Amman, Jan 4 (Petra) – The Cabinet, in its session held Sunday and chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, approved the 2026 Land Use and Zoning Regulation.

The regulation aims to preserve agricultural land outside regulated areas, control its uses, limit random industrial and residential expansion on fertile farmland, and support agricultural projects.

It classifies lands outside organized zones based on their suitability for agriculture according to the land use map, regulates their use, restricts changes in their function, and ensures the provision of geospatial information related to lands, facilitating decision-making while reducing time, effort, and costs for competent institutions.

The Cabinet also approved the 2026 Temporary Vehicle Import Regulation for the Aqaba Special Economic Zone.

The regulation seeks to encourage investment in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone by allowing registered institutions to temporarily import vehicles, including in the ICT, agricultural, and commercial sectors, while promoting the employment of Jordanian workers.

It balances the volume of actual investments of registered institutions with the number of vehicles permitted for import, meeting operational needs and supporting investment management, while encouraging the use of electric vehicles.

The regulation includes provisions regulating temporary vehicle import procedures, requirements, and conditions to facilitate investors and support their investments, thereby creating job opportunities for Jordanians.

The Cabinet also approved extending previous decisions granting discounts and exemptions on building and land taxes, knowledge tax, sanitary contributions, verification fees, royalties, compensation, road waste fees, and municipal rents and revenues until the close of business on March 31, 2026.

The decision aims to ease obligations for citizens and economic activities, enabling them to settle dues within the period, while supporting municipalities and Greater Amman Municipality to collect revenues and provide public services efficiently. Previous similar measures significantly facilitated payments by citizens and businesses.

The Cabinet approved settling 1,003 cases between taxpayers and the Income and Sales Tax Department, based on recommendations from the specialized committee reviewing these settlements under applicable legislation.

This decision complements ongoing government measures to help economic actors and investors rectify their tax status, easing their obligations and ensuring continuity of operations.

Regarding the implementation of the National Military Service Programme, the Cabinet approved instructions on deferring national service for residents abroad in 2026, effective upon publication in the Official Gazette.

The instructions apply to residents abroad for non-educational reasons holding valid residence documents issued by their host countries, whether for work, training, family reunification, or other reasons.

To qualify, the residence period abroad must be at least four consecutive months or six non-consecutive months within the calendar year from the date of the national service summons, supported by official residence documentation.

Approved documents include valid residence permits, employment contracts, rental or property ownership proof for housing or work, renewal requests for residence permits, and certification by competent authorities or Jordanian missions abroad.

Applications can be submitted by the individual through Jordanian missions abroad, electronic registration, the dedicated platform for expatriate deferment requests, or directly to the relevant directorate.
Deferments last one year and are renewable under the same conditions. Requests for renewal must be submitted at least one month before the end of the deferment with updated documents.

Requests denied or incomplete are rejected, and the individual is legally assigned a service center. Deferment is canceled if the residence permit is withdrawn or invalidated, or if documents are found false, requiring the individual to report for national service unless other valid reasons exist.

Expatriates holding foreign citizenship or temporary travel documents are not exempt from national service but may be treated under deferment conditions if eligible.

In efforts to settle long-standing arrears, the Cabinet approved an agreement to pay the Jordan University Hospital debt for medical treatments.

Under the agreement, the government will pay approximately JD6.8 million from the budget, bringing total government payments to about JD10.6 million for debts incurred from medical exemptions in 2024 and 2025.

This follows the government’s broader plan to clear accumulated arrears over the next three years, having already paid more than JD620 million of nearly JD1 billion in previous liabilities since its formation in September 2024.

The decision also ensures hospitals can continue providing efficient health services. Two weeks ago, the Cabinet approved a similar agreement for King Abdullah University Hospital, committing to a total of JD39.6 million, including monthly payments of JD3 million starting this year until full settlement.

In public sector reform, the Cabinet approved the rationale for the 2026 Administrative Organization Regulation for the Ministry of Culture, pending review by the Legislation and Opinion Bureau.

The regulation aims to modernize and organize the ministry, clarify responsibilities, align administrative structure with national strategic plans and economic modernization, enhance transparency and accountability, improve coordination, and streamline decision-making.

It also seeks to optimize cultural centers and programs, delivering more comprehensive cultural services, and introduces a Directorate of Child Culture and a Directorate of Capital Culture to strengthen awareness and educational outreach.

The Cabinet approved similar rationales for the 2026 Administrative Organization Regulation of the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation, pending formal procedures.

This regulation aims to enhance efficiency across all technical and administrative levels, strengthen media and digital transformation roles, organize the administrative structure to avoid overlapping powers, clarify supervision and communication lines, and improve responsibility distribution. It also emphasizes the institution’s role in training and developing media professionals.

//Petra// AF
04/01/2026 21:59:34