Khaberni - The cabinet has decided in its session held on Sunday, chaired by Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan, to approve the inclusion of the Petra Region Development and Tourism Authority in the decision to grant incentives and exemptions from penalties for building and land tax (roofed) and the knowledge tax previously taken.
The cabinet has also decided to grant discounts and exemptions on building and land tax (roofed), knowledge tax, sewage contributions, verification allowances, revenues and compensations, road waste, and rents and their revenues owed to the municipalities and the Greater Amman Municipality before the end of the workday on 31/12/2025, and this decision will be applied to the Petra Region Development and Tourism Authority.
The decision aims to facilitate citizens and economic activities and enable them to meet their obligations, in addition to supporting the Petra Region Development and Tourism Authority, and enabling it to collect its financial revenues, thus allowing it to provide services to citizens.
The decision includes in the field of building and land tax (roofed) and knowledge tax and sewage contribution fees: an exemption from penalties for building and land tax (roofed) and knowledge tax incurred over the previous years by 100%, provided all taxes and fees owed are paid before the end of 31/12/2025.
It also includes granting a discount on building and land tax (roofed) and knowledge tax and sewage contribution fees imposed on lands and real estate within the boundaries of the municipalities and the Greater Amman Municipality, for the current year and previous years by 20%, provided all taxes and fees owed are paid before the end of 31/12/2025.
The decision also stipulates an increase in the incentive discount to become 10% instead of 8% for taxpayers committed to paying building and land tax (roofed) for the year 2026, if the due amounts are paid in the first two months of 2026.
The decision also allows the installment of building and land tax (roofed) and knowledge tax and sewage contribution fees due on taxpayers up to the end of 31/12/2025, in addition to granting taxpayers who have paid the current building and land tax (roofed) and knowledge tax and sewage contribution fees owed by them during the period from 1/1/2025 until the date of issuance of the decision applicable to them, and crediting it to them at the beginning of 2026, in addition to the incentive discount according to the law.
Regarding verification allowances, revenues, compensations, and road waste, the decision grants taxpayers a 25% discount, alongside granting applicants buying road waste a discount on the price of the waste owed by them by 25% if paid before the end of 31/12/2025, and also installment of verification fees, revenues, compensations, and road waste fees until the end of this date as well.
As for the rents and their revenues, the decision includes exempting lessees of real estate and buildings owned by the municipalities and the Greater Amman Municipality from 25% of the dues owed by them if paid before the end of 31/12/2025, and the installment of these rents and revenues until the end of 31/12/2025.
In a related context, the cabinet has approved the settlement of 322 cases between taxpayers and the Income and Sales Tax Department, according to the recommendations of the committee specialized in studying these settlements and according to the governing regulations.
This decision continues the ongoing measures taken by the government to enable economic activity owners, taxpayers, and investors to correct their tax situations in case of any violations, within the framework of easing their burden and allowing for the sustainability of their businesses and activities.
The cabinet has approved an amended system for civil aviation fees for the year 2025.
The system aims to unify the fees at Jordanian airports, operate Amman city airport, contribute to raising the international ranking of the kingdom in the field of aviation, and to license drone activities.
Under the system, drone activities will be licensed, technical department designations at the Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission will be modified, texts of some articles that the civil aviation fee system did not address will be inserted, and some texts will be rephrased.
The amendment of the system is in response to operational and regulatory challenges, aiming to build a fairer, transparent, and sustainable system that supports the infrastructure for development and stimulates growth in the sector, and unifies the fees among the kingdom's airports.
One of the main aspects of the amendment to the system is enhancing sustainability and operational efficiency, as it aims to keep up with the rapid technological advancements in air navigation systems, and it contributes to enhancing the infrastructure and expanding operational capabilities, especially with the ongoing development at Amman city airport and King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba.
The amendment includes covering costs of services not previously included, such as the use of runway lighting in special operational cases, to ensure fairness among all service users and to achieve operational fairness and create a motivating environment, in addition to addressing previous distortions through achieving a fair balance between the interests of various airline companies, creating a competitive environment.
The system introduces for the first time incentives specifically designed to support various types of aviation activities, aiming to diversify the aviation sector and enhance its movement in the kingdom.
The system also enhances regional competitiveness, by bridging an important regulatory gap through establishing clear frameworks for regulating drone activities and gliding, which boosts Jordan's competitive position on the regional aviation map.
It also enhances transparency and discipline in regulatory operations, by addressing the issue of repeated fees and undetailed inclusive fees, where the new structure has become clearer and more transparent, and the fee value has been directly linked to the technical effort and number of work hours required to provide the service, ensuring greater fairness.
These amendments are expected to enhance the efficiency, versatility, and capability of the civil aviation sector to attract investments and international partnerships, which will positively reflect on the national economy and reinforce Jordan's position as a regional aviation hub.
In terms of decisions related to the development of education and vocational training, the cabinet has approved an amended system for the national center for curriculum development for the year 2025.
The system comes in response to educational development requirements, keeping up with the new duties undertaken by the center, and in line with enhancing its role and increasing its efficiency in managing the process of curriculum development and evaluation.
Under the amendments, the center will undertake the task of evaluation through the establishment of a unit for banks of questions for national tests, keeping up with developments in the Jordanian educational arena, especially concerning inclusive education and early childhood; to ensure the developed curricula are consistent with the modern national trends in education.
The amendments also come in response to global educational developments related to curricula, aligned with best practices and reflecting the continuous progress in educational sciences, as well as keeping up with changes in the new study plans by the Ministry of Education, especially at the secondary level, and contributing to the orientation towards digital education and evaluation, and increasing reliance on educational technology in development and evaluation processes.
The council also approved measures related to financing the capacity building project in vocational training for green skills, supported by the government of the Republic of South Korea through the Korean International Cooperation Agency, with a value of ten million US dollars.
The project aims to build capacities in the field of vocational training for green skills, and to enhance and stimulate employment in the green industry through establishing a vocational training center in Irbid Governorate based on green technology, and building capacities to contribute to expanding green industries.
The decision is made in the context of enabling the new center to provide programs for green professions related to renewable energy, smart agriculture, and some environmentally friendly industries.
On another note, the cabinet has decided to appoint Dr. Riyadh Mohammed al-Shayyab as the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Health for Primary Health Care and Epidemics, after he obtained the highest marks according to the competition held under the government leadership system.
The cabinet has also decided to reconstitute the Jerusalem Council for Islamic Affairs and Endowments, chaired by Sheikh "Mohammed Azzam" al-Khatib al-Tamimi, and with membership of several specialists and stakeholders.
