Jordan Building Permits Surge, Signaling Construction Boom

Licensed building areas in Jordan experienced a significant surge, according to a recent report. The total area of licensed buildings reached 10.26 million square meters, marking a 13.6% increase compared to the 9.03 million square meters recorded during the same period.

The report, issued by the Department of Statistics, also revealed an 11.8% rise in the total number of building permits issued across the kingdom, reaching 26,717 permits, compared to 23,902 permits.

The data suggests a trend towards larger construction projects, with the increase in licensed areas outpacing the rise in the number of permits issued. This indicates an expansion in the average building size per permit.

On a monthly basis, licensed areas also demonstrated strong growth, climbing from 0.902 million square meters in December to 1.140 million square meters. This represents a substantial monthly growth rate of 26.4%.

Residential construction is driving the overall growth in licensed building areas. Licensed areas for residential purposes totaled 8.01 million square meters, a 12.5% increase from the 7.12 million square meters recorded. Non-residential building permits also saw an increase, reaching 2.24 million square meters, a 17.3% rise.

Residential building permits accounted for 77.7% of the total licensed building area, while non-residential permits made up the remaining 22.3%.

The central region of Jordan dominated construction activity, capturing 71.7% of the total licensed building area, reflecting a 7.2% increase. The northern region accounted for 20.3%, experiencing an 11.7% decrease, while the southern region held 8%, marking a 20.8% decline.

Within the residential sector, Amman recorded the highest proportion of licensed area at 13.3%, translating to 0.920 square meters per capita. In contrast, Zarqa registered the lowest proportion at 4.4%, with 0.304 square meters per capita.

New constructions and additions to existing buildings comprised 62.6% of the total licensed building area. The area licensed for new builds and additions reached approximately 6.4 million square meters, compared to 5.7 million square meters, marking a 12.3% increase.

The Department of Statistics compiles monthly building permit data, covering the number of permits, licensed building areas, and building usage types across Jordan. This data informs planners, policymakers, and decision-makers about construction sector activity. The data collection includes permits from Amman Municipality, municipalities, joint local committees, the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority, and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority.

Building permit indicators reflect actual construction activity, as permits generally lead to immediate construction. Design contracts and engineering plans represent future construction plans and licensing stages that may not be completed.