Amman, July 20 (Petra) – The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan, on Sunday approved the 2025 Regulations on Hotel and Tourism Establishments and the 2025 Regulations on Tourist Restaurants, aligning them with amendments made to the Tourism Law last year.

The new regulations aim to improve the business environment and stimulate investment in the tourism sector by simplifying regulatory procedures, eliminating licensing requirements, and shifting toward a classification-based system. They also introduce modernized mechanisms for classifying and registering tourism-related professions and establishments.

The hotel and tourism establishments regulation eliminates the requirement for obtaining a formal license and replaces it with a Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities classification approval. It also removes licensing fees previously imposed on establishment owners, helping to reduce operational costs.

The regulation introduces new categories, including high-quality boutique hotels and tourist villages, while setting classification criteria and operational obligations to enhance service levels for tourists.

Additionally, the regulation mandates inclusive tourism standards, requiring establishments to meet accessibility needs for people with disabilities, the elderly, and children, and to comply with environmental requirements.

Under the new tourist restaurant regulation, prior licensing from the Ministry of Tourism is no longer required and is replaced by classification or registration approval. The regulation also eliminates associated licensing fees.

It further simplifies procedures, reclassifies tourist restaurant categories in line with global best practices, and promotes traditional Jordanian cuisine by highlighting such offerings on menus.

Tourist restaurants must also comply with inclusive tourism requirements and public health and safety standards, particularly those related to smoking and serving waterpipes (argileh).

The regulatory changes are part of a broader legislative overhaul under the Economic Modernization Vision, aiming to support growth in key economic sectors and improve the quality of tourism services in the Kingdom.

Support for Agriculture and Farmers

To support the agricultural sector, the Cabinet approved the purchase of locally produced wheat and barley (both seed and food-grade) from the 2024/2025 agricultural season through the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Jordan Cooperative Corporation, in line with previous years’ practices.

Purchase prices were set at JD500 per ton for seed wheat and JD420 for seed barley. For food-grade wheat and barley, the prices are JD420 and JD370 per ton, respectively.

The Cabinet also approved a plan to continue delegating the Central Grain Procurement Committee to announce purchase prices at the end of the harvest season, supporting farmers in planning and expanding cultivated areas.

For the 2025/2026 season, the Cabinet decided to reduce the selling price of seed grain for farmers by JOD 50 per ton. The government will bear the cost of screening and sterilizing the seeds, estimated at JOD 75 per ton, for quantities expected to be sold.

A total of JD19 million was allocated to purchase approximately 40,000 tonnes of grain expected to be delivered.

These measures are aimed at encouraging farmers to expand cultivation of wheat and barley, given their strategic importance.

New Urban Planning and HR Rules in Amman

As part of efforts to update regulatory frameworks in Amman, the Cabinet also endorsed amendments to the 2025 Building and Zoning Regulations for the capital.

The amendments will apply a fee discount to buildings constructed in 2025, including violation-related fees stipulated in Article 72(b) of the regulations. This measure seeks to ensure fairness, reduce financial burdens, and cap fines that can reach up to four times the violation cost.

Other provisions aim to better regulate private and home-based nurseries, encouraging job creation in this sector while easing burdens on families.

The Cabinet also approved the mandating reasons for the proposed 2025 Regulation on Greater Amman Municipality Employees, to be referred to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau for finalization.

The regulation aligns with the Greater Amman Municipality Law No. 18 of 2021 and the 2024 Public Sector Human Resources Management Regulation No. 33. It seeks to organize employment within the municipality, unify legislative references for HR governance, and address challenges in workforce management.

The regulation focuses on enhancing human capital and leadership development, aligning recruitment with future needs, adopting reskilling policies, upgrading performance management systems, and creating a competitive and accountable workplace culture that promotes excellence and flexibility.

New Hospital Infrastructure in Madaba

In line with ongoing Cabinet decisions across governorates, the Cabinet authorized the Ministry of Public Works and Housing to construct an access road to the site of the new public hospital in Madaba. The Ministry of Local Administration will build an alternative parallel road as part of infrastructure preparations.

Two weeks ago, the Cabinet transferred land ownership in the Ma’in area to the Jordan Investment Fund to facilitate construction of the new hospital, as previously announced by Prime Minister Hassan during a Cabinet session held in Madaba last March. Construction is set to begin this year.

Appointments

The Cabinet appointed Rana Mohammad Khaled Obaidat as Director-General of the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA), replacing Nizar Mhaidat, who was referred to retirement.

//Petra// AF
20/07/2025 20:51:10