Amman, Aug. 2 (Petra) -- Jordan's Lower House of Representatives approved 5 additional articles of the 2026 draft amendments to the Property Law on Sunday, advancing legislation aimed at modernizing land administration, expanding e-services, and supporting the real estate sector.
The House, chaired by Speaker Mazen Qadi and attended by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and members of the government team, approved Articles 2 through 6 of the 37-article draft law.
The MPs had previously approved Article 1 during its July 28 session, bringing the total number of approved articles to 6.
Talking at the House debate, Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Monem Odat said the amendments represent a "major" organizational step to enhance the functions and powers of the Department of Lands and Survey (DLS), which would accelerate and streamline services for citizens and investors.
Odat said the amendments explicitly mandate the DLS employees to receive declarations in real estate transactions both at the department directorates and staff at government service centers, aimed to streamline procedures for service recipients.
The minister also said the amendments establish a "specialized" organizational unit within the DLS to regulate the real estate sector, monitor market activity, issue analytical reports, oversee off-plan sales, and safeguard rights of investors, property owners and tenants.
As for provisions governing "promises to sell" and "off-plan sales," the amendments would enable investors to obtain official certificates from the department to secure financing from banks and other lending institutions to implement investment projects.
Among the amendments approved Sunday, lawmakers expanded the legal definition of "road" to include "railway lines", as the term continues to encompass roads and their associated infrastructure, including sidewalks, culverts, shoulders, roundabouts, retaining walls, safety islands, ditches, drains and the legally prescribed road right-of-way.
The House aslo approved establishment of the new Real Estate Regulatory Unit, authorized to use electronic services and signatures across all DLS transactions, and transferred the power to issue land settlement orders from the department's director general to the Council of Ministers.
On its goals, the government said the draft law is intended to enable the Land and Survey Department to process applications for its services electronically, facilitate investment, and improve efficiency of property administration as the legislation continues to move through Parliament.
The draft law would grant powers to Jordan's Cabinet to transfer ownership of state-owned land plots to public investment funds or government-owned companies, enabling them to carry out their duties or contribute the land as in-kind shares in investment projects.
The bill also features provisions designed to stimulate investment, including easing restrictions on real estate ownership.
The regulation further preserves rights of certain parties in land partition cases before the courts, including the right to participate in auctions.
//Petra// NQ
