Month: May 2026

Amman: The Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship announced the launch of the Sanad Lite app, designed to streamline users’ access to government digital services.

According to Jordan News Agency, the application aims to address users’ challenges in handling digital services, particularly difficulties related to storage space limitations or incompatibility issues with the Sanad app on certain devices and operating systems.

The Sanad Lite app offers a simplified and fast solution, providing users with access to the core services offered on the Sanad app through a flexible user experience that suits devices with limited capabilities or older operating systems.

The ministry invites those interested in using the new app to download it via the following link: https://www.sanad.gov.jo/en/sanad-lite/download.

Regarding access to the new e-service, the ministry stated that the Sanad Lite app allows users to enter the same login credentials as the Sanad app by using their national ID number and password.

As for its goals, this step comes as part of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship’s efforts to promote digital inclusion and facilitate citizens’ access to digital public services. The ministry noted the move aimed to ensure a more convenient and flexible digital experience for different user groups.

Amman: The Department of Statistics (DoS) reported on Sunday that the value of Jordan’s national exports increased by 1.6% during the first quarter of 2026, reaching JD2.129 billion.

According to Jordan News Agency, the department’s monthly foreign trade report indicated a decline in the value of re-exports by 7.1%, amounting to JD561 million during the same period. Consequently, the total exports reached JD2.690 billion, marking a slight decrease of 0.4% compared with the first quarter of 2025.

The report also highlighted a 2.9% reduction in imports, which totaled JD4.597 billion during the first three months of 2026. This decline in imports contributed to the narrowing of the trade deficit, which decreased to JD1.907 billion. This represents a reduction of JD128 million, or 6.3%, from the corresponding period last year.

Amman: The Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) closed Sunday’s session with the general price index up by 0.32%, reaching 4,068 points. This rise was primarily driven by gains in the industrial and financial sectors.

According to Jordan News Agency, the total trading volume for the day amounted to JD26.4 million. A total of 6.3 million shares were exchanged across 5,497 transactions. The industrial and financial sectors saw their indexes increase by 1.20% and 0.45%, respectively. However, the services index experienced a decline of 0.53%.

Out of the 91 companies that were traded, 38 companies reported gains, while 27 companies faced declines.

Amman: Jordan’s Sharia Execution Courts, operating on duty during the Independence Day and Eid al-Adha holidays, completed 144 urgent judicial enforcement orders, based on “swift and simplified” procedures.

According to Jordan News Agency, the CJD’s office at the Judicial Enforcement Administration at the Public Security Directorate continued its operations during the two consecutive holidays.

The value of financial transfers paid to beneficiaries via family cards stood at approximately JD5.7 million, representing funds remitted from deduction agencies ahead of the holiday.

The statement noted this step ensured that financial rights reached their rightful recipients without delay.

Amman: Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Sunday directed that the al-Rawdah Industrial Zone in the Ma’an Development Zone be granted the same incentives and advantages available to investors in the King Hussein Bin Abdullah II Industrial City in Karak Governorate, including preferential electricity tariffs, land incentives, and employment support programs, until the zone is connected to the Arab Gas Pipeline. The directive is intended to accelerate investment activity and enhance the competitiveness of the industrial zone.

According to Jordan News Agency, during a visit to the Ma’an Development Zone, Hassan also stressed the importance of completing the comprehensive master plan and the technical and economic feasibility studies for the Aqaba-Ma’an Dry Port project before the end of this year. The dry port project will be developed on an initial area of 4,000 dunams, with capacity for future expansion. The project will be implemented in phases and integrated with the Ma’an Development Zone to serve as the foundation of a new logistics, customs, and industrial hub.

The project is closely linked to the Aqaba Railway initiative, a joint Jordanian-Emirati investment valued at $2.3 billion. Construction of the railway is expected to commence following financial close in early 2027. The dry port will be connected to the railway through a 42-kilometer branch line extending from the Shidiya route. Hassan underscored the need for close coordination among relevant ministries, the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, and the Ma’an Development Zone to ensure the timely implementation of the project and maximize its developmental and economic impact on Aqaba, Ma’an, and the Kingdom as a whole.

As part of the visit, the Prime Minister toured Arab Falcons For Electronics Industries Company and Robina Fertilizer Company, both located within the al-Rawdah Industrial Zone. Arab Falcons Company operates on a 12-dunam site and employs 70 workers. The facility includes four production lines dedicated to manufacturing household appliances. The company recorded exports worth JD2.7 million last year, supplying markets across several Arab countries in addition to Turkey.

Robina Fertilizer Company exported products valued at JD7 million last year, accounting for 90% of its total output. The company operates a quality-control laboratory and has an annual production capacity of 15,000 tons. Its products are exported to Arab and African markets, as well as Albania, China, and India. The company is among the beneficiaries of government support programs provided through the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply.

During the tour, Hassan directed the provision of the necessary facilitation measures to resume operations at Sanam Glass Company in Qasabat Ma’an, following government efforts to address challenges that had hindered the factory’s operations in recent years. Once operational, the facility is expected to create 200 jobs.

The al-Rawdah Industrial Zone spans approximately 2,500 dunams and is designed to accommodate heavy, construction, chemical, and engineering industries of various scales. The development will feature advanced infrastructure, integrated internal and external road networks, an electricity substation, and a wastewater treatment plant. Plans also call for its future connection to the Arab Gas Pipeline. The zone hosts a range of industrial investments and offers investors customs and tax incentives, flexible land and facility acquisition options, and access to workforce training and skills development programs, including government-supported employment initiatives.

Beijing: The Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) and the administration of the Badaling Great Wall of China have entered into a twinning agreement aimed at deepening cooperation in heritage preservation, sustainable tourism, and destination management. The agreement was signed on Sunday during an official ceremony in Beijing, marking a new chapter in cultural and tourism relations between Jordan and China. The signing brought together PDTRA Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Adnan Al Sawair, representatives of the Badaling administration, Jordan’s Ambassador to China Hossam Al-Husseini, and senior officials from both sides.

According to Jordan News Agency, the partnership links two of the world’s most renowned heritage attractions. Petra, the ancient Nabataean city and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its historical and cultural significance. The Great Wall of China, one of the world’s most iconic landmarks and a remarkable achievement of human civilization, attracts approximately 17 million visitors each year.

Under the agreement, the two sides will work together on initiatives related to heritage site management, tourism development, technical cooperation, and professional training. The partnership also provides a framework for sharing expertise and best practices in preserving and promoting globally significant cultural landmarks.

A key component of the agreement focuses on joint tourism marketing. Petra and Badaling will exchange promotional materials and coordinate efforts to increase international visibility, attract more visitors, and highlight the unique historical value of both destinations.

Al Sawair said the agreement reflects Petra’s growing international outreach and reinforces its status as a globally recognized cultural treasure. He noted that cooperation with one of China’s most prominent heritage sites will create opportunities for knowledge exchange while strengthening tourism ties between the two countries.

He added that the partnership is expected to support broader efforts to engage the Chinese tourism market, one of the largest and fastest-growing in the world, while contributing to sustainable tourism growth and benefiting local communities.

The ceremony concluded with the exchange of commemorative gifts symbolizing the longstanding friendship and cultural connections between Jordan and China.