The House of Representatives will on Monday discuss the Financial Committee’s report on the draft General Budget Law for the 2026 fiscal year, during the eighth session of the second ordinary session.
اضافة اعلان
After debating the draft law, lawmakers will begin voting on the general budget chapter by chapter, in accordance with paragraph (2) of Article (112) of the Constitution and paragraph (b) of Article (87) of the House’s Rules of Procedure.
Members of Parliament will also vote on the recommendations submitted by the Financial Committee in its report.
On Sunday, the Parliamentary Financial Committee, chaired by Nimer Al-Sleihat, approved the draft General Budget Law for 2026 after concluding discussions that spanned 104 meetings between November 25 and December 7, covering all ministries, departments, and government units listed in the budget.
Al-Sleihat stated that the committee conducted an in-depth technical study analyzing budget items, assessing the impact of public spending, evaluating economic indicators, reviewing the implications of 230 government decisions on economic and social conditions, and examining allocations for social safety networks.
During a press conference, Al-Sleihat outlined the committee’s key recommendations as follows:
First: Fiscal and Monetary Policy
Increase salaries of military and civilian employees and retirees to match cumulative inflation.
Reassess sales tax in a way that accounts for its impact on citizens’ incomes.
Reduce the cost of servicing public debt and benefit from low-interest external financing, with an expected 0.5% interest rate decrease in 2025.
Refrain from imposing new taxes or shifting goods to higher tax brackets.
Strictly regulate the spending of the JD 60 million emergency allocation.
Cap the growth of current expenditures in government-owned companies at no more than 25% of their actual revenue growth.
Establish an investment fund for retirees and employees to finance major projects, including the “Omra” project.
Allocate sufficient funds for tax refund payments.
Extend the real estate market incentive decision, maintaining full exemption for apartments up to 150 m² and 50% exemption for larger units.
Require banks to reflect interest rate cuts on loans just as quickly as they reflect increases.
Continue Central Bank low-interest financing programs.
Audit Bureau
Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the impact of suspending pre-auditing.
Adopt clear criteria for classifying entities subject to oversight before withdrawing pre-audit procedures.
Study the efficiency of internal audit units in government institutions.
Tourism Sector
Diversify tourism programs in less-visited regions and link them to overnight stays and low-cost flights.
Expand cultural tourism programs targeting Arab visitors.
Prepare a gradual development plan for tourist sites and offer partnership projects with the private sector.
Connect handicraft associations to the visitor profiles most likely to attract demand.
Water and Agriculture
Continue reducing water loss and limiting violations of water networks.
Support cooperatives and agricultural processing enterprises to stimulate local communities.
Conduct annual livestock surveys to ensure support reaches eligible beneficiaries.
Support alternative crops depending on the nature of each region.
Monitor production and compensate for shortages through an early warning system to stabilize prices.
Education and Higher Education
Train and qualify teachers in BTec programs and expand implementation.
Encourage universities to adopt technical and future-focused disciplines.
Continue supporting the Student Support Fund for underprivileged students.
Ministry of Labor
Expand vocational and technical training aligned with international standards, particularly those of the German labor market.
Regulate the labor market and rectify the status of violators.
Support entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly in technology and artificial intelligence.
Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship
Complete the digital transformation plan and deliver all government services fully online.
Develop artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Strengthen training programs for ICT students that lead directly to employment.
Industry and Trade
Streamline support programs for SMEs and launch new programs after assessing their challenges.
Support rural productive projects under a unified program.
Establish an investor protection unit, particularly for goods traded through social media platforms.
Investment Sector
Follow up on the outcomes of His Majesty’s visits to maximize investment opportunities.
Prepare feedback for the Investment Environment Law with the aim of improving it.
Reduce bureaucracy through process reengineering.
Amend the Investment Environment Regulation in line with the Economic Modernization Vision.
Provide additional incentives to investors in the governorates.
Additional Recommendations
Grant the Grand Mufti of the Ifta Department the same privileges as Sharia judges.
Extend the 75% exemption on building permit fees.
Increase allocations for the Armed Forces and security agencies to enhance readiness.
