Amman — Amman faces a growing challenge in accommodating its population and urban expansion, but at the same time, it has large areas that could provide an opportunity to reorganize this growth according to a more proactive and integrated vision.
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In this context, Eng. Imad Al-Dabbas, a member of the Jordan Engineers Association Council and head of its Architectural Division, said Amman’s population exceeds 5 million, while data from the Greater Amman Municipality indicates that around 62% of land within the municipality’s boundaries remains undeveloped, compared with 38% that has been developed.
Last Saturday, the Architectural Engineering Division of the association, represented by its Urban Planning and Design Committee, held a panel discussion titled “Implementing Planning and Regulation System No. 81 of 2025 within the Greater Amman Municipality and Its Impact on Amman’s Urban Environment.” The event discussed the system’s provisions, assessed its impact and sought practical recommendations to improve its implementation and ensure sustainability.
Al-Dabbas said the figures reflect both the scale of the challenge and the size of the opportunity available to the city to accommodate future growth through proper planning.
He explained that Planning and Design System No. 81 of 2025 does not set a fixed population or investment target, but instead provides a flexible framework for managing urban and economic growth.
He noted that planning is based on three interconnected levels: the city, districts and neighborhoods. It begins with establishing a strategic vision for the city, which is then translated into district plans, followed by detailed planning for neighborhoods, services and infrastructure.
He stressed that the most important feature of the new system is that it allows a shift from planning that responds to growth after it occurs to proactive planning that determines where and how Amman can expand, while linking urban expansion to infrastructure, transport networks and services.
Regarding the expected scale of investment and the budgets allocated to training, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, Al-Dabbas stressed the need to distinguish between the system itself and investment programs. He said, “Regulation 81 is not an investment program and does not set a specific financial value for investments. Rather, it provides the planning and regulatory framework for directing investment and stimulating urban development.”
He pointed to major capital projects and programs undertaken by the Greater Amman Municipality, particularly in infrastructure, transportation and the Amman Vision.
Regarding training, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, Al-Dabbas said there is no publicly announced standalone budget that can be attributed exclusively to implementing the system. However, its success requires upgrading staff skills, updating databases and geographic information systems, and expanding the use of artificial intelligence and digital transformation in planning and decision-making.
He said the real challenge lies not simply in issuing the system, but in turning it into an effective planning practice that makes use of undeveloped land, directs investment, keeps pace with population growth and contributes to improving quality of life in Amman, ultimately creating a smart, green, safe, resilient and environmentally friendly city.
Al-Dabbas explained that the association participated in reviewing the draft system, noting that urban planning and design are not merely regulatory procedures or technical requirements, but essential tools for creating a more efficient and sustainable city that is better able to respond to population and economic growth while preserving its urban and architectural identity and character.
He added that Amman is undergoing significant expansion that requires legislation capable of addressing its challenges. The system provides clear definitions of the neighborhood, district and city, while allowing the local community to become part of the decision-making process.
Al-Dabbas said discussions of any legislation related to planning and design should be based on genuine professional dialogue bringing together regulatory authorities, specialists, engineering firms and the academic sector, drawing on practical experience and accumulated expertise.
He called for viewing the system as part of an integrated framework alongside other urban legislation, with clear roles and powers and without duplication or conflicting provisions, in order to facilitate implementation and reduce differences in interpretation.
He affirmed that the Jordan Engineers Association and its Architectural Engineering Division would continue to provide space for constructive dialogue and partnership with relevant stakeholders, stressing that cities are not built with stone alone, but through sound planning, balanced legislation, responsible design and a forward-looking vision.
For his part, Eng. Adel Al-Suhaiba, deputy city manager for planning and economic development at the Greater Amman Municipality, said the need for the system emerged in light of multiple challenges facing the city. It was introduced in response to these challenges and to keep pace with developments in Amman, establishing an approach based on proactive planning for what lies ahead rather than simply dealing with what has already happened.
Al-Suhaiba stressed that the system introduces a new concept of planning and development that takes into account land use, investment, services and quality of life in Amman.
He said it represents a shift in city management toward more effective and organized planning that serves the public interest and protects the rights of different stakeholders. He noted that achieving a tangible positive impact on the ground requires cooperation among all relevant parties.
Meanwhile, Eng. Issa Hamdan, head of the Engineering Offices Authority, described the system as a pivotal milestone in Amman’s development and said it places engineering firms and planners under an increased historic responsibility to keep pace with global standards and the latest international practices.
He said the system represents an opportunity to rebuild trust between citizens and the city, as well as between citizens and the authorities responsible for planning and implementation.
He stressed that the authority and all engineering firms would be among the leading stakeholders committed to developing and implementing the system in accordance with international standards.
Dr. Khaled Al-Momani, head of the Urban Planning and Design Committee within the division, said the system entered into force at the beginning of the current year and clearly distinguishes between the concepts of planning and regulation. It is based on three levels: comprehensive plans for the city, designated district plans, and detailed neighborhood plans focusing on services and other local needs.
He added that the system aims to simplify procedures and speed up the processing of applications, while enhancing community participation and involving residents in planning their neighborhoods. He noted that artificial intelligence would also be used to help ensure sustainable growth and planning within the municipality.
Al-Momani said implementing the system requires training and qualifying municipality staff, stressing that the greatest challenge lies not in the wording of the provisions themselves, but in how they are implemented on the ground.
He stressed that the system’s success depends on establishing a genuine partnership among all stakeholders, beginning with the municipality and the association and extending to all other relevant parties, describing it as a bold step toward a more organized and sustainable city.
Resource: Al-Ghad.
