asia and Africa, has made its port important over the direction of hundreds of years.

The ancient city turned into referred to as Elath, adopted in Latin as Aela and in Arabic as Ayla. Its strategic location and proximity to copper mines, made it a regional hub for copper manufacturing and change in the Chalcolithic duration. Aela have become a bishopric below Byzantine rule and later became a Latin Catholic titular see after Islamic conquest around AD 650, whilst it have become known as Ayla; the name Aqaba is late medieval. The Great Arab Revolt's Battle of Aqaba, depicted within the film Lawrence of Arabia, led to victory for Arab forces over the Ottoman defenders.