Amman, Oct. 21 (Petra) Minister of Local Administration Walid Masri said the ministry is currently preparing a comprehensive development master plan for the Azraq region aimed at boosting environmental and tourism development, covering the water reserve, nature reserve, and Azraq Castle.

Masri told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the projects under implementation seek to strengthen Azraq’s position on the national tourism map. The plan includes rehabilitating craft areas, removing urban distortions that affect tourism and residents’ comfort, and improving the region’s road network and infrastructure.

He explained that the plan will also designate new areas for population expansion to serve Azraq residents and will be developed in partnership with the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDC).

Masri noted that all components of the master plan will be completed within one year under an integrated work program designed to accelerate the provision of qualified craft and industrial zones in Azraq while finding comprehensive solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial areas that enhance sustainable development in the region.

He said the master plan was initiated following Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan’s recent visit to Azraq, which focused on transforming the town into an attractive environmental and tourism center, extending from the Shomari Reserve and the water reserve to the water bodies currently being developed. The initiative also aims to restore Azraq’s prominence on the tourism map, especially after the UN Tourism Organization named the village of North Azraq among the world’s best tourism villages for 2025.

Stakeholders expressed optimism about the plan, emphasizing its potential to advance comprehensive development goals in the region. They said the master plan represents a major opportunity for Azraq to attract promising investments and firmly position it on Jordan’s tourism and development map.

They noted that the plan centers on tourism by developing the Azraq Castle archaeological site, enhancing service institutions, and launching projects in transportation, health, environment, and light industries.

Director of the Planning Department at Azraq Municipality, Mohammad Al-Awartani, described the plan as promising and focused on integrated development across various fields notably by transforming the Azraq Castle area into a modern tourist route with associated tourism and service projects and improving healthcare services through upgrading the health center into a comprehensive facility equipped with needed devices and staff.

He added that the plan includes constructing a 100-meter-wide international highway linking Jordan with Iraq, a project expected to generate significant development and investment opportunities for the region and create jobs for local residents.

Al-Awartani also said the plan envisions establishing two craft zones in North and South Azraq to relocate workshops and light industries away from residential and tourism areas, forming the nucleus of future industrial cities. It will also include a vocational training center to provide education and training opportunities for young people.

He emphasized that the municipality views the plan as a major opportunity to create investment prospects by leveraging the proposed international highway to boost trade and establish public parks serving the community.

Former MP and lawyer Faisal Al-Awar said the plan would strengthen Azraq’s tourism appeal, stimulate economic projects, and create additional jobs, particularly in the environmental and tourism sectors, while restoring the oasis town’s distinctive charm. He added that establishing craft and industrial clusters would empower skilled workers and attract more investment to the area.

Local community representatives and Azraq residents stressed the importance of implementing the master plan in full and expediting its execution. They commended the Prime Minister’s attention to Azraq, viewing it as a genuine development hub that could generate employment, attract tourists, and contribute to Jordan’s broader tourism and development goals.

They called for joint efforts from both the public and private sectors to achieve the plan’s objectives and make the most of the region’s promising opportunities.

//Petra// AF
21/10/2025 21:57:52