Day: May 8, 2025

Petra: The Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) has unveiled a transformed edition of the “Petra by Night” experience, a multisensory journey through the ancient Nabataean capital, now reimagined with cutting-edge technology and deepened cultural storytelling.

According to Jordan News Agency, the relaunch event, held Tuesday evening, brought together tourism professionals and local stakeholders. Their shared goal is to position Petra not only as a marvel of the ancient world, but also as a living cultural destination that evolves while preserving its soul.

Blending old-world charm with new-world innovation, the updated “Petra by Night” integrates 3D mapping, holographic projections, and immersive sound-and-light design, transforming the Siq and the iconic Treasury into a dynamic canvas of history and myth.

Beyond the technological enhancements, the program now weaves in performances rooted in local heritage: actors reenact Nabataean rituals, musicians revive Bedouin melodies on the rababah and shababa, and traditional samer dances bring ancestral rhythms to life. These additions aim not just to entertain, but to connect audiences more intimately with Petra’s cultural lineage.

“Petra by Night is no longer just a show, it’s an experience of memory and meaning,” said PDTRA Chairman Fares Breizat. “The upgrades respect the historical gravity of this site while speaking to a modern traveler’s expectations. This is tourism as storytelling.”

He noted that the project aligns with UNESCO’s site management guidelines and supports Jordan’s 2023-2033 Economic Modernization Vision, particularly its emphasis on sustainable and culturally responsible tourism.

The strategy goes beyond aesthetic appeal. By extending visitor engagement into the evening hours, officials aim to boost overnight stays and stimulate local businesses, from hospitality to handicrafts.

“This is part of a broader vision,” Breizat added. “Nighttime tourism not only enriches the visitor’s experience but also deepens the economic footprint of tourism in Petra. We are building a future where heritage drives growth.”

Amman: The Second National Conference on Early Childhood Development, titled “Safe Growth, Lifelong Learning,” concluded today in Amman. Organized by the National Council for Family Affairs in collaboration with Plan International and supported by the Van Leer Foundation, the event focused on prioritizing early childhood investment as a critical foundation for children’s future success.

According to Jordan News Agency, the conference highlighted Jordan’s alignment with the economic modernization vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II, which emphasizes the importance of investing in a child’s early years to ensure their rights, skill development, and long-term potential. Over the course of two days, 200 participants including national and international institutional representatives, local community organizations, and experts from countries such as Lebanon, the UAE, Brazil, India, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Denmark, Turkey, and Colombia, engaged in discussions on the country’s early childhood development priorities.

Topics included bridging gaps in early childhood care, advancing child care policies, and fostering a multi-sectoral approach to development in accordance with the Child Rights Law in Jordan. The conference also underscored the need to create child-friendly environments while integrating early childhood development into broader national goals, focusing on building safe spaces for children, families, and caregivers.

On the first day, discussions centered on innovative strategies to support young children and their families in difficult circumstances. The second day delved into the importance of a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to early childhood development, as well as fostering innovation and workforce development in the sector, alongside urban planning initiatives that prioritize children’s needs.

The final session included key recommendations, such as implementing family-friendly workplace policies within the public sector, creating child-friendly parks across the kingdom, digitizing the licensing and evaluation processes for nurseries, and integrating artificial intelligence to create safe, engaging content for early childhood service providers. The conference participants also stressed the need for electronic content that is both educational and secure, in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Economy.

Other recommendations focused on strengthening the capacity of nursery staff to conduct self-assessments and ongoing improvements, as well as integrating mental health support into child care programs. Additionally, participants advocated for the inclusion of psychological counselors in nurseries and schools and the involvement of parents in mental health support initiatives.

The conference concluded with a call to support community-based nurseries in underserved areas to reduce inequalities in access to quality early childhood education.

Amman: National exports to the United States rose by 8% to JD 365 million by the end of February this year, compared to JD 338 million during the same period last year.

According to Jordan News Agency, the trade balance between Jordan and the U.S. recorded a surplus of JD 151 million by the end of February. Meanwhile, Jordan’s imports from the U.S. amounted to JD 214 million, marking a 5.4% increase from JD 203 million during the same period last year.

In the same period, the total volume of trade between the two countries increased to JD 579 million, up from JD 541 million during the same period last year.

Jordan’s exports to the U.S. are primarily composed of textiles and apparel, fertilizers, chemical products, pharmaceuticals, jewelry, food and livestock products, information technology services, and engineering industries.

Conversely, Jordan’s imports from the U.S. include metal products, transportation equipment, machinery and electrical devices, grains, chemicals, medical equipment, food products, livestock products, furniture, iron products, used clothing, vegetable oils, timber, and wood products.

The free trade agreement between Jordan and the United States, signed in October 2000 and fully implemented in January 2010, has significantly boosted bilateral trade, with trade volume growing by approximately 800%.

Amman: The Open Market Operations Committee of the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) decided to keep interest rates on all monetary policy tools unchanged, a move aimed at maintaining macroeconomic stability amidst evolving domestic and international economic conditions.

According to Jordan News Agency, the decision reflects a thorough review of the economic, financial, and monetary landscape, both within Jordan and globally. The CBJ emphasized the resilience of the Kingdom’s monetary system, underscored by a record-high foreign reserves position exceeding USD 22.8 billion at the end of April 2025. These reserves are more than adequate to cover 8.8 months of imports, offering a robust buffer against external shocks.

Jordan’s inflation rate remained stable at 2.0% during Q1 2025, with expectations for the full year of 2025 to hold steady at around 2.2%. This controlled inflationary environment is viewed positively for maintaining purchasing power and supporting economic growth.

On the banking front, the financial sector showed strong performance. Customer deposits grew by 6.8% year-on-year, reaching JD 47.4 billion as of March 2025. Meanwhile, credit facilities provided by banks rose by 3.9% over the same period, totaling JD 35.2 billion, indicating a steady expansion of credit activity in line with the country’s economic needs.

The external sector also demonstrated positive growth. Tourism receipts surged by 8.9% in the first quarter of 2025, reaching USD 1.7 billion, compared to the same period in 2024. Additionally, remittances from Jordanians abroad increased by 2.0% in the first two months of the year, amounting to USD 606 million. Exports grew by 9.2%, totaling USD 2.0 billion in the same period, reflecting strong demand for Jordanian goods and services in international markets.

Furthermore, preliminary estimates suggest that foreign direct investment (FDI) into Jordan reached approximately USD 2.1 billion in 2024, signaling strong investor confidence and the Kingdom’s continued attractiveness as an investment destination. Jordan’s economy grew by 2.5% in 2024, with expectations for a slight acceleration to 2.7% in 2025, driven by robust domestic consumption and expanding external demand.

The Central Bank of Jordan reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining monetary and financial stability by closely monitoring domestic and global developments. The bank emphasized its readiness to implement necessary policy measures to mitigate inflationary pressures and sustain economic growth within a stable macroeconomic framework.

Amman: Data from the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) highlighted the Kingdom’s strong monetary stability, supported by a record level of foreign reserves that surpassed $22.8 billion by the end of April 2025. This level of reserves is sufficient to cover approximately 8.8 months of Jordan’s imports of goods and services.

According to Jordan News Agency, foreign reserves increased by 8 percent or $1.68 billion from the beginning of 2025 through the end of April, reinforcing the resilience of Jordan’s financial position and its ability to meet external obligations.

Amman: Data from the World Gold Council showed that Jordan’s gold reserves rose to 72.27 tons by the end of the first quarter of 2025, up from 71.65 tons at the end of 2024.

According to Jordan News Agency, figures released by the Central Bank of Jordan indicated that the value of the bank’s gold reserves reached a new record of JD 5.5 billion by the end of April 2025. The total gold holdings also increased to 2.344 million ounces during the same period.