Aqaba (; alternatively spelled Akaba; ), is the only coastal city of Jordan, with an estimated population of 140,000 and a land area of . The city's strategic location at the northeastern tip of the Red Sea, has made its port important over the course of thousands of years. As Ancient Aela, the former bishopric remains a Latin Catholic titular see. Today, the port plays a primary role in the kingdom's economy, it also serves several countries in the region.