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Salameh Al-Draawi
The financial results of companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange during the first nine months of 2026 carry important economic indicators. They go beyond rising profits to reach the second-highest level for the period on record. They reflect the ability of the Jordanian business sector to handle regional turbulence and to maintain activity and profitability, despite higher energy, shipping and insurance costs and pressure on markets.
The Speech from the Throne sets a clear standard for evaluating economic performance: the ability of development to improve citizens' lives and expand their opportunities for work, education and healthcare. The royal directive that the interest of the Jordanian citizen must be at the heart of every decision carries a direct message to the bodies that formulate and implement policies: the value of a decision is measured by its results, and by what it adds to people's livelihoods and to the economy's capacity to produce and generate opportunities.
The draft amendment to the Execution Law opens the door to completing the reform of the relationship between creditor and debtor, by addressing shortcomings in collection and developing tools for recovering rights, while preserving the principle of not imprisoning those unable to meet obligations under the covered contractual agreements. This approach deserves support, because it aims to strengthen the effectiveness of enforcement, and allows building on the economic and social benefits that can come from keeping a defaulting party able to work.
Jordan’s ranking third globally in the Economic Freedom of the World report’s “Sound Money” index, with a score of 9.59 out of 10, is more than an improvement in an international ranking. It reflects the Central Bank of Jordan’s ability to manage monetary policy instruments within an integrated framework aimed at protecting monetary stability and strengthening confidence in the dinar. The result, reported in the Fraser Institute’s 2026 report based on 2024 data, highlights the importance of the institutional approach adopted by the Central Bank in managing the exchange rate, interest rates, liquidity and reserves. These tools are particularly important in a small, open economy affected by regional and international developments.
Some economic sectors in Jordan need deep and bold reforms, after practical experience revealed legislative and implementation shortcomings that have cost the state revenues that should have entered the public treasury, at a time when public finances need every dinar to fund essential expenditures and expand development spending.
During regional crises and disruptions in global energy markets, the importance of national institutions is measured not only by the scale of their operations and profits, but also by their ability to protect the national economy, ensure the continued flow of strategic commodities, and meet the needs of citizens and productive sectors under the most challenging circumstances.
The sixth review of the economic reform programme between Jordan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), expected to take place this month, carries exceptional significance. It is closely tied to the programme’s commitments and comes at the end of a year in which regional developments have placed financial and economic pressure on Jordan’s economy, necessitating a reassessment of some of the assumptions underpinning the state budget.
The issue of subsidies in the state budget now requires a serious economic review, particularly amid regional developments that are driving up energy prices, shipping and insurance costs, and disrupting supply chains. As uncertainty persists, public finances face additional burdens that constrain the government’s ability to manage spending and achieve economic reform objectives.
Patients must not become the weakest link in disputes between doctors and insurance companies, nor should they be forced to pay for their treatment out of pocket despite having paid their medical insurance premiums, trusting that the system will guarantee access to healthcare under the agreed terms.
Jordan's foreign trade figures for the first seven months of 2026 reveal a remarkable ability of national exports to stay on a growth path, despite a highly complex regional environment, disrupted shipping and transport, and higher insurance and supply-chain costs. Total exports rose 10.3% to JD 6.395 billion, national exports grew 4.6% to JD 5.509 billion, and re-exports rose 67.2% to JD 886 million.
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