Aqaba, the port at the Red Sea, plays an important role in the economic life of Jordan.

The industrial port lies about 15 km to the south from the beaches and the Aqaba city center.

In 1965 the late King Hussein exchanged 12 km (7 mi) of the valuable coastal strip for areas in the desert.

The oldest script written in Arabic alphabets was found in Wadi Rum in Aqaba Governorate, and dates back to the 4th century.

Aqaba Governorate is divided into three departments according to article 15 of the Administrative Divisions System of the year 2000 by the Ministry of Interior: The population of districts according to census results:[2]