Jordan becomes first Arab country to submit second New Urban Agenda report

Jordan has achieved a major urban planning milestone with the United Nations officially publishing the Kingdom’s second national report on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda 2025. This accomplishment makes Jordan the first Arab nation, and the fourth worldwide, to complete and submit the report.

The comprehensive document, prepared by the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDC), outlines Jordan’s urban development progress between 2019 and 2024. It highlights key advances in sustainable urbanization, digital infrastructure, quality of life, and governance reform, all measured through clear performance indicators. These efforts are closely aligned with Jordan’s broader Economic Modernization Vision (EMV).

The report also reinforces Jordan’s ongoing commitment to the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11, which aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The report emphasizes evidence-based urban planning and turning urban challenges into development opportunities.

“We remain dedicated to submitting our national urban reports in accordance with international timelines, advancing sustainable development objectives, and engaging with global partners in urban reporting efforts,” said HUDC Director General Jumana Attiyat in a statement to Jordan News Agency (Petra).

According to Attiyat, the report was developed over two years through close cooperation with a national committee that included government entities and sector representatives. It was formally approved by the Cabinet before being submitted to the National Library and later published on the UN-Habitat Urban Agenda platform.

Attiyat explained that the preparation process was based on a participatory model, involving nationwide dialogue sessions in collaboration with UN-Habitat. These sessions focused on building local capacity and sharing global best practices in urban development.

One of the report’s major achievements is a marked improvement in data collection and analysis. While the previous national report covered just over half of the required indicators, the new report covers 95 percent, demonstrating significant progress in evidence-based planning.