Gov't contributes JD442 million to new city project — Shboul

AMMAN — Upon the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah, the government has formed a ministerial committee to supervise the new city project, Minister of Government Communications Faisal Shboul said on Tuesday.

His Majesty King Abdullah and HRH Crown Prince Hussein were briefed on the new city project by Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh, Shboul said.

A government-owned company, which will own the land and government buildings in the new city, with the exception of ministries and other sovereign institutions, will be established, the Jordan News Agency Petra, reported the minister as saying.

Shboul said that the government pledged to contribute JD442 million to the project, starting from the project’s implementation in 2025, at a rate of JD50 million annually.

The government has allocated JD2 million this year to conduct more studies to draw up a comprehensive and detailed plan for the project in preparation for its implementation.

According to Shboul, this year will see the development of a detailed plan for the project, which will be built entirely on government-owned land surrounded by Treasury-owned land, and the formation of an entirely government-owned company.

The first phase of the project will start in 2025 and end in 2033, he said, noting that the government buildings will be completed in 2028, after which the construction of housing units will begin. 

According to Shboul, the city will provide a new and modern environment by all standards, in which all facilities such as entertainment venues and reasonably priced housing will be available. 

The city’s expected population in the first phase will likely exceed 157,000 people, and reach 1,000,000 people in the project’s final stages, which will end in 2050.

Shboul expected that the new city, during the construction stages, will offer 90,000 job opportunities and make a positive impact on the construction sector.

The new city project, according to studies and plans, will be sustainable through the use of smart technology, and will be characterised by efficient energy, transport and water networks, and encourage green industries.