Amman, October 19 (Petra) – The Council of Ministers held its weekly session on Sunday and approved a series of legislative and administrative measures across various sectors.

Official Gazette Law Amended to Align with Digital Era The Cabinet approved a draft law amending the Official Gazette Law of 2025 to modernise the legal framework first issued in 1949. The amendments aim to align the law with technological and legislative advancements, granting the electronic version of the Gazette the same legal status as the printed edition.

The updated law allows the Gazette to be issued by a decision of the Prime Minister whenever necessary, in addition to the current publication schedule.

New Urban Planning Bylaw for Greater Amman Municipality The Council approved the 2025 Planning and Regulatory Bylaw for the Greater Amman Municipality. The new bylaw introduces a modern, integrated approach to urban planning and zoning, addressing the city's growing population and aiming to achieve economic, social and environmental goals.

It simplifies procedures for land subdivision, participatory planning and the granting of development rights, while ensuring transparency and public engagement through institutionalised public hearings.

The bylaw mandates the publication of relevant plans, revenues and decisions online, reflecting the needs of diverse population groups, including women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities and investors.

The bylaw separates planning from regulation, promotes sustainable land use, enhances legal clarity and builds investor confidence by disclosing land-use changes in advance.

National Strategy for the Elderly (2025–2030) The Cabinet approved the executive plan for the National Strategy for the Elderly (2025–2030) and instructed its implementation across relevant ministries and institutions, in coordination with the National Council for Family Affairs.

The strategy aims to improve the quality of life for older persons through better healthcare services, expanded home and institutional care, increased participation in public life and stronger legal protection.

It includes developing elderly-friendly environments, building a national database for policy planning and enhancing coordination between governmental and civil society organisations.

Road and Traffic Regulations Updated To support the use of alternative roads, the Cabinet approved an amended Road Traffic Services Allowance Regulation for 2025. The regulation complements investment plans announced in August by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, allowing optional use of alternative roads.

The updated regulation promotes public-private partnerships and aims to reduce traffic congestion while stimulating local development in adjacent areas.

The Cabinet approved an amended Driver Licensing Regulation for 2025, unifying the validity period of all driving license categories to 10 years.

The regulation mandates annual driving permits for drivers of public transport, freight, medium-sized private buses and student transport vehicles to enhance road safety.

The Cabinet approved the rationale for the draft amended Vehicle License Plate Bylaw for 2025, aligning it with the Arabic Language Protection Law. The new system will feature Arabic language coding and will be finalised following review by the Legislation and Opinion Bureau and the Cabinet’s Legal Committee.

International Cooperation Agreements Approved The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship and the Ministry of Digital Transformation of the Republic of Slovenia.

The MoU promotes collaboration in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, ICT and public sector innovation.

A second MoU was approved between the Institute of Public Administration and the Ministry of Administrative Development of Syria, focusing on capacity building and human resources development in Syria's public sector.

The agreement aims to facilitate Arab cooperation and transfer Jordan's expertise to support Syria's reconstruction and governance development in the post-stabilisation phase.

//Petra// AK