Jordan Joins Bahrain, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, and Other Countries in a Massive Race to Rebuild Tourism and Energy Infrastructure as the Strait of Hormuz Reopens on June 19 After Four Consecutive Months, Offering New Hope for the Recovery of the Middle East Tourism, Trade and Economy

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Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt and other countries are accelerating efforts to rebuild tourism and energy infrastructure because the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on June 19 restores a critical maritime gateway for global trade and energy shipments, creating an opportunity to attract investment, revive visitor demand, strengthen supply chains and support the recovery of the Middle East tourism, trade and economy after four consecutive months of disruption.

The Strait of Hormuz Reopens on June 19 After Four Consecutive Months

The Strait of Hormuz is scheduled to reopen on June 19, 2026, following nearly four consecutive months of disruption caused by the US-Iran conflict. The reopening comes after a landmark 60-day ceasefire agreement announced on June 14 and is expected to restore access to a waterway that carries approximately 20% of global oil and LNG trade. During the crisis, an estimated 500 to 600 commercial vessels, including around 250 oil and LNG tankers, were affected by delays, rerouting, or operational restrictions. The reopening is expected to reduce shipping costs, lower energy price pressures, revive tourism confidence, strengthen trade flows, and support economic recovery across the Middle East and beyond. However, coalition forces must still clear up to 1,000 suspected naval mines, with experts estimating 40 to 50 days before full maritime normalization is achieved.

Jordan Races to Rebuild Tourism Gateways and Trade Corridors as Hormuz Reopens

Jordan is in a massive race to attract both tourists and investors because tourism contributes more than 14% of national GDP and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs. With the Strait of Hormuz reopening on June 19 after four consecutive months of disruption, Amman sees an opportunity to restore international confidence and revive visitor spending. The government is accelerating upgrades at Aqaba Port, which handles more than 70% of Jordan’s maritime trade, while also advancing logistics facilities, highway modernization, and urban transport projects. Jordan welcomed more than 6 million international visitors annually before regional disruptions, and officials hope lower airfares and improved connectivity will boost arrivals to Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba, and the Dead Sea. Increased tourism receipts, foreign direct investment, and stronger trade activity could provide new momentum for both Jordan’s economy and wider Middle East recovery.

Bahrain Accelerates Infrastructure Investment to Capture Returning Regional Tourism

Bahrain is moving quickly to attract investors and visitors as the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz restores confidence across Gulf markets. Tourism contributes approximately 7% of Bahrain’s GDP, while the country’s financial sector manages billions of dollars in regional assets. The kingdom is advancing the King Hamad Causeway, a multi-billion-dollar rail and road link to Saudi Arabia, expanding Bahrain International Airport, and upgrading port facilities supporting Aluminum Bahrain (Alba), one of the world’s largest aluminum smelters. Bahrain typically welcomes more than 10 million visitors annually, many arriving from neighboring Gulf states. Officials expect stronger hotel occupancy, increased retail spending, higher conference demand, and renewed foreign investment in waterfront real estate projects as trade routes normalize.

Iraq Pushes Massive Reconstruction and Energy Expansion Projects After Hormuz Reopening

Iraq views the reopening as critical because crude oil exports account for roughly 90% of government revenue. Baghdad is accelerating the Grand Faw Port, a project valued at more than $17 billion, alongside the 1,200-kilometer Development Road Project linking Basra to Turkey and Europe. Iraq exports more than 3 million barrels of oil per day through southern terminals, making secure Gulf shipping routes essential. The country is also targeting increased religious tourism to Najaf and Karbala, which collectively attract millions of pilgrims annually. Officials hope stronger oil revenues, infrastructure investment, logistics growth, and tourism recovery will support long-term economic diversification and job creation.

Saudi Arabia Races to Secure Vision 2030 Investments and Tourism Growth

Saudi Arabia is engaged in one of the world’s largest tourism and infrastructure transformations, aiming to attract 150 million visitors annually by 2030. The kingdom is accelerating development at NEOM, a project expected to exceed $500 billion, alongside The Line, Oxagon, Trojena, AMAALA, and the Red Sea Project. Tourism contributed nearly 5% of GDP before recent expansion efforts, and officials aim to make it a major economic pillar. Stable shipping routes through Hormuz help reduce construction costs and improve investor confidence. Saudi Arabia also expects stronger arrivals for Umrah and Hajj, which collectively generate billions of dollars annually for the national economy.

UAE Expands Aviation, Tourism, and Logistics Infrastructure to Capture Recovery Momentum

The UAE is racing to attract investors and tourists because tourism contributes nearly 12% of GDP, while Dubai and Abu Dhabi remain among the world’s leading aviation hubs. Dubai welcomed more than 18 million international visitors in 2025, and officials are expanding Al Maktoum International Airport, which is planned to eventually handle up to 260 million passengers annually. Jebel Ali remains the largest container port in the Middle East, processing millions of TEUs every year. With shipping risks easing, the UAE expects stronger tourism demand, increased MICE business, higher hotel occupancy, and renewed investment across hospitality, aviation, logistics, and real estate sectors.

Qatar Accelerates LNG, Aviation, and Tourism Expansion Plans

Qatar is investing billions to strengthen its position as both an energy and tourism powerhouse. The North Field Expansion is expected to increase LNG production capacity from 77 million tonnes per year to 142 million tonnes annually by the end of the decade. Meanwhile, Hamad International Airport is expanding beyond 70 million passengers annually. Qatar Airways’ global network and stopover tourism strategy are expected to benefit from lower fuel costs and improved regional stability. The reopening of Hormuz supports unrestricted LNG exports while helping Doha attract more international visitors, conference delegates, and sports tourists.

Kuwait Rebuilds Trade and Aviation Infrastructure to Restore Economic Growth

Kuwait depends heavily on hydrocarbon exports, which account for roughly 90% of export earnings. The country is accelerating construction of Terminal 2 at Kuwait International Airport, designed to accommodate 25 million passengers annually, alongside the strategic Mubarak Al Kabeer Port project. Kuwait exports around 2 million barrels of oil per day, making secure shipping lanes through Hormuz critical. Officials expect stronger export revenues, increased foreign investment, and higher business travel volumes as maritime trade normalizes.

Oman Positions Itself as a Strategic Tourism and Logistics Gateway

Oman is uniquely positioned to benefit because it sits directly at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz. The country welcomed approximately 696,000 hotel guests in recent reporting periods while generating roughly $250 million in hotel revenues. Major investments are flowing into Sohar Port, Salalah Free Zone, Musandam tourism facilities, and coastal resort developments. Oman hopes increased maritime traffic, cruise tourism, logistics investments, and hospitality growth will help diversify the economy beyond oil and create thousands of new jobs.

Egypt Targets Tourism, Canal Revenue, and Logistics Growth as Regional Confidence Returns

Egypt sees enormous potential because tourism and Suez Canal revenues remain two of its most important foreign-currency generators. The Suez Canal handles approximately 12–15% of global trade, while Egypt targets more than 30 million annual tourists by 2030. Investments are accelerating in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), Red Sea tourism corridors, and infrastructure surrounding the Grand Egyptian Museum, one of the largest archaeological museums ever built. As shipping traffic returns and traveler confidence improves, Egypt expects stronger tourism receipts, higher canal revenues, increased foreign investment, and broader economic growth across the country and the region.

Offering New Hope for the Recovery of the Middle East Tourism, Trade and Economy

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on June 19 is offering new hope for the recovery of Middle East tourism, trade, and the broader economy after nearly four months of disruption. As one of the world’s most important maritime corridors carrying approximately 20% of global oil and LNG shipments, the waterway’s return is expected to lower shipping costs, reduce war-risk insurance premiums, stabilize energy markets, and improve investor confidence across the region. Countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq are expected to benefit from stronger tourism demand, increased foreign direct investment, revived cruise and aviation activity, and higher trade volumes. The reopening also supports major infrastructure projects worth hundreds of billions of dollars, including Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 developments, Qatar’s LNG expansion, the UAE’s airport and logistics projects, Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone, and Iraq’s Grand Faw Port. With more than 500 affected commercial vessels gradually returning to normal operations, regional leaders hope the reopening will accelerate economic growth, create jobs, attract international capital, and restore the Middle East’s position as a leading global hub for tourism, energy, trade, and transportation.

Key Tourism, Trade, Energy and Infrastructure Developments Across the Middle East

As the Strait of Hormuz reopens on June 19 after four consecutive months of disruption, Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, and other countries are entering a massive race to rebuild tourism and energy infrastructure because restored shipping routes, stronger investor confidence, and improved trade flows are offering new hope for the recovery of the Middle East tourism, trade and economy. Regional governments are accelerating major projects to attract visitors, boost energy exports, strengthen logistics networks, and secure long-term economic growth.

Jordan, alongside Bahrain, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, and other countries, is in a massive race to rebuild tourism and energy infrastructure as the Strait of Hormuz reopens on June 19 after four consecutive months of disruption, recognizing that stronger shipping routes, renewed investor confidence, and improving trade flows are essential for long-term growth. The reopening is offering new hope for the recovery of the Middle East tourism, trade and economy by supporting higher visitor arrivals, stronger energy exports, increased foreign investment, and expanded infrastructure development across the region.