Amra is a planned city in Jordan, located approximately 40 kilometers east of Amman. The primary objective of establishing a modern, green, and sustainable city is to address challenges arising from the rapid population growth of Amman and its contiguous conurbation with Russeifa and Zarqa, including overburdened transport and utility infrastructure and high real estate prices.[1]
The concept was first proposed in late 2017, with actual planning beginning in 2023 and implementation starting in late 2025. Construction is planned to proceed in multiple phases and conclude by 2050. Expected to accommodate between 1 and 1.5 million residents,[2] Amra will be the first purpose-built planned city in Jordan.[3]
Location
Approximately 500 km² of land has been designated for Amra between the Highway 30, which connects Amman with Azraq and continues toward Saudi Arabia, and the Highway 40 leading toward the Iraqi border. The site lies east of Muwaqqar, the only notable nearby settlement, and west of the Umayyad-era monument known as Qusayr Amra, from which the new city derives its name.
The area is uninhabited and forms part of the central sector of the Jordanian Syrian Desert (Badia). Amra will be located approximately 40 kilometres from downtown Amman and Queen Alia International Airport, and about 35 kilometres from Zarqa. Estimated commuting times are 45–50 minutes to Amman and 40 minutes to Zarqa.[3]
Background
The conurbation formed by Amman, Russeifa, and the industrial city of Zarqa has been experiencing rapid population growth. Projections suggest that by 2050 the population could reach as high as 11 million,[3] up from approximately 6,150,000 in 2025.[4]
In 2017, Prime Minister Hani Mulki announced plans to establish a new city to address housing shortages and alleviate pressure on Amman’s infrastructure. At the time, the project was referred to as “New Amman” or the “New City Project.”[5]
Initial plans envisioned construction beginning in 2018 using exclusively renewable energy sources, with completion of the first phase by 2030, while explicitly stating that the project was not intended to create a new capital.[6]
In 2023, under directives from King Abdullah II, governmental advisory councils and committees were established to prepare for the construction of the city, by then officially named Amra. The planning contract was awarded to the engineering firm Dar Al-Handasah.[7]
The launch of the 25-year project was officially announced on November 29, 2025, by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan during a site visit.[1] The city will be developed on state-owned land originally identified in the 2017 plans. The land was transferred to the Jordan Investment Fund, which established the Jordan Urban and Utilities Development Company to manage implementation.
Ten percent of the land will be allocated to the armed forces, which will participate in construction through the Royal Engineering Corps. An adjacent 20 km² area of state land has been allocated to the Housing and Urban Development Corporation for planning purposes and for housing workers and residents of Muwaqqar.
Both public funding and domestic and foreign private capital will be used. Following completion of the first phase, partial public listing of the project’s shares is planned.[1] The city will operate under a dedicated investment law emphasizing public–private partnerships rather than land sales. A unified smart utility billing system will be implemented citywide.[8]
The scale of the investment is expected to significantly boost Jordan’s construction and manufacturing sectors due to its high demand for materials and advanced technologies.[2]
First phase
Construction of the first phase is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with preparatory infrastructure works having started in late 2025,[9] and completion planned for 2029. This phase will cover 40 km² in the southern part of the future city near Highway 40.
Plans include completion of an international exhibition and convention centre by 2027, followed by an integrated Olympic city with Olympic-standard sports halls and a motor racing circuit by 2028. Entertainment districts and a 1 km² park are also planned. By 2029, construction is expected to conclude on the Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II Stadium, capable of hosting international matches.[10][11]
Additional plans include a technology hub, an education district, and cultural institutions, such as a new branch of the Royal Automobile Museum.[1] The creation of an artificial lake has also been proposed.[8]
A multidisciplinary advisory council composed of young Jordanian experts will be involved in the planning of the high-tech, green, and sustainable city.[1]
Amra will be connected to Amman’s bus-based Bus rapid transit (BRT) system, operational since 2021, during the first phase of development.[1] The government is also studying the feasibility of rail connections, which could transform Amra into a national transportation hub.[8]
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