Amman: Official data released by the Department of Statistics reveals a 5.4 percent increase in the number of building permits issued across Jordan during the first five months of the current year. The total permits reached 10,104 compared to 9,585 in the same period in 2025.
According to Jordan News Agency, the total licensed building area saw a slight rise to approximately 3.985 million square meters, up from 3.983 million square meters in the corresponding period last year. Licensed residential space notably increased by 13 percent to 3.373 million square meters, representing 85 percent of all licensed space. In contrast, non-residential licensed space experienced a 39 percent decline, reaching 612,000 square meters.
Meanwhile, the licensed space designated for new construction and additions fell by 14 percent, totaling 2.242 million square meters compared to 2.606 million square meters during the same timeframe in 2025. Regionally, the Central Region accounted for 72 percent of the total licensed area, with the Northern Region contributing 22 percent and the Southern Region 6 percent.
Majed Ghousheh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jordanian Housing Developers Association, commented on the figures, emphasizing that the growth in licensed residential space indicates investor confidence buoyed by recent regulatory reforms. He pointed out that changes to building codes in Amman, extended deadlines for resolving building code violations, and reduced administrative fees have encouraged property owners to legalize existing structures.
Ghousheh further remarked that while the legalization of existing buildings boosts urban compliance, expansion in new construction is crucial for increasing housing supply. To maintain this momentum, he suggested implementing additional measures to speed up permit approvals, lower administrative costs, and introduce investment incentives to stimulate real estate development beyond the Central Region.