Jordan's move to revamp its Citizenship By Investment programme has opened up more pathways for foreign investors to obtain a passport, but it is unlikely to make an economic impact in the short term, analysts say.
Amman will grant Jordanian nationality to foreign investors through additional routes including pouring capital in local companies' shares, establishing new projects in important sectors or purchasing equity in existing projects, according to Petra news agency.
The Cabinet last week approved an updated framework for granting citizenship and residency to investors that is aimed at attracting more foreign capital, creating new jobs and contributing to the Jordanian economy.
“While we appreciate the Jordanian government's efforts to develop the private sector, we believe the new citizenship policy will have limited economic impact in the near term,” Tianchen Peng, economist at Oxford Economics, told The National.
“The investment thresholds across all three routes – along with additional requirements like maintaining high employment levels – are prohibitively high.”
Jordan has granted citizenship to 561 investors since 2018, with Syrian and Iraqi investors topping the list, according to Jordan's investment minister Mothanna Gharaibeh.
However, Mr Peng said combined with Jordan's existing social welfare system and escalating tension in the region, “the policy may lack sufficient appeal to attract eligible investors, particularly those based outside the region”.
Jordan's economy is projected to expand by 2.6 per cent this year before accelerating further to 2.9 per cent in 2026, according to the International Monetary Fund's recently published Regional Economic Outlook.
Both projections were lower than previous forecasts, mirroring a broader downwards trend because of US tariffs uncertainty.
The Washington-based fund last month approved about $700 million to Jordan to address its long-term vulnerabilities in the water and electricity sectors and address public health emergencies.
The Jordanian passport has relatively better strength in the Middle East compared to various countries in the region, according to the Henley Passport Index.
It ranks 88th on the latest index, with visa-free access to 51 countries, according to the Henley Passport Index 2025 Global Ranking.
By contrast, Syria ranks 102nd, Iraq 101st, Yemen 100th and Libya in the 99th position. The UAE is 8th and Saudi Arabia is 59th. This is out of a ranking of 103, where some countries are in tie positions.
With stricter immigration rules in some protectionist economies, investors are casting a wider net for citizenship opportunities.
Pathways to citizenship
Under the revised criteria, Jordan will grant citizenship to foreign investors who inject at least one million Jordanian Dinars ($1.4 million) in new capital by buying shares in Jordanian companies.
A maximum of 20 per cent of the investment can be concentrated in a single company, and the investor must retain the shares and any related proceeds for three years, according to Petra.
Citizenship can also be granted to investors who set up new projects in vital sectors with a paid-in capital of at least 700,000 dinars in Amman or 500,000 dinars outside the capital, provided the projects create 20 jobs for Jordanians in the capital or 10 jobs outside it.
Another route is purchasing equity in existing projects with a capital injection of at least one million dinars and new fixed assets worth at least 500,000 dinars. Investors must submit a feasibility study and audited financial reports, create 20 new jobs and hold the new shares for three years to qualify.
Existing investors may qualify if their average equity share in fixed assets over the past three years totals at least 700,000 dinars in Amman or 350,000 dinars outside the capital.
First-degree family members of the investor, who are inheriting or receiving shares, may also qualify for citizenship. This is provided the original investor’s stake remains unchanged for three years.
Citizenship can also be granted to investors in the pharmaceutical warehousing, medical equipment and large-scale food logistics sectors, with minimum capital of 3 million dinars and 20 Jordanian pharmacists employed in Amman or 10 outside the capital over three years.
Another route is employing 150 Jordanians in Amman or 100 in other governorates for at least one year before application, with employment levels sustained for two consecutive years after receiving citizenship, Petra said.
A cap of 500 investors per year will be applied, subject to security clearance and financial due diligence, the state news agency said.
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Group B
Bayern Munich v Tottenham, midnight (Thursday)
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
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Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The years Ramadan fell in May
The years Ramadan fell in May
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Wayne Rooney's career
Everton (2002-2004)
- Appearances: 48
- Goals: 17
Manchester United (2004-2017)
- Appearances: 496
- Goals: 253
England (2003-)
- Appearances: 119
- Goals: 53
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Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass
Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
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Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY
Wimbledon order of play on Saturday, July 8
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Centre Court (4pm)
Agnieszka Radwanska (9) v Timea Bacsinszky (19)
Ernests Gulbis v Novak Djokovic (2)
Mischa Zverev (27) v Roger Federer (3)
Court 1 (4pm)
Milos Raonic (6) v Albert Ramos-Vinolas (25)
Anett Kontaveit v Caroline Wozniacki (5)
Dominic Thiem (8) v Jared Donaldson
Court 2 (2.30pm)
Sorana Cirstea v Garbine Muguruza (14)
To finish: Sam Querrey (24) leads Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, 1-6, 6-5
Angelique Kerber (1) v Shelby Rogers
Sebastian Ofner v Alexander Zverev (10)
Court 3 (2.30pm)
Grigor Dimitrov (13) v Dudi Sela
Alison Riske v Coco Vandeweghe (24)
David Ferrer v Tomas Berdych (11)
Court 12 (2.30pm)
Polona Hercog v Svetlana Kuznetsova (7)
Gael Monfils (15) v Adrian Mannarino
Court 18 (2.30pm)
Magdalena Rybarikova v Lesia Tsurenko
Petra Martic v Zarina Diyas
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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