A large warehouse and cold-storage complex in Aqaba — engineered and constructed by CEC for PWC to serve Jordan's primary Red Sea port, combining high-bay dry storage with specialized refrigerated facilities built for a demanding coastal climate.
Aqaba is Jordan's only coastal city and its sole maritime port — the entry and exit point for a substantial share of the country's imported and exported goods. For trading and logistics companies operating in this corridor, warehousing capacity close to the port is a strategic asset, and cold-storage capacity in particular is in constant demand for perishable goods moving through the supply chain. PWC commissioned CEC to design and construct a large warehouse and cold-storage complex in Aqaba to meet this need, combining conventional dry-goods storage with dedicated refrigerated chambers.
The facility was conceived as an integrated logistics asset: high-bay dry warehousing for general cargo, configured from the outset to accommodate industrial racking systems, alongside insulated cold-store chambers maintained at the temperature ranges required for chilled and frozen goods. CEC's construction scope brought these two very different building types together under a coordinated structural and services strategy, with the refrigeration plant, insulated envelopes, and specialized floor systems of the cold stores integrated alongside the simpler but larger-volume dry warehouse structure.
Aqaba's climate — hot, humid, and salt-laden from its position on the Gulf of Aqaba — placed the building envelope and mechanical systems under particular scrutiny. CEC's approach drew on the company's experience delivering industrial and coastal-adjacent projects elsewhere in Jordan, applying envelope detailing, corrosion-resistant specifications, and refrigeration plant design suited to a coastal industrial environment. The result is a facility built to operate reliably for PWC's import-export operations for decades, in one of the most climatically demanding regions of the country.
Delivering a warehouse and cold-storage facility in Aqaba's coastal industrial zone presented several distinct technical challenges:
CEC's construction scope on the PWC Warehouse & Cold Stores encompassed sitework and foundations for both the warehouse and cold-store structures; the steel-framed dry warehouse shell with high-bay clear spans and racking-ready floor slabs; the insulated cold-store structure including specialized floor, wall, and ceiling panel systems; refrigeration plant rooms and associated mechanical infrastructure; loading dock areas configured for both ambient and refrigerated goods handling; and external works including yard paving and site drainage suited to Aqaba's occasional intense rainfall events.
Cold-storage construction demands precise attention to insulation continuity and vapor sealing — even small gaps can lead to condensation, ice formation, and long-term degradation of the refrigeration system's performance. CEC applied rigorous inspection protocols to panel joints, door seals, and penetrations throughout the cold-store construction, alongside the company's standard First Grade quality controls for the structural and civil works. The facility was commissioned and pressure-tested in coordination with the refrigeration plant supplier prior to handover, ensuring PWC received a facility ready for immediate operational use.
PWC Warehouse & Cold Stores. Al-Youm Dairy Facility. CEC delivers industrial and cold-chain infrastructure across Jordan, from Amman to Aqaba. First Grade classified. Ready for your project.
