AGP Executive Report

Maritime Security & Energy: Jordan condemned Iran’s attack on two UAE ADNOC-linked tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a flagrant breach of international law and a threat to navigation safety, while the UAE and other Gulf states also issued strong condemnations. Shipping Disruption: ADNOC said the incidents were contained and reported no injuries, as back-to-back attacks raise risks for commercial shipping and keep energy costs sensitive across the region. Regional Defense Cooperation: Saudi Arabia unveiled a 14-state Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance to protect navigation routes in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden, with Jordan among signatories. Trade & Industry: Jordan’s Investment Minister said closer economic engagement with China targets advanced manufacturing, electronics, renewables, rail, logistics, agri-tech and pharmaceuticals. Real Estate & Infrastructure: Jordan’s parliament passed a draft amending the Real Property Law that expands “road” definitions to include railways, affecting land expropriation rules for rail projects. Local Commerce: Jordan Chamber of Commerce reports moderate demand for electrical appliances and lighting amid stable prices, but warns importers’ credit constraints and shipping delays are weighing on some sales. Tourism & Agritourism: Aqaba’s tourism authority and Wadi Rum observatory hosted a Perseid meteor shower event to push astro-tourism and extend visitor stays.

Maritime Security & Energy: Jordan condemned Iran’s attack on two UAE ADNOC tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a flagrant breach of international law and a threat to navigation safety, while the UAE and other Arab states also issued strong condemnations. Trade & Industry: Jordan is moving to deepen economic ties with China, with the investment minister pointing to cooperation potential across advanced manufacturing, electronics, renewables, energy storage, electric mobility, rail, logistics, agri-tech and pharmaceuticals. Infrastructure & Land Rights: Jordan’s House of Representatives approved an amendment to the Real Property Law that expands the definition of “road” to include railways, potentially bringing railway land expropriation under the same “up to one quarter without compensation” rule used for roads. Tourism & Agribusiness: Aqaba’s special economic zone backed an astro-tourism push in Wadi Rum by hosting a Perseid meteor shower event, aiming to blend astronomy with nature, adventure and longer stays. Regional Logistics: Transit traffic via Aqaba Port surged 160% in the first seven months, highlighting momentum for Jordan’s trade and logistics sector.

Red Sea Security & Shipping: Saudi Arabia has launched a 14-state maritime coalition (including Jordan) to protect navigation and energy routes amid Houthi threats to oil tankers, raising the stakes for regional logistics and fuel prices. Water & Agriculture Pressure in the West Bank: Reuters reports Israeli settlers siphoning Palestinian spring water near Fasayil, cutting farmers off and pushing a wider pattern of attacks on water and sanitation sites—an issue that hits food production and livelihoods. Jordan–China Economic Ties: Jordan’s investment minister says the country is ready to expand economic cooperation with China across advanced industries, electronics, renewables, logistics, agri-tech and pharma. Tourism & Pilgrimage Infrastructure: Jordan is preparing for the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus’ baptism in 2030 at Al-Maghtas, with $120m in projects for a museum, pilgrim village and ecological trails. Retail Payments: valu Jordan partners with Hypermax to roll out BNPL at stores and online, aiming to boost everyday shopping flexibility. Education Admissions: Jordan’s Unified Admissions Coordination Unit updates its website for the 2026–2027 summer intake, listing hundreds of majors and diploma options.

Jordan–China Deal Push: Jordan’s Investment Minister Tareq Abu Ghazaleh says the kingdom is ready to expand economic cooperation with China, aiming to deepen ties in advanced industries, electronics, renewables, logistics, rail systems, agri-tech and pharmaceuticals. Tourism & Infrastructure: Jordan is gearing up for the 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s Baptism in 2030 at Al-Maghtas, with four $120m agreements signed to build a museum, pilgrim village and ecological walking trails. Education Admissions: The Unified Admissions Coordination Unit updated its website for the 2026–2027 summer intake, listing 607 majors for bachelor applications and 206 for intermediate diplomas. Retail Payments: valu Jordan partnered with Hypermax to let shoppers use Buy Now, Pay Later across branches and online, including point-of-sale activation. Local Business & Markets: Amman Stock Exchange closed up 0.51% as the financial index rose while the industrial index slipped. Policy Watch: A parliamentary move to amend the Real Property Law could change how railway land is treated in expropriation rules. Cultural Boycott: Pro-Palestinian groups in Jordan and the region called for a boycott of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” over producer Avi Arad’s Israel-linked positions.

Green Finance Momentum: Jordan has built a stronger green and climate finance base, drawing over $623m since 2021 and shifting from small pilots to larger, reform-linked financing tied to the Economic Modernization Vision. Tourism & Pilgrimage Push: Preparations are ramping up for the 2030 baptism anniversary at Al-Maghtas, aiming to turn a major religious event into a long-term boost for Christian pilgrimage, hospitality and local development. Cabinet Reshuffle Watch: A cabinet reshuffle took place without adding or removing ministers, with two senior posts elevated to deputy prime ministers and committee leadership reshuffled accordingly. Agriculture Value Chain Debate: Experts argue Jordan’s agricultural marketing should be treated as a core driver of what farmers produce and how goods reach markets, not just a sales afterthought. Real Estate Law Risk: Parliament passed an amendment that expands “road” definitions to include railways, potentially allowing expropriation of up to a quarter of property without compensation for railway projects. Climate Pressure: New reporting highlights Jordan’s warming trend (about +1.6°C over a century) and the knock-on effects for water and food security. Regional Trade Security: Jordan is listed among a new 14-state maritime defense alliance aimed at protecting navigation and energy routes amid Red Sea and Gulf tensions. Labor & Garment Scrutiny: A report flags forced-labor risks in Jordan’s garment sector under dormitory and sponsorship controls, raising pressure on brands and suppliers tied to exports.

Maritime Security & Energy Routes: Saudi Arabia unveiled a 14-state Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance based in Riyadh to protect shipping across the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden, with Jordan among signatories—aimed at reducing disruption risks for trade and energy flows. Real Estate & Infrastructure Law: Jordan’s House of Representatives passed an amendment to the Real Property Law that expands the definition of “road” to include railways, potentially allowing expropriation of up to one quarter of property without compensation for railway projects—raising constitutional questions around just compensation. Jordan-U.S. Relations & Regional Pressure: Senate President Faisal Fayez said Jordan will expand strategic and economic partnerships with Washington, while urging the U.S. and the international community to apply practical pressure to stop Israeli aggression and settlement violence, and to reject any violations of Jordan’s sovereignty. Tourism & Pilgrimage Projects: Agreements worth about $120m were signed to develop lands adjacent to Al-Maghtas ahead of the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus’ baptism in 2030, including a $50m museum design and a nearly $40m pilgrim and visitor village design. Cyber & Digital Resilience: A global ranking on cybersecurity preparedness highlighted leading countries in 2026, underscoring the growing need for stronger national cyber defenses and regulations. Local Business & Labor Oversight: A report on Jordan’s garment sector flags labor-control risks tied to dormitories, curfews and kafala sponsorship, after U.S. authorities moved to detain garments linked to alleged forced labor. Aviation Connectivity: flynas announced direct Jeddah–Aleppo flights starting Sept. 2, twice weekly, adding to Saudi–Syria connectivity.

Real Estate & Infrastructure: Jordan’s House passed a draft amending the Real Property Law, expanding the definition of “road” to include railways—meaning land expropriated for rail projects could fall under the rule allowing up to one quarter of property to be taken without compensation, raising constitutional questions. Public Finance: Ahead of the 2027 budget, coverage stresses a shift toward tighter spending discipline as energy, shipping, insurance and commodity-price pressures could lift subsidy and operating costs. Aqaba Logistics Boom: Transit through Aqaba Port surged as Iraq-bound containers jumped 933.1% in seven months, with refrigerated transit up 546.8% and total throughput rising to 574,582 TEUs—positioning Aqaba as a growing regional logistics hub. Aviation & MRO Tech: Royal Jordanian selected Ramco Systems to modernize and unify MRO operations on a single digital platform, aiming to boost efficiency and audit readiness. Banking Milestone: Jordan Kuwait Bank launched its Golden Jubilee “50 Years Among Our People” campaign, including a governorate-focused music album. Health Tech Funding: Jordanian-founded Arab Therapy closed a $2m pre-Series A led by Manara Ventures to expand AI-powered mental healthcare across Saudi Arabia and the wider region.

Aqaba Port Trade Boom: The Jordan Shipping Association says transit traffic through Aqaba is surging as Iraq-bound flows expand, with transit containers to Iraq up 933.1% in seven months and refrigerated transit containers up 546.8%, alongside a 3.2% rise in total throughput to 574,582 TEUs. Banking & Community Branding: Jordan Kuwait Bank launched its Golden Jubilee campaign “50 Years Among Our People,” including a national music album with 12 songs for Jordan’s governorates, aiming to reinforce support for individuals, businesses and the national economy. Startup Funding for Mental Health: Arab Therapy, a Jordan-founded AI mental health platform, closed a $2m pre-Series A led by Manara Ventures (Jordan) with Saudi participation, targeting expansion across Saudi Arabia and the wider region. Aviation Services Link: Dubai Aerospace Enterprise’s engineering arm (with an 80% stake in Jordan’s Joramco) reported 142 aircraft checks in H1 2026, noting conflict-related maintenance disruptions but a robust winter pipeline. US-Jordan Connection: The White House nominated Jordanian-American Julia Nesheiwat as US Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs, now pending Senate review. Education-China Pivot: Yarmouk University plans a “China Village” campus complex to expand Chinese language and interdisciplinary ties with China.

Aviation & MRO: Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) says regional conflict still disrupts maintenance schedules for its Jordan-linked MRO unit Joramco, though it logged about 720,000 maintenance hours and 142 aircraft checks in H1 2026, with a steadier outlook for the 2026-27 winter line. Air Cargo Deal: DAE also signed a purchase-and-leaseback with Saudia for four Boeing 777F freighters, with deliveries from Oct 2026 to May 2027—aimed at boosting Saudia’s cargo expansion. Digital Transformation in Transport: Royal Jordanian Airlines selected Ramco Systems for a unified aviation software platform covering engineering, CAMO, maintenance, supply chain, safety and MRO/parts sales, supporting paperless operations as the carrier modernises its fleet. Education & Skills: Jordan’s Tawjihi 2026 pass rate hit a record 65.3%, with vocational streams showing strong results in IT (79.2%) and weaker outcomes in agriculture (49.7%). Industry & Investment Climate: The Economic Modernization Vision progress report put manufacturing GDP at JOD 1.6bn in Q1 2026, while Jordan also reported 3,801 investment incentive transactions in H1 2026. Logistics Competitiveness: Jordan ranked third in the Arab world on the Logistics Performance Index, with Aqaba port performance highlighted by fast vessel turnaround and strong export container dwell times. Tourism Boost: UNESCO added the Aqaba Marine Reserve to the World Heritage List, giving Jordan a fresh global hook beyond Petra and Wadi Rum. Climate Pressure: Jordan’s average annual temperature rose about 1.6°C over 100 years, with heatwaves becoming more frequent and intense.

Tawjihi Results: Jordan’s 2026 Tawjihi pass rate hit a record 65.3%, with science/health/engineering/technology at 70% and vocational IT leading at 79.2%, as the Ministry highlights the first cohort graduating from the vocational-technical stream. Industrial Output: The Economic Modernization Vision’s first-half update says manufacturing GDP reached JOD 1.6bn in Q1 2026, alongside steps to boost competitiveness, exports, and digital transformation. Investment Climate: Jordan reported 3,801 investment incentive transactions in H1 2026 and an upgraded “Invest in Jordan” portal, as reforms aim to streamline procedures and improve investor services. Logistics Hub Push: Jordan ranked third in the Arab world on the Logistics Performance Index, citing fast port vessel turnaround (about 0.6 days) and strong export container dwell performance. Aviation Modernisation: Royal Jordanian selected Ramco Systems for a unified aviation software platform covering engineering, maintenance, supply chain, safety and MRO. Tourism Boost: UNESCO’s listing of the Aqaba Marine Reserve is being framed as a major new tourism engine for Jordan’s Red Sea offering. Construction Activity: Building licenses rose 3.2% in H1 2026 to 12,070, with residential accounting for 82.6% of licensed area. Aqaba Infrastructure Planning: Cabinet approved compensation and a land-swap mechanism for the Aqaba Railway Project, while work continues on related development.

Construction & Real Estate: Building licenses in Jordan rose 3.2% in the first half of 2026 to 12,070, with licensed building area up 2% to 4.87m sq m; residential drove the gain (up 10%) while non-residential fell 24%. Aviation & Tech: Ramco Systems won an aviation software deal with Royal Jordanian Airlines to digitize maintenance, engineering, continuing airworthiness, MRO, safety and compliance, supporting paperless operations and real-time visibility. Logistics & Trade: Jordan ranked 3rd in the Arab world on the 2024 Logistics Performance Index, citing fast port turnaround (0.6 days) and Aqaba’s role as a “safe logistics corridor.” Transport Infrastructure: Cabinet approved a compensation and land-swap mechanism for the Aqaba Railway Project, including full compensation for expropriated land and a potash-industry cost-sharing role. Capital Markets: Amman Stock Exchange turnover hit JD9m on Sunday; the general index slipped 0.56% and industrial/financial sectors also edged down. Parliament & Energy: MPs will review the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority draft law and discuss citizens’ complaints about increased gasoline consumption rates. Regional Shipping Risk: Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Jordan condemned an attack on a UAE-operated ADNOC tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, warning of threats to maritime navigation and global energy supplies.

Aqaba Railway Compensation: Jordan’s Cabinet approved a full compensation and land-swap mechanism for properties expropriated for the Aqaba Railway Project, including a key change that removes the “legal quarter” deduction even if procedures take longer, with Arab Potash Company covering 50% of compensation costs for approved routes. Logistics Performance: Jordan ranked 3rd in the Arab world on the 2024 Logistics Performance Index, with Aqaba highlighted for fast vessel turnaround and lower shipping costs, reinforcing the push to position the Kingdom as a regional logistics corridor. ASE Market Pulse: The Amman Stock Exchange saw Sunday turnover of about JD9 million (4.3m shares, 3,125 trades) as the general index slipped 0.56%, with industrial and financial sectors down. Tourism Momentum: Jordan reported 3.15 million visitors and about JD2.47 billion in tourism revenue in H1 2026, alongside 1.31 million site visits and new support for air routes and tourism products. Investment Drive: The Economic Modernization Vision progress report says 100 new investment opportunities were added and 343 of 394 projects entered implementation in the first half of 2026, with upgrades to the “Invest in Jordan” platform and investor facilitation. Parliament Agenda: The House of Representatives will review the 2026 draft law on the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority and hear complaints on rising fuel consumption rates. Regional Shipping Risk: Jordan welcomed UN condemnation of Houthi missile attacks affecting Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping, while regional states also condemned an ADNOC tanker attack in the Strait of Hormuz—raising fresh concerns for maritime security and energy flows. World Cup Labor Case: Qatar World Cup whistleblower Abdullah Ibhais was reported arrested in Jordan days before a US deposition tied to forced-labour allegations linked to Qatar 2022.

Parliament Watch: Jordan’s House of Representatives will meet Sunday to advance the 2026 Draft Law on the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority, while the Energy and Mineral Resources Committee will also hear citizens’ complaints about rising gasoline consumption rates in vehicles. Education & Retail: The Amman Chamber of Commerce says school supplies are well stocked and prices are broadly stable ahead of the new academic year, with local uniforms and bags available across public and private schools. Urban Mobility & Construction: Government has started the design phase for the Amman cable car project, signing for design, manufacturing and supply of the system and station facilities under the Economic Modernization Vision. Economic Modernization Pipeline: The government reports 343 of 394 projects under the 2026–2029 Economic Modernization Vision have entered execution since early 2026, alongside new investment and aftercare steps. Tourism & Services: Jordan welcomed 3.15m visitors in H1 2026, with tourism revenues reaching about JD2.47b, supported by new air routes and event activity. Food Security & Industry: A food industry update says locally made products cover over 62% of Jordan’s market needs, reinforcing supply resilience. Energy & Trade Risk: Arab states, including Jordan, condemned an attack on a UAE ADNOC tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh concerns for maritime energy routes.

Tourism Momentum: Jordan welcomed 3.15m visitors in H1 2026, lifting tourism revenues to about JD2.47b, with Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba among the top draws and 137 events listed on Calendar.jo. Aqaba Logistics Push: Aqaba merchants say recent ASEZA executive decisions are a real turning point, clearing operational hurdles and setting up a stronger logistics phase to boost regional trade. Food Security Backbone: Jordan’s food industry now covers over 62% of local market needs, with 70% of sales aimed at domestic demand and production supporting strategic reserves. Energy & Mining Targets: The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources plans to raise the energy sector’s GDP contribution to 0.52b JOD by 2027 and lift mining’s contribution to 1.7b JOD, alongside higher investment. Climate Finance Boost: The World Bank approved Jordan Development Policy Financing for Growth and Competitiveness (DPF II) with $194.44m in climate-related funding, including support for renewables and transmission reforms. Regional Shipping Risk: Arab states, including Jordan, condemned the missile attack on an ADNOC tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, warning it threatens maritime security and energy trade.

Energy Security: Gulf producers are scrambling as attacks and blockades make the Bab-el-Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz riskier for oil and gas exports, with one floated fix being an overland pipeline linking Saudi routes to Israel’s Mediterranean ports. Regional Defense: Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the “Mecca Joint Defence Agreement,” saying an attack on one would be treated as an attack on all—raising the stakes for Gulf stability and shipping-linked energy flows. Hormuz Update: Iran says a preliminary framework with Oman on Strait of Hormuz shipping is agreed, pending higher-level approval, while the US signals it could lift port blockades once commercial traffic resumes. Jordan-US Support: Jordan received a four-year strategic agreement worth about $355m from the US, framed around economic growth and reduced reliance on aid. Local Business & Finance: Amman Stock Exchange activity and profits stayed in focus, including ASE turnover hitting around JD16m and H1 net profit growth reported by listed firms.

Jordanian Education & Culture: Applied Science Private University hosted “BilAraby – Amman,” bringing together Jordanian and Qatari officials and spotlighting Arab innovation, including Jordan’s Salam Abu Al-Hija, first Jordanian woman selected for an international astronaut training program. Energy & Infrastructure: Lebanon’s Zahrani oil facilities are back in focus as a possible regional energy hub, with the future hinging on stability and major rehabilitation, amid efforts to find routes that reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz. Regional Security & Trade Risk: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, with an “attack on one is an attack on all” clause, raising stakes for Gulf security and shipping as Iran-linked tensions continue. Water & Agriculture Watch: Scientists link new freshwater pools around the Dead Sea to declining water levels, with exposed aquifers creating small ecosystems—an issue with clear implications for Jordan’s water and food planning. Industry Support: Amman Chamber of Industry ran a workshop on HCST support programs, covering certifications, export requirements, productivity upgrades, automation and ERP adoption for factories.