Air Arabia Jordan, Jordan’s leading low-cost carrier (LCC), launched its inaugural flight to Tbilisi from Amman last Friday, becoming the first regular flight to directly link Jordan with Georgia.
The new service to Tbilisi aims to enhance tourism, and contribute to strengthening the trade and bilateral relations between Jordan and Georgia.
The inaugural flight departed Amman International Airport at 1 p.m. local time, and the aircraft received a traditional water canon salute upon arrival in Tbilisi.
Air Arabia Jordan announced that the destination will be served twice a week, operating on Tuesdays and Fridays. The outbound flight will depart Amman International Airport at 1 p.m., arriving at the Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport at 4.40 p.m. local time. The return flight will leave Tbilisi at 5.30 p.m., reaching Amman at 7.25 p.m. local time.
Tbilisi caters to travelers who are eager to discover the crossroads between Europe and Asia. Through its cobblestoned pathways, old town Tbilisi hosts an array of ornate art in its original architecture and structures which reflect the city’s past influenced by both Persian and Russian rule. The modern city harmoniously combines antique and contemporary features.
Air Arabia Jordan began operations in May 2015 and is Jordan’s leading and only low-cost carrier. The carrier focuses on offering comfortable, reliable air travel from and into Jordan that provides value for money. The company offers its passengers a 32-inch seat pitch, the best economy configuration in the market.
Air Arabia Jordan’s inaugural Tbilisi flight touches down
Air Arabia Jordan’s inaugural Tbilisi flight touches down
More crop per drop: NADEC and EF Polymer deploy breakthrough technology to cut agricultural water use by 40%
Following a strategic technology-scouting framework led by Universal Materials Incubator, the National Agricultural Development Company has entered into a partnership to launch large-scale field trials of EF Polymer, marking a significant step in deploying deep-technology solutions to strengthen the Kingdom’s food and water security.
The collaboration initiates field trials of EF Polymer’s proprietary solution — a 100 percent organic, biodegradable powder that performs like a “soil battery” upcycled from food waste. Engineered to address water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions, the material can absorb up to 50 times its own weight in water and gradually release moisture directly to plant roots. This mechanism has the potential to reduce irrigation water use by up to 40 percent, while enhancing crop yield and long-term agricultural productivity.
Beyond water efficiency, EF Polymer improves nutrient retention by minimizing fertilizer leaching, thereby reducing overall fertilizer requirements. After approximately one year in the soil, the material fully biodegrades into organic carbon, organic matter, and trace nutrients such as magnesium, calcium, and nitrogen — contributing directly to improved soil health and long-term fertility.
The solution is affordable, easy to apply, and suitable for a wide range of crops, making it viable both for individual farmers and for industrial-scale agricultural operations such as NADEC’s.
EF Polymer has already achieved significant commercial adoption across multiple global markets, including Japan, the US, India and Turkiye, where it is actively used by farmers and agribusiness operators to improve water efficiency, soil health, and crop resilience under varying climatic conditions.
Its organic credentials are certified by OMRI and Ecocert, reinforcing its alignment with sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices.
The stakes for this alliance are high. By 2030, global freshwater demand is projected to exceed supply by 40 percent. In Saudi Arabia, the challenge is localized but intense: the agricultural sector alone consumes approximately 11.4 billion cubic meters of water annually. This partnership underscores NADEC’s commitment to adopting innovative, scalable technologies that conserve natural resources while supporting resilient food systems across the Kingdom.
Mohamed Al-Rajhi, VP of supply chain sector at NADEC, said: “Strategic agriculture today requires a long-term commitment to soil health and resource circularity. NADEC is leading the shift toward regenerative practices that restore our natural capital rather than merely consuming it. By diversifying our crop portfolio and investing in closed-loop nutrient management, we are insulating our operations against global price volatility and environmental shifts.”
“We are aggressively deploying AI-driven irrigation systems and satellite-based crop monitoring to optimize every drop of water and every hectare of land. This strategic pivot toward agri-digitization allows us to mitigate climate risks in real-time while significantly reducing our carbon footprint. Our commitment to sustainability is our greatest competitive advantage, ensuring that NADEC remains the cornerstone of the Middle East’s agri-food sector for decades to come. These trials focus on strategic scalable crops like wheat and olive trees to ensure the future of the Kingdom’s food security is both sustainable and locally rooted,” he added.
Strategic trial milestones:
- Wheat: Trials have commenced to demonstrate water retention in this water-intensive crop.
- Olive and blueberry: Specialized testing is scheduled for March to evaluate yield improvements and nutrient efficiency.
This collaboration supports Saudi Vision 2030 goals of reducing non-renewable groundwater use by 90 percent.
