AMMAN — Jordan’s urban future is taking shape through a newly-defined set of standards and an ambitious national index aimed at transforming the Kingdom’s major population centres into smarter, more sustainable and better-governed cities.

 

During the Public Corporation for Housing and Urban Development (HDUC) ceremony for launching the final draft of the 'Criteria and Foundations of the Establisbment of Future Cities' study, The Jordan Times spoke to the Arbitration Experts of the study.

 

The Arbitrators of the smart cities study, Kamel Mahadeen and Haifaa Abu Ghazaleh laid out the opportunities and challenges ahead.

 

Planning for cities under pressure

 

Mahadeen stressed that any credible national strategy must begin with a clear understanding of how Jordan’s cities have evolved, and where they are heading.

 

“Every strategy includes planning for future cities, studying them, and setting the standards,” he said. “Our cities have expanded in Amman, Zarqa, and Irbid."

 

He added "These are three large urban residential areas, holding four million, two million, and three million people. Managing them is not easy, and neither are the transport lines, the infrastructure, or supplying them with environmental resources.”

 

Despite “huge efforts”, Mahadeen noted that planning data and standards remain incomplete. He argued that expansion must be grounded in “good, clear planning”, and distinguished between new cities and satellite cities, smaller, organised clusters that support major urban centres.

 

He pointed to the corridor between Amman and Zarqa as a promising example. “It can benefit from the warmth of Amman and Zarqa, and have proper infrastructure, because overcrowding hinders movement in the main cities,” he said.

 

Mahadeen stressed that any future-focused framework must incorporate environmental, socio-economic, planning, legal and sustainability standards, elements central to the strategic reform vision championed by His Majesty King Abdullah.

 

“These are the visions His Majesty always speaks about, even in his discussion papers,” he said, adding that more conferences and seminars are needed to translate these ideas into action.

 

He stressed Salt, Petra and Aqaba as examples of well-managed heritage and urban environments, noting that Karak “we hope catches up”. Irbid, he said, is witnessing “huge efforts”, while Zarqa “has chaos that needs to be tidied up from a planning perspective”. Parts of Amman, too, “have undoubtedly expanded without a well-defined or studied plan”.

 

A new national methodology

 

For Abu Ghazaleh, the unveiling of the final draft of the standards for Future Cities and the Jordanian Future Cities Index represents a long-awaited milestone.

 

“The launch marks a major turning point in Jordan’s urban planning path,” she said. “It is a bold step to move away from traditional cities, burdened by congestion, bottlenecks, and urban sprawl, toward smarter, more humane, and more sustainable cities.”

 

Far from being a mere technical guideline, Abu Ghazaleh described the framework as the foundation for a new national mindset.

 

“It opens the door to a new methodology in urban thinking,” she said. “This methodology redefines the Jordanian city based on measurable, scientific principles and a future vision that responds to citizens’ needs, respects resources, and restores value to quality and dignified living.”

 

She added the Future Cities Index introduces a culture of accountability and healthy competition among municipalities and governorates. “It moves beyond a mere ‘vision’ toward motivation and measurable progress.”

 

A moment of reckoning, and possibility

 

Both arbitrators reflect a "growing" recognition that Jordan’s urban challenges; sprawl, congestion, uneven planning, require a systematic, standards-based approach. The new national framework could be the catalyst for reshaping how cities grow, function and serve their residents.

 

Whether in the bustling streets of Amman, the expanding edges of Zarqa, or the heritage-rich landscapes of Salt and Petra, the push towards future-ready cities marks a defining moment for Jordan’s development trajectory.