Khaberni - A government source said on Thursday evening to "Al-Mamlaka" channel that the draft of the general budget law for 2026 will be sent to the House of Representatives next month for adoption.
Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan issued Directive No. 14 of 2025, for the preparation of the general budget law project and the project for the formation of ministries, departments, and governmental units for the fiscal year 2026.
The issuance of the directive is part of the government's efforts to pass the general budget law for 2026 and send it to the House of Representatives on the constitutionally stipulated deadline before the end of next month, cooperating with the parliament to approve it in its final form before the end of the current year, and for the first time to enable the government to start implementing the new and capital projects listed early.
The Prime Minister confirmed during the Cabinet session held on Wednesday in the capital province that the government is striving in cooperation with the parliament to approve the new budget before the end of the current year, for the first time; "so not to delay working on implementing capital projects at the beginning of next year."
Below is the text of the directive:
In preparation for completing the general budget law project for the fiscal year 2026, discussing it, and proceeding with the enactment procedures in accordance with the constitutional provisions, this coincides with the preparation of the project for the formation of ministries, departments, and governmental units.
In light of the royal directives to the government to move forward in implementing the comprehensive reform program across its political, economic, and administrative tracks and the concerted governmental efforts to implement the second phase of the economic modernization vision and the public sector update (2026-2029) in order to achieve inclusive sustainable growth, leading to improved quality of life for the citizens.
In the framework of achieving the objectives of the national financial and economic reform program and accelerating the pace of structural reforms, foremost among them balancing the general financial situation and reducing public debt to the targeted levels, improving the business environment, attracting more investments, digitizing government services, and enhancing the social safety network.
Continuing to implement sound financial and economic policies of the government - despite regional challenges - which led to enhancing financial and economic stability and improving the performance of key macroeconomic indicators, notably the increase in the growth of the gross domestic product, maintaining the credit rating of the Kingdom, and containing the general budget deficit.
To continue the procedures and government decisions aimed at stimulating various sectors and continuing the implementation of initiatives and projects of the economic modernization vision and achieving its pillars, public capital spending has been increased along with considering the increase in current expenditures closely aligned with the growth in nominal gross domestic product in accordance with governmental orientations aimed at controlling and optimizing public spending. Consequently, the total public spending ceiling and the spending ceilings for each ministry, department, and government unit, including provinces, have been determined for the fiscal year 2026, where the estimates for the general budget law project for the fiscal year 2026 were based on a set of orientations, some of the most prominent of which are as follows:
1. Starting the implementation of the second executive program of the economic modernization vision and the public sector update map according to the specified time frames.
2. Continuing the implementation of the requirements of the National Financial and Economic Reform Program to enhance financial and economic stability and achieve sustainable economic growth.
3. Commitment to continue implementing structural policies and reforms and measures aimed at maintaining macroeconomic stability and the sustainability of public finance, including continuing measures to enhance tax and customs administration.
4. Providing necessary support to the armed forces and security agencies to ensure their readiness to face security challenges and perform their tasks with proficiency and competence.
5. Attracting more local and foreign investments through improving the business environment to reach an investment-friendly environment that mirrors the best practices for achieving inclusive sustainable growth and creating job opportunities.
6. Enhancing the efficiency of capital spending and targeting programs and projects that stimulate economic growth, according to the mechanism adopted in determining the priorities for new governmental investment projects.
7. Enhancing the principle of partnership in implementing investment opportunities with the private sector and prioritizing partnership projects between the public and private sectors, especially major projects in infrastructure, water, energy, health sectors, and others.
8. Covering developmental needs for the provinces with priority given to capital projects under implementation and committed projects.
9. Improving the level and quality of healthcare services provided to the citizens, leading to an integrated digital health system, focusing on primary healthcare programs, and continuing the expansion of health insurance coverage.
10. Giving education more attention at its various stages to keep with global developments in digital education methods, focusing on updating, maintaining, and constructing schools in various regions of the Kingdom to provide an encouraging academic environment for learning, expanding kindergarten programs, and continuing the training and qualification of teachers, with the necessity to focus on linking educational outputs to labor market needs through enhancing vocational and technical education programs.
11. Developing the social care and protection system, enhancing economic empowerment programs for targeted poor individuals and families, enhancing efficiency in targeting support to its beneficiaries, and improving their economic participation through providing capacity and skills development programs for those able to work among them and enabling them to access the labor market.
12. Completing the development of the system for promoting food security for the Kingdom and accelerating achievements in the axes of the national food security strategy.
13. Increasing the focus on the tourism sector and elevating the level of tourism services given its effective contribution to economic growth and activating related sectors, focusing on tourism promotion programs aimed at attracting global tourism and enhancing domestic tourism and stimulating local and foreign investments in the tourism sector.
14. Stimulating the industrial sector to continue its positive performance in economic growth and enhancing the competitiveness of the industrial investment environment.
15. Supporting the judicial apparatus and building the capacities of judges to enable it to continue its role in protecting rights and establishing principles of justice and integrity, and accelerating and facilitating litigious procedures through the development of technical systems and the digital transformation of courts.
16. Advancing the land, air, marine, and railway transport sectors, raising their quality and efficiency, and continuing to expand road networks and ensure their sustainability, using technology and smart solutions in the sector.
17. Securing sustainable water sources and enhancing the optimal use of water resources, continuing to control water loss, and achieving financial sustainability for the water sector.
18. Continuing the implementation of digital transformation programs in governmental institutions and using technological applications in various sectors, enhancing the cybersecurity system, and expanding comprehensive government service centers to facilitate the provision of government services with quality and efficiency.
19. Implementing international and national commitments and requirements related to climate change, linking them to the strategic plans of ministries, departments, and government units, and accelerating the pace of reducing carbon emissions in all sectors.
20. Developing the energy sector to keep up with technological developments, modernizing the electrical grid infrastructure, enhancing Jordan's position as a regional center for energy production and export, controlling electricity loss, diversifying clean energy sources, and achieving financial sustainability for the National Electricity Company.
21. Supporting municipalities and alleviating their financial burdens through implementing a plan to settle their outstanding debts to enhance their ability to provide services to citizens efficiently and effectively.
22. Continuing the evaluation of the performance of ministries, departments, and government units and preparing quarterly reports in this regard; linking the general budget to performance and addressing findings in the annual report of the Audit Bureau, correcting violations, and taking measures to prevent their recurrence.
23. Accelerating the implementation of projects and programs linked to grants and aid provided by friendly and brotherly countries and international institutions, with the ministries, departments, and government units involved committed to achieving the indicators linked to these grants and loans as agreed with the donor and lending entities under the agreements signed with them.
The budget for the year 2026 was based on the following main economic forecasts:
1. The growth of the gross domestic product at constant prices by (2.9%) for the year 2026 and by (3%) for the years 2027 and 2028. The nominal gross domestic product is expected to grow by (5.4%) for each of the years 2026, 2027, and 2028.
2. The inflation rate measured by the relative change in the consumer price index is around (2.2%) for each of the years 2026, 2027, and 2028.
3. The growth of exports by (4.3%) for the year 2026 and (3.4%) in 2027 and (6.3%) in 2028.
4. The growth of imports by (7.5%) for the year 2026 and (5.4%) in 2027 and (5.2%) in 2028.
5. The current account deficit of the balance of payments as a percentage of the gross domestic product for the year 2026 is about (-5.8%) to decrease to (-5.5%) in 2027 and to (-5.2%) in 2028.
Expenditure and revenue estimates in the draft general budget law for the fiscal year 2026 were based on assumptions related to the following financial measures:
1. Allocating financial provisions for projects of the second executive program for the economic modernization vision and public sector update.
2. The annual natural increase in employee salaries.
3. The annual natural increase in retirement provisions for civil and military staff.
4. Restricting appointments to vacant and newly created positions according to the guidelines for quantitative and substantive job evaluation and analysis in the public sector.
5. Allocating the necessary financial provisions to support the Jordanian Armed Forces and security agencies, contributing to enhancing their efficiency and readiness.
6. Covering the cost of interest on the domestic and external public debt, and benefiting from the positive effects of the credit rating by credit rating institutions in obtaining financing from international markets at the lowest possible interest rates.
7. Continuing to target a gradual decline in public debt and the primary budget deficit.
8. Adjusting expenses without impairing the ability of government agencies to perform their tasks as required, including optimizing the use of fuel, electricity, water, stationery, and following regular maintenance for water networks, promoting the use of solar energy for electricity generation and energy-saving tools, controlling the use of government vehicles and heating, as well as the travel item, and avoiding changing or purchasing vehicles and furniture unless absolutely necessary and after obtaining prior approval from the Prime Minister.
9. Allocating financial provisions to support strategic goods and continue fixing the price of bread and gas cylinders, and enhancing the strategic reserve of wheat and barley for sufficient periods.
10. Allocating financial provisions to supply industrial cities with natural gas to reduce energy costs in production processes, and provisions for implementing the national export strategy.
11. Allocating financial provisions for the capital budgets of the provinces and the current expenses for sustaining the operations of the provincial councils.
12. Allocating the necessary financial provisions for the National Aid Fund to cover the cost associated with the increase in the number of beneficiary families.
13. Allocating financial provisions for partnership projects with the private sector.
14. Continuing to allocate financial provisions for medical treatments, medicines, and medical supplies, and covering the cost of treating cancer patients, and expanding health insurance coverage in preparation for achieving comprehensive health coverage.
15. Continuing to allocate the necessary financial provisions for the development and improvement of municipalities.
16. Allocating financial provisions to support universities and increasing provisions for the university student support fund.
17. Allocating the necessary financial provisions to cover financial obligations and arrears on ministries and government departments.
18. Allocating financial provisions for expropriation purposes.
19. Allocating financial provisions to enhance the independence of the judicial and supervisory apparatus.
20. Allocating the necessary financial provisions to execute strategic projects in the sectors of water, energy, transport, health, and education.
21. Allocating the necessary financial provisions to boost the tourism sector.
22. Allocating financial provisions to support the digital transformation process, purchase operating systems and software, and enhance cybersecurity and electronic protection, and fortify technological and technical systems.
23. Allocating financial provisions for new major projects for the year 2026, after their registration in the national registry of government investment projects, and their approval by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation / Government Investment Management Unit, with the necessity to include these projects in a climate impact assessment and risk evaluation, and preparation of a summary of the climate impact assessment results for these projects by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.
24. Continuing to allocate the necessary financial provisions to execute projects derived from the national strategy for Jordanian women's affairs and improving the budget's responsiveness to the needs of both genders.
25. Allocating the necessary financial provisions to execute the indicators included in the grant program agreements signed with international entities.
26. Reclassifying capital project expenses that predominantly involve current activities within current expenses.
27. Avoiding appointments at the expense of capital projects, except in justified cases and with the approval of the Council of Ministers.
28. Avoiding purchasing user services except in justified cases and with the approval of the Prime Minister.
29. Taking into account in estimating revenues the growth of nominal gross domestic product, and the impact resulting from structural financial reforms to combat tax and customs evasion and avoidance and tax compliance.
30. Ensuring the Kingdom receives all agreed-upon external grants estimated in the general budget.
In light of the foregoing, all ministries, departments, and government units are required to prepare their budgets for the years 2026-2028, in detail according to the ceilings set for them, and provide the General Budget Department with them by no later than 11/9/2025, including capital projects for the provinces in their budget projects, considering the limited financial resources available and the government's adopted policy in controlling and rationalizing public spending and raising its efficiency and productivity when preparing these budgets.
Ministries, departments, and government units must make the adjustments and updates that have occurred in their strategic plans this year, including the vision, mission, strategic objectives, programs, and tasks they perform, their contribution to achieving national objectives, in addition to other inferential data and information, applicable and measurable performance indicators, and the performance indicator values achieved during the past year, and the deviation from the targeted indicator values as well as the indicators to be achieved during the years 2026-2028.
Ministries, departments, and government units must take into consideration the needs of women, children, youth, and persons with disabilities when defining these indicators and reflecting these indicators on the strategy and/or related programs, the major challenges faced in achieving the programs, the measures aimed at addressing these challenges at the program level, and highlighting the results and outputs provided to achieve the economic modernization vision and national priorities, enabling continuous evaluation of achievements and government performance.
