The Jordan Hotels Association (JHA) participated in the activities of the Special Operations Forces Exhibition and Conference (SOFEX 2026), hosted by the city of Aqaba under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II, with broad international participation from official delegations, institutions, and companies specialising in the defence and security industries.
Hani Al-Dabbas, Vice Chairman of the Jordan Hotels Association, commended the high standard of organisation of the exhibition, emphasising that Jordan’s hosting of this international event reflects its strategic standing and demonstrates the international confidence in its organisational capabilities, as well as its stability and capacity to host major events.
Al-Dabbas noted that the significance of SOFEX extends beyond its specialised focus on defence and security, positioning it as an international platform with far-reaching economic and tourism impacts. The event contributes to stimulating hotel activity, supporting related sectors, and enhancing Jordan’s competitiveness in the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) tourism sector.
He further emphasised that sustaining the economic impact of such events requires transforming international engagement and momentum into investment opportunities and strategic partnerships. This would strengthen Aqaba’s position as a regional hub for business and international events, while reinforcing the role of the tourism sector as a key contributor to the national economy.