The Director of the Health and Professional Inspection Department at the Greater Amman Municipality, Wisam Abu Khalaf, said Saturday that around 3,700 coffee kiosks operate within the municipality’s boundaries, while 309 violations were recorded against liquid-coffee outlets since the beginning of 2026, with 145 establishments administratively closed.
Abu Khalaf stressed that the municipality does not target the liquid-coffee trade or seek to restrict business owners, but rather aims to regulate the profession in a manner that safeguards public safety and ensures smooth traffic flow.
She explained that the issue is not the sale of coffee itself, but rather the practice of moving the sales operation from inside the establishment into the public right-of-way, with workers moving between vehicles to deliver orders. This can cause traffic obstruction and random vehicle stops, in addition to posing risks to workers and road users and raising health and regulatory concerns related to the way the service is provided.
Abu Khalaf said the municipality seeks to strike a balance between protecting livelihoods and allowing economic activity on the one hand, and ensuring proper regulation on the other. She noted that licensed establishments may operate and provide services within the specified requirements.
She explained that inspection procedures begin by notifying the concerned business owner to remove the violation and comply with professional requirements, followed by field monitoring. If the violation persists or is repeated, an official violation is recorded, potentially leading to closure when warranted.
She added that the municipality may refer cases to the administrative governor when necessary to take measures within his jurisdiction and obtain the required undertakings to prevent repeated violations. She also pointed to a high level of cooperation from liquid-coffee shop owners.
Abu Khalaf noted that placing mannequins or people in the middle of roads to serve coffee to motorists is considered a particularly serious practice, stressing that the municipality is working to strengthen compliance mechanisms.
She said the municipality has begun implementing regulations governing the preparation and sale of hot beverages within Greater Amman, including financial penalties as one of the tools to ensure compliance.
She stressed that the continuation of economic activity is conditional on ensuring that it does not come at the expense of public safety or traffic flow. Workers standing between vehicles can cause sudden stops or roadside queues, affecting traffic movement and exposing workers themselves to accidents.
She also emphasized the need for all food products and beverages served to comply with the health requirements applicable to each establishment. The municipality is working to address these practices sustainably and move from field-based enforcement toward developing a dedicated regulatory and inspection framework for liquid-coffee outlets.
Abu Khalaf said around 3,700 coffee kiosks operate within Greater Amman’s boundaries under the cafeteria profession and other licensed activities. Some establishments are licensed as restaurants but sell cafeteria products without holding the relevant license, making them subject to violations under the professions law.
She noted that a number of outlets operate without obtaining the required license, although their number does not currently appear in the digital system being implemented by the Greater Amman Municipality.
