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With sweeping desert landscapes alongside natural and man-made wonders, tourism is an important facet of Jordan’s economy. Visitors flock to the country to see the fabled ancient city of Petra, take in important holy sites for Christians, Jews and Muslims, and bathe in the Dead Sea. While continued tension in the region has dented tourist numbers over the last few years, there are signs that this is turning around, with marketing strategies now in place to better promote the kingdom and further develop niche tourism segments, such as adventure, film and medical tourism. International hotel chains continue to add to the number of rooms available in the kingdom, establishing the foundations for long-term growth. This chapter contains an interview with Lina Annab, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities.

The manufacturing, mining, quarrying and construction sectors continue to be pillars of Jordan’s economy, collectively accounting for around one-fifth of GDP in 2016. In recent years stable figures have been achieved despite adverse regional events, including war, border closures, population displacement and global market softening. As the relaxed rules of origin agreement with the EU began to affect more businesses in 2017, the sector anticipated higher growth. The border crossing with Iraq officially reopened in late August that year after two years of closure, and there is hope that the situation in Syria could begin to stabilise. Rebuilding the region after years of conflict is a goal both in Jordan and beyond, with important benefits for the kingdom’s businesses. Meanwhile as one of the least-saturated markets in the MENA region for modern retail, Jordan is set to see a new crop of major malls and outlets open throughout 2018, consolidating its reputation as a growth country for the industry. This chapter contains an interview with Yarub Qudah, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply.

While 2016 saw an overall slowdown in growth in Jordan’s construction sector, there is reason to expect more activity in the near future. A number of factors, including the country’s sizable refugee population and the government’s new focus on transport and infra¬structure development, point to a stimulated sector and increased growth. In addition, any easing of geopolitical tensions in the region could see the kingdom become a major base for reconstruction in the Middle East. Meanwhile Jordan’s real estate sector experienced a largely stable 2016-17 period. Rents and sales prices registered marginal increases in the residential market, while there were slight declines in the commercial segment. Much of this was due to the higher growth and rapid development of recent years, which left a good supply of real estate that put a break on upward price movements.

While most business activity in Jordan is still concentrated in and around Amman, as the only sea¬port city in Jordan, Aqaba plays an important role in the country’s economy. Since the decision to turn the coastal port city and its surroundings into a special economic zone was announced in 2001, it has grown in significance as an economic base and a tourist destination. Aqaba borders both Israel and Saudi Arabia, 360 km to the south of Amman on the Red Sea’s north-eastern tip, and extends to the territorial waters of Egypt. The city has a long tradition of being a regional centre for trade going back to 4000 BCE, with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) serving as the catalyst for recent large-scale expansion. This chapter contains an interview with Nasser Shraideh, Chief Commissioner, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority.

Greater investment of both time and money into Jordan’s local, regional and international transport networks is expected, with King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein underscoring the importance of building and maintaining effective transit systems. Major public transport projects are currently under way, along with continued expansion of land and sea links. In policy and regulation, new laws are expected to bring some much-needed reform. Meanwhile, the country’s strategic position on historical trade routes continues to give it a great comparative advantage for international transport and logistics outfits. Jordan’s location as a natural conduit for trade with Iraq and – in the future – Syria, place it in good stead to contribute to any major reconstruction efforts in the region. This chapter contains an interview with Kjeld Binger, CEO, Airport International Group.

Dependent on imports and grappling with regional instability and major supply disruptions, Jordan’s energy sector has faced several challenging years. Rapid population growth – with the kingdom seeing an estimated 1.3m Syrian refugees arrive since 2011 – has also exacerbated existing water scarcity, especially in Amman and Jordan’s northern areas. These challenges have prompted the government to pursue new opportunities through private sector development, with private firms set to play an important role in delivering new water, oil shale, nuclear, and renewable energy projects. Indeed, Jordan has risen to become a regional leader and model for solar energy development, while authorities are reporting steady progress in flagship oil shale and nuclear power projects, as well as the Red Sea Dead Sea conveyance project, which should significantly augment water supply and introduce large-scale desalination activities to the water sector for the first time. This chapter contains an interview with Saleh Kharabsheh, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.