Amman: Experts and specialists participating in the urban development session on the Amra City project, held at the Prime Ministry, characterized the project as a national, economic, and developmental urban initiative. They emphasized that it represents a vital, integrated investment.
According to Jordan News Agency, participants called for establishing a clear identity for Amra City, envisioning it as a knowledge-based development hub that attracts residents and serves as a model for smart, sustainable, and investment-oriented cities, rather than merely a residential area. They urged the project to capitalize on its strategic location and to market it internationally, recommending a comprehensive market study by the implementing company and a coordinated media campaign to elucidate the city's advantages, incentives, and exemptions.
The experts advocated halting urban expansion in areas and cities adjacent to the project to avoid overlap, emphasizing the provision of advanced infrastructure services, including transport, energy, and water. They stressed the need for high-quality universities, schools, and hospitals to attract residents and suggested leveraging nearby historical sites to help define the city's identity.
Participants identified significant investment opportunities within the Amra City project across several sectors, including agriculture, noting that the project area consists of arid rather than desert land. They also highlighted the necessity of conducting geological and topographical studies of the project site.
Responding to the participants' observations, Minister of Local Administration Walid Masri clarified that the Amra City project is not a residential real estate development but a comprehensive developmental and investment initiative. He stated that the project would not fall under the jurisdiction of the Greater Amman Municipality and would be developed as a new city under a distinct governance model.
Masri detailed that the project includes several major components such as a sports city, an international stadium, an exhibition ground, and conference halls, all scheduled for completion during the first phase by 2029. Additional elements include an environmental park, a racetrack, and an amusement park, with employment opportunities provided by the nearby Al Muwaqqar Industrial City.
Minister of Public Works and Housing Maher Abu Al-Saman indicated that ongoing discussions would enhance and refine building and zoning regulations within the Amra City project. The ministry has initiated road construction within the project area and issued tenders for the racetrack and international stadium, aiming for completion by 2029.
The session concentrated on urban planning and development principles, examining Amra City's developmental role and its impact on the surrounding environment and local community. It aimed to establish general guidelines for urban development, formulate a clear vision for the project's urban and developmental role, and prepare a list of key urban considerations for future market studies and the comprehensive master plan for the project's first phase.
The discussions sought to identify potential urban risks to be mitigated during the planning and development stages and to compile a list of essential urban questions for comprehensive planning consultants in upcoming phases. The session was part of five specialized dialogue sessions held by the Prime Ministry on the Amra City project, involving over 150 experts in engineering, urban planning, environment, and transport. Participants included academics and specialists in architecture, energy, water, economics, and investment, alongside representatives of relevant professional associations. The sessions addressed urban development, economic impact, future technologies, water, energy and the environment, culture and education, sports, health, and mobility.