The government has issued Official Circular No. 17 of 2026 for the preparation of the draft General Budget Law and the draft regulation governing the staffing structures of ministries, government departments and public institutions for the 2027 fiscal year.
اضافة اعلان
The circular includes an additional monthly increase of JOD 30 for public sector employees, members of the military, and civilian and military retirees whose total salaries are below JOD 600.
The circular also includes the regular annual salary increments for employees, as well as the regular annual increases in retirement allocations for civilian and military retirees.
Under the circular, all ministries, government departments and public institutions are required to prepare detailed budget proposals for the 2027–2029 period, in line with their allocated ceilings, and submit them to the General Budget Department no later than November 5, 2026. The proposals must also include capital projects for the governorates.
The issuance of the circular is a preliminary step towards completing the draft General Budget Law, discussing it and proceeding with its approval in accordance with the Constitution, alongside the preparation of the draft regulation governing the staffing structures of ministries, government departments and public institutions.
The budget preparation process is guided by Royal Directives to complete the implementation of the second phase of the Economic Modernisation Vision and the Public Sector Modernisation Roadmap for 2026–2029.
These directives aim to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth, improve citizens’ quality of life, ease the cost-of-living burden, strengthen the social protection network, continue fiscal and economic reforms, and reduce public debt.
Budget Priorities
The government plans to increase capital expenditure and spending on social protection programmes, while rationalising and controlling public expenditure to ensure the optimal use of available resources.
The priorities also include stimulating economic sectors, continuing the implementation of initiatives and projects linked to the Economic Modernisation Vision and Public Sector Modernisation Roadmap, and strengthening domestic revenues.
These priorities include continuing the implementation of the second executive programmes for the Economic Modernisation Vision and Public Sector Modernisation Roadmap, achieving the targets of the National Financial and Economic Reform Programme, improving citizens’ living standards, and enabling them to cope with economic and living conditions.
They also include continuing to reduce the primary deficit and public debt as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), developing the capabilities of the Armed Forces and security agencies, encouraging domestic investment, attracting foreign investment, improving the business environment, and prioritising public-private partnership projects, particularly in infrastructure, water, transport, energy and healthcare.
The budget priorities also focus on addressing the development needs of the governorates, improving healthcare services and expanding health insurance coverage, developing education and human resources, qualifying teachers, enhancing early childhood programmes, completing the construction and rehabilitation of schools, and expanding free school transportation services.
Other priorities include developing the social care and protection system, continuing the implementation of the economic empowerment policy for beneficiaries of the National Aid Fund, strengthening food security and strategic stocks of essential commodities, supporting local production, advancing the tourism and industrial sectors, and developing transport, water and energy services.
The priorities further include continuing digital transformation, improving government services and strengthening cybersecurity, supporting municipalities and easing their financial burdens, and accelerating the implementation of projects funded through grants and assistance provided by countries and international institutions.
Economic Indicators Outlook
The 2027 budget is based on an expected real GDP growth rate of 3.1% in 2027 and 3% in each of 2028 and 2029. Nominal GDP is projected to grow by 5.6% in 2027 and 5.5% in each of the following two years.
Inflation is forecast to reach 2.3% in 2027 and 2.2% in both 2028 and 2029. Exports are expected to grow by 9.2% in 2027, 7.7% in 2028 and 7.2% in 2029.
Imports are projected to increase by 8.2% in 2027, 4.3% in 2028 and 5% in 2029. Meanwhile, the current account deficit in the balance of payments is estimated at around 5.7% of GDP in 2027, declining to 5% in 2028 and 4.7% in 2029.
Fiscal Assumptions and Measures
The fiscal assumptions include allocating the necessary funds for projects under the second executive programmes of the Economic Modernisation Vision and Public Sector Modernisation Roadmap, as well as the additional monthly salary increase of JOD 30 for employees whose total salaries are below JOD 600, alongside regular annual salary and pension increases.
The circular also stipulates that appointments will be limited to vacant positions and newly created posts included in the staffing structures of ministries, government departments and public institutions, in accordance with the instructions governing the quantitative and qualitative assessment and analysis of public sector positions.
The measures include allocating the necessary funds to support and develop the Armed Forces and security agencies, introduce modern technologies and smart systems into their operations, cover domestic and external public debt interest payments, and control expenditure.
They also call for rationalising the use of fuel, electricity, water, stationery and travel, as well as regulating the use of government vehicles.
The circular also provides for allocating funds to support strategic commodities, maintaining the fixed prices of bread and gas cylinders, strengthening strategic wheat and barley reserves, supporting the National Aid Fund, and covering medical treatments, medicines, medical supplies and cancer treatment, in addition to expanding health insurance coverage.
Other allocations will cover the provision of natural gas to industrial cities, public-private partnership projects, particularly the government's contributions to the National Water Carrier and railway projects, capital budgets for the governorates, municipal development, support for universities, and increased allocations to the University Student Support Fund.
The budget will also fund strategic projects in the water, energy, transport, healthcare and education sectors, advance tourism, and support digital transformation through the development of infrastructure, operating systems and software, the use of artificial intelligence tools, and enhanced cybersecurity.
It will also cover financial obligations, outstanding payments and expropriation costs.
The circular stipulates that allocations for major new projects in 2027 must be included after they are registered in the National Register of Government Investment Projects and approved by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation. These projects must also include studies assessing their impact and climate-related risks.
The measures further include following up on the implementation of projects arising from the National Strategy for Jordanian Women, improving the budget's responsiveness to the needs of both women and men, and covering obligations under grant programme agreements with international entities.
The circular also stipulates that the hiring of personnel on a service-contract basis will only be permitted in justified cases and with the approval of the Prime Minister.
Requirements for Preparing Budget Proposals
The circular requires ministries, government departments and public institutions to update their strategic plans, including their vision, mission, objectives, programmes and responsibilities, and to explain how they contribute to achieving national goals.
They must also include performance indicators, supporting data and the results achieved during the previous year, an initial assessment of the targets set for 2026, and the indicators they aim to achieve during the 2027–2029 period.
In addition, entities must define the objectives of each programme, the services it provides, the bodies responsible for implementation, the challenges facing each programme and the proposed measures to address them.
They must also specify the number of employees and their distribution by gender and programme.
The circular stresses the need to take into account indicators related to the needs of women, children, youth and persons with disabilities, and to link them to relevant strategic objectives and programmes.
It also calls for identifying climate change priorities, the measures required to address them and the expected outcomes.
The circular emphasised that all ministries, government departments and public institutions must comply with the specified instructions and budget ceilings, contributing to the achievement of fiscal policy objectives, controlling the budget deficit and managing public debt growth rates throughout the 2027–2029 period.
