Local

AMMAN — Tourist activity in the ancient city of Petra returned to normal on Monday after a day of weather-related disruption caused by heavy rain and flash floods. 

The severe weather on Sunday afternoon prompted authorities to halt ticket sales and temporarily suspend access to the archaeological site, according to Yazan Mahadin, Commissioner of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA).

Mahadin confirmed that Petra, a UNESCO-listed World Heritage site, is now welcoming visitors from all over the world without hindrance and that tourist movement has resumed at its normal pace. 

Emergency teams and PDTRA staff were on high alert from the beginning of the weather disturbance and immediately carried out repairs and maintenance on the affected areas to ensure public safety and continuity of tourism activities, Mahadin said. 

He added that the authority had implemented a comprehensive emergency response plan, which included clearing flood channels, repairing trails and tourist facilities, and deploying field support teams to key locations within the archaeological reserve. Coordination with security forces and civil defence has also been maintained to ensure a rapid and effective response.

The safety of visitors and local residents remains the authority's top priority, Mahadin stressed, noting that the PDTRA continues to work around the clock to maintain a safe and secure tourist environment while improving the quality of services provided to visitors. 

These efforts reflect Petra's global status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, he added.

AMMAN — The Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) announced on Monday that it is ramping up its daily food aid operations in Gaza, where food insecurity continues to deepen amid ongoing Israeli war.

Despite escalating challenges and worsening conditions on the ground, the organisation reaffirmed its commitment to delivering daily meals to affected residents in the war-torn Strip, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

JHCO Secretary General Hussein Shibli said that relief efforts are being conducted in coordination with local partners in Gaza. He noted that the initiative is part of a broader humanitarian campaign aimed at easing civilian suffering and strengthening community resilience in the face of severe hardship.

AMMAN  — Search and rescue teams have recovered the bodies of a Belgian woman and her son, who were reported missing following flash floods in the southern Shoubak District on Sunday.

The Public Security Directorate (PSD) spokesperson said that in a statement on Monday that specialised uniting, including personnel from the Civil Defence, local police directorates, and the Gendarmerie Forces, undertook extensive search operations despite challenging weather conditions and rugged terrain. 

After hours of effort, the two victims were located, both deceased, spokesperson said. 

The bodies have been evacuated from the area. Authorities have launched an official investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) said on Sunday evening that it had evacuated hundreds of tourists from Petra after heavy rainfall caused flash floods in several parts of the region.

PDTRA said that 1,785 tourists visited the site on Sunday, most of whom were evacuated by Civil Defence Department teams from areas including the Treasury, the Siq, Al Rasasa, the Monastery, and Mount Haroun, stressing that no injuries were reported among those evacuated.

AMMAN — The Cassation Court upheld a May 2023 Criminal Court decision to increase the prison term of a man who engaged in consensual sexual activities with a minor in November 2022.

The Criminal Court handed the defendant a 15-year prison term after convicting him of engaging in sexual activities on several occasions with a 14-year-old girl.

However, the court decided to increase the sentence to 20 years because the “defendant caused the victim to lose her virginity”.

Court documents said the defendant and the victim developed a relationship after meeting each other on a social media platform.

The two decided to meet alone a few months after exchanging messages, court papers maintained.

“The defendant took the victim to his house and engaged in consensual sexual activities on several occasions,” the court stated.

The matter was exposed a few weeks later when the defendant went to the victim’s house, thinking that she was alone, the court added.

“One of the victim’s family members found the defendant in the minor’s room and alerted the authorities,” court papers said.

The defendant was arrested, and the victim was referred to the Family Protection Department for further examination and questioning, the court maintained.

The defendant contested his verdict through his lawyer, asking for an acquittal on the basis that he suffered from mental problems.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court’s attorney general asked the higher court to uphold the ruling.  

The higher court ruled that the defendant confessed willingly to the sexual encounters in front of the police and the criminal court prosecutor and “did not show any signs of mental problems during the trial”.

Therefore, the Cassation Court maintained that the Criminal Court’s judgement fell within the law, that the proceedings were proper and that the sentence given was satisfactory.

The Cassation Court tribunal comprised judges Mahmoud Ebtoush, Fawzi Nahar, Qassem Dughmi, Majid Azab and  Ibrahim Abu Shamman.

- Gov’t adopts knowledge-based employment approach to employ 1,000 job seekers
- Digital Inclusion Policy introduced to expand internet access, mainly in underprivileged regions
- Incentives, exceptions granted to tourism institutions to stimulate sector
- 2,372 companies were registered during January-April period, up from 2,091 during the same period in 2024

AMMAN — Jordan has advanced in the Future of Growth Index, making a remarkable progress in innovation, inclusiveness, sustainability, and resilience, according to a new government report.

The Kingdom’s performance was detailed in the first-quarter 2025 report of the Executive Programme for the Economic Modernisation Vision (2023–2025).

According to the report, a copy of which was sent to The Jordan Times, the Kingdom has recorded scores of 45.1 in innovation, 53 in inclusiveness, 58.2 in sustainability, and 55 in resilience, out of a possible 100 in each category.

To strengthen its innovation pillar, particularly in knowledge-based employment, the report said that the Ministry of Labour launched a national action plan to employ 1,000 job seekers across various governorates under the Productive Branches Initiative and provide career counselling and evaluation services. An analytical study was also conducted to assess the effectiveness of the National Employment Programme and to identify labour market challenges facing its beneficiaries.

In a move to bridge the digital divide, especially in underprivileged regions, the government introduced the Jordanian Digital Inclusion Policy 2025. The policy aims to expand internet access through infrastructure upgrades and increased digital outreach, targeting a higher rate of internet usage among the population, the report said. 

Jordan has also partnered with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to conduct the 2025–2026 Executive Opinion Survey. The survey, which includes a nationally representative sample, will contribute qualitative insights for the 2026 edition of the Index. The Ministry of Planning took part in the forum’s opening session to ensure accurate representation of Jordan's data in global assessments.

Additionally, the government is reviewing sub-indicators related to the Index and coordinating with relevant institutions to address performance gaps and enhance future scores.

The first-quarter 2025 report of the Executive Programme for the Economic Modernisation Vision (2023–2025) said that the government has made a number of decisions aimed at enhancing Jordan’s position as a global destination. The report, released by the Council of Ministers, outlined major economic initiatives and trends observed in the first four months of the year.

The report said that the government has granted sales tax exemptions to the "Jerash Eco-Tourism City Project" and exempted professional license fees for commercial and tourism establishments operating within the Petra Development and Tourism Region.

According to the report, the government has achieved “substantial” progress in several regulatory reforms in the tourism sector, including the endorsement of the 2025 bylaw for Hotel and Tourism Establishments, as well as amendments to the bylaws governing the Jordan Hotel Association and the Association of Travel and Tourism Offices. Work has also commenced on drafting new regulations for travel agencies and tourism companies.

Business activity showed “remarkable” improvement during January-April period,  the report said, with the number of newly registered companies rising by 13 per cent compared to the same period last year. A total of 2,372 companies were registered between January and April, up from 2,091 during the same period in 2024.

The report said that the total registered capital exceeded JD66 million, citing data from the Companies Control Department, with limited liability companies accounting for the majority of registrations, totalling 1,723 companies, 72.6 per cent of all new businesses

The report also noted a significant 49 per cent decrease in company closures or deregistrations. Only 376 companies were removed from the registry, compared to 741 in the same period last year.

Net capital increased dramatically by 518 per cent, reaching approximately JD590 million, compared to JD145 million in the first third of 2024. A total of 624 companies increased their capital by nearly JD617 million, while 97 companies reduced theirs by around JD79 million.

The report also cited “solid progress” in infrastructure development linked to healthcare and medical education. Construction of the new Faculty of Medicine has reached 67 per cent completion, while 79 per cent of the associated university hospital has been completed, both part of a broader national project aimed at enhancing Jordan’s medical education and healthcare services.

AMMAN — Jordan welcomed over 2.1 million international tourists in the first four months of 2025, marking a 19 per cent increase compared with the same period last year, the Ministry of Tourism announced on Sunday.

According to the ministry’s monthly report, 2.125 million foreign visitors arrived in the Kingdom from January to April, up from 1.785 million during the same period in 2024, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The number of overnight tourists rose by 15.3 per cent, reaching 1.765 million, compared to 1.531 million last year. Meanwhile, the number of one-day visitors surged by 41.6 per cent to 360,000, up from 254,000.

April alone saw a significant jump, with 617,000 tourists visiting the Kingdom—a 36.7 per cent rise compared with the 451,000 recorded in April 2024.

Tourism revenues in the first quarter of 2025 also saw growth, climbing 8.9 per cent year-on-year to JD1.217 billion, according to the report.

The ministry attributed the increase to its ongoing efforts to enhance Jordan’s tourism offerings. These include upgrading infrastructure, improving the overall visitor experience, and expanding marketing campaigns to promote diverse types of tourism and attract new international markets.

Petra added that the ministry is implementing a comprehensive strategic plan to promote sustainable sector growth, boost its contribution to GDP, and generate more employment opportunities, ultimately supporting the broader national economy.

AMMAN — HH Prince Mired, Lord Chamberlain and president of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD), on Sunday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to economically  empower persons with disabilities and enhance their participation in economy and entrepreneurship.

The prince stressed the importance of building partnerships with the private sector and the non-profit organisations for their supportive role in paving the way for the persons with disabilities to become active in economy and achieving development, the Jordan News Agency, Petra reported.

Nayef Steitieh, former minister of labour and founder of the Business Development Centre (BDC), pointed out that signing the MoU comes within the vision of the BDC to integrate people with disabilities into the economic system and empower them with the necessary skills through economic programmes for youth and local communities.

The memorandum underlined the need to preparing a joint action plan to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the development programmes and the strategies of the centre.    

The MoU also stressed the need to integrate persons with disabilities into economic empowerment projects in local communities, enhancing their access to employment opportunities, and engaging them in entrepreneurship programmes and related awareness-raising efforts to increase their participation.

The memorandum focused on training programmes that would promote a culture of integration and inclusion of persons with disabilities in economic life, such as training the centre's staff on the human rights methodology, appropriate communication methods with persons with disabilities, and the “Forty Questions Guide” for achieving equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in the workplace.