Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  The aviation authorities of Uzbekistan and Jordan have signed a memorandum of understanding, according to the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan.

The agreement was reached during a round of negotiations between delegations from both countries at the ICAO ICAN-2024 event held in Kuala Lumpur.

Jordan is a new destination for Uzbekistan, as there have previously been no direct flights between the two countries. However, statistics from 2023 indicate that over 1,500 Jordanian citizens arrived in Uzbekistan via transit hubs in Istanbul and Dubai, with more than 1,200 arriving in the first nine months of 2024. In contrast, around 2,000 Uzbek citizens visited Jordan in 2023, with approximately 3,000 visiting since the beginning of 2024.

During the discussions with the Jordanian aviation administration, a protocol was initialed to amend the flight safety agreement, which includes lifting restrictions on the number of airlines under the bilateral air transport agreement. The memorandum of understanding was also signed.

This agreement opens up prospects for bilateral tourism: Uzbekistan will be able to offer its citizens new travel routes to explore the historical landmarks of Jordan, often referred to as the "Eastern Rome." Additionally, the parties agreed to assist the Uzbek Committee for Tourism in developing "Pilgrimage Tourism," which will attract Jordanian tourists to Uzbekistan.