AGP Executive Report

UNGA Spotlight: Israel’s foreign ministry hit back at King Abdullah II after his UN speech on Gaza and the West Bank, arguing Jordan’s stance clashes with past citizenship actions toward Palestinians. Jordan’s Digital Governance: Zain Jordan launched zero-rated access to the Sanad government platform, letting users browse and access services without an active data package. Money Laundering Oversight: Jordan’s draft amended AML/CFT law would bring virtual asset service providers under broader rules, expanding powers to trace, seize, freeze and confiscate assets. Tech & Youth Diplomacy: Umniah by Beyon backed AAMUN 2026 in Amman, where students tackled issues at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure. AI Skills for Jordan: A new report argues Jordan’s young workforce can compete in the agentic AI era by shifting from using AI to building and supervising AI-enabled services. Energy Tech Event: ADIPEC 2026 in Abu Dhabi (Nov 2–5) will spotlight “intelligent energy systems,” scaling AI, and investment in energy security. Health Education Research: A Jordan study examines pharmacy students’ perceptions of OSCE assessments at two universities.

UNGA Diplomacy & Jordan’s Tech Lens: King Abdullah II warned that fast-moving tech and shrinking attention spans are reshaping geopolitics, arguing conflicts can “fade from the agenda” when people stop watching. Local Smart Cities: Amman Municipality plans a 2026–2028 smoke-free push using smart sensors and an electronic monitoring system to curb smoking violations, alongside cessation clinics. Fintech & Compliance: Jordan’s draft 2026 anti-money laundering law would bring virtual assets under tighter rules and expand powers to trace, freeze, seize, and confiscate illicit proceeds, including possible limits on cash payments. AI Workforce for Jordan: A new analysis argues Jordan’s edge in the agentic AI era is building skills to supervise and deploy AI tools, not racing to build the biggest models. Education & Youth Culture: The Ministry of Culture released the 42nd issue of “Sawt Al-Jeel,” spotlighting youth creativity across poetry, narrative, and theater. Aviation Tech Disruption: A reported GPS fault tied to Honeywell navigation systems has led Embraer E2 operators to cancel flights, with Jordanian Royal Jordanian mentioned as a possible affected operator.

Smart City Enforcement: Amman Municipality plans a 2026–2028 smoke-free push with smart smoke-detection sensors and an electronic system to monitor violations, alongside clinics and “Smoke-Free Parks” campaigns. Royal Tech Policy: King Abdullah told the UNGA that AI and fast-changing digital life are shrinking attention spans, warning it could shape how global conflicts get handled. Digital Economy & AI Partnerships: Crown Prince Hussein met Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi to discuss expanding Uber in Jordan and coordination with the “Jordan Source” initiative, while also meeting OpsHeaven’s Hamza Alsarhan on AI innovation and intellectual property cooperation. Aviation Services: Joramco (Amman) opened a new customer center to improve airline collaboration and faster support linked to maintenance operations. Jordan Investment Pipeline: Jordan unveiled a nearly $15B investment opportunities portfolio ahead of a Jordan–EU conference, spanning energy, mining, transport, water, tourism, industry and clean technology. Defense Tech Abroad: ARC won a $4.7M contract to integrate AI-enabled weapon sensors into Army live collective training systems.

AI & Digital Economy: Crown Prince Hussein met Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and OpsHeaven founder Hamza Al-Sarhan in New York, discussing tourism tech, the “Jordan Source” initiative, Uber expansion, and AI plus intellectual property cooperation via National Council for Future Technology. Fintech Regulation: CoinMENA launched digital asset deposit, trading and custody services inside the Central Bank of Jordan’s JoRegBox regulatory sandbox, bringing regulated crypto access under Central Bank supervision. Education Infrastructure: Public Works and Housing invited bids for four new school projects (JD 8.689m) across Madaba, Balqa and Ajloun, funded through a Kuwait Fund loan. Energy Policy: Experts stressed Jordan must improve consumption efficiency before scaling renewables, arguing efficiency cuts waste and boosts competitiveness. Culture & Film: Jordan selected “Drowning” (Ghraq) for the Oscars’ Best International Feature Film race. Investment Push: Jordan unveiled a near-$15bn investment opportunities portfolio ahead of a Jordan–EU conference, spanning energy, mining, transport, water, tourism, industry and clean tech.

Fintech in the spotlight: CoinMENA has become the first digital asset platform to go live inside the Central Bank of Jordan’s JoRegBox regulatory sandbox, letting users deposit dinars and buy, sell, and store crypto under central-bank supervision. Education infrastructure: The Ministry of Public Works and Housing opened tenders for four new schools across Madaba, Balqa, Ajloun and Amman, totaling about JD 8.689 million, funded via a Kuwait Fund loan and aligned with Jordan’s Economic Modernisation Vision. Health services expansion: Zarqa’s East City will get a 60-bed hospital as part of the Meras investment project, after an agreement to purchase land for design, licensing and construction. Energy efficiency push: Jordanian experts stressed that sustainable cooling and renewable growth must be paired with better consumption efficiency, equipment upgrades, and technical training. Coral conservation via art: A Jordan-Switzerland comics residency in Aqaba is turning coral reef science into public-facing artwork to boost Red Sea conservation awareness. Business ties: The Amman Chamber of Commerce met the UK ambassador to follow up on King Abdullah’s London visit, focusing on digital tech, water, transport, healthcare, tourism and logistics partnerships.

Sustainable Cooling: Jordan marked World Ozone Day with a push for sustainable cooling under the Kigali Amendment, stressing that success means more than swapping refrigerants—equipment upgrades, better energy efficiency, safety standards, and hands-on technical training for industry. Energy Efficiency & Renewables: Experts say Jordan must improve how energy is used before scaling renewables, warning that cheaper power can still be wasted through losses, poor maintenance, and outdated machinery. Power & Grid Planning: IFC is considering up to $200M to help build a new 700MW gas-fired plant in Mafraq, aiming to boost reliability and energy security, with a potential board review in November. Smart Cities Tech: Jordan is exploring how digital twins could help municipalities plan smarter cities by testing future scenarios before projects are built. Water & Agriculture: Jerash governorate is running field schools to trial new crops and smarter irrigation to cut water use, while Jerash’s approach is framed as a practical lab for climate stress. Fintech Push: Jordan Fintech Festival 2026 opens next Wednesday at the Dead Sea, focusing on regulation, digital payments, open finance, digital assets, and blockchain. Women in Farming: Princess Basma backed a national meeting to integrate women farmers’ priorities into policy and the national strategy for women. Marine Conservation Arts: A Jordan-Switzerland comics residency in Aqaba is turning coral reef science into public awareness through art and comics.

Digital Transformation: Crown Prince directives are pushing Jordan’s tech shift forward, with experts pointing to expanding the “Sanad” app, building a secure national database, and using AI in healthcare, education and transport. Smart Cities: A new Jordan-focused discussion asks whether digital twins can help municipalities plan smarter cities by testing scenarios before projects are built. Energy & Power: IFC is considering up to $200M financing for a new 700MW gas-fired Mafraq power plant, aiming to boost generation capacity and grid reliability. Investment Pipeline: Jordan is preparing a nearly $15B portfolio for the Jordan-EU Investment Conference (Nov 19), spanning 15 sectors, with major bets in energy, mining, transport and logistics. Agriculture Water Saving: Jerash governorate is running field schools and trials for non-traditional crops plus smarter irrigation to cut water use. Public Health & Youth: A local study reports 32.9% of teens aged 10–17 in the obesity range, linking higher gaming hours with poorer self-rated health and calling for prevention efforts. Education Access: The free school transport project in Jordan’s southern Badia expands to 12,500 students from 9,000, aiming to improve safe, consistent attendance. Mental Health: An Amman subregional conference focused on MHPSS for families of missing persons, blending research with field practice.

Digital Transformation: Crown Prince directives are pushing Jordan’s tech shift, including further development of the “Sanad” app as a single gateway to government services and plans for a connected, secure national database. Public Health: A local study of 403 teenagers (ages 10–17) links longer gaming hours with poorer self-rated physical and mental health, with 32.9% in the overweight/obesity range and low daily activity flagged as a key driver. Education Access: The free school transport program in Jordan’s southern Badia is expanding by 3,500 students (to 12,500 total) from the next semester, aiming to improve safe, consistent attendance. Energy & Power: IFC is considering up to $200m to help build a new 700MW gas-fired plant in Mafraq, with grid links and gas/water pipelines, pending board approval. Urban Tech Planning: Experts discuss “digital twin” approaches to test traffic and land-use scenarios before projects lock in long-term bottlenecks. Investment Push: Jordan is preparing a nearly $15bn portfolio for the Jordan-EU Investment Conference on Nov. 19, spanning energy, transport, logistics, water, tourism, industry and clean tech.

Digital Transformation: Crown Prince directives are pushing Jordan’s tech push forward, with experts pointing to upgrades for the “Sanad” app, a connected national database, and AI use in healthcare, education, and transport. EU Investment Pipeline: Jordan is preparing a nearly $15B portfolio of investment opportunities for the Jordan-EU Investment Conference on Nov. 19, spanning energy, mining, transport, logistics, water, tourism, industry, and clean tech. Energy & Security Context: Coverage highlights how regional tensions and oil-market shocks are being buffered by China’s large oil stockpiles, even as conflicts keep volatility high. Healthcare Tech Research: New studies discuss nutrition practices in intensive care and advances in bioinspired nanocarriers and breast cancer immunotherapy outcomes, reflecting ongoing Jordan-linked medical research activity. Space & STEM Events: Jordan is set to launch Space Week 2026, aiming to bring astronomy, education, and student innovation into the spotlight.

Jordan-EU Investment Push: Jordan is preparing a nearly $15bn portfolio across 15 sectors for the Jordan-EU Investment Conference on Nov. 19 at the Dead Sea, with energy and mining leading (~$7.1bn), plus transport/logistics, water, tourism, industry and clean tech, under King Abdullah II’s patronage and expected EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attendance. Defense Tech & Industry: King Abdullah met Czech defence-industry executives in Prague, touring showcases of innovative equipment and discussing deeper Jordan–Czech cooperation and expertise exchange. Space Ambitions: Jordan is set to launch a Space Week 2026 program featuring astronomy, education and student innovation. Healthcare Tech: Koning Health says its Koning Breast CT System was added to Australia’s ARTG, enabling commercial supply, highlighting 3D breast imaging without compression. Identity & Access Systems: Accredit Solutions launched Accredit Induct to link digital induction, credentialing and access control with “no induction, no access” enforcement. Cultural Heritage (EU-backed): A EU-supported “Messiah” performance blended Hungarian and Jordanian musicians at Mukawir, tied to the John the Baptist site and a 2030 commemoration journey.

Jordan Food Security & Water: A new Jordan-focused analysis argues the country’s food system is structurally vulnerable, pointing to food sovereignty gaps, heavy import dependence for staples, and the pressure of refugees, remittances, and support shortfalls. Local Governance & Water Policy: The same coverage stresses that water efficiency should drive Jordan’s farm policy, tying farm resilience to smarter water governance. Defense Tech & Regional Cooperation: King Abdullah met Czech defence-industry executives in Prague, touring innovative technologies and discussing ways to deepen Jordan–Czech defence cooperation. Health Tech Regulation: Koning Health says its cone-beam breast CT system was added to Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Register, clearing the way for commercial supply. Identity & Workforce Access Tech: Accredit Solutions launched “Accredit Induct,” aiming to enforce “no induction, no access” by linking training completion to credentialing and real-time access control. Space & STEM Education: Jordan is set to launch a Space Week 2026 program featuring astronomy, education, and student innovation. Science & AI Culture: A meta-reading project has multiple major AI systems read the same book to compare how they interpret it, mapping convergences and blind spots.

Middle East Security: Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao says Iranian strikes severely damaged the U.S. Fifth Fleet logistics hub in Bahrain, forcing evacuation of about 1,300 military families and leaving port access impaired—prompting debate over whether to rebuild or shrink the U.S. footprint. Jordan Health & Research: WHO and partners published a new strategy to improve access to childhood cancer medicines, highlighting that many children in low- and middle-income countries can’t get uninterrupted chemotherapy—survival hinges on supply, not just new treatments. Tourism Tech & Regional Trade: Arabian Travel Market 2026 wrapped up in Dubai with strong participation from Jordan and other markets, with travel tech, AI, and digital transformation framed as the next big drivers for tourism partnerships. AI & Education in the Region: Applied Science University is reported to have won the Jordan edition of the Arab Artificial Intelligence Olympiad 2026, underscoring growing STEM momentum. Space & Science Outreach: Jordan is set to launch Space Week 2026, featuring astronomy, education, and student innovation.

Fuel-Tracking Push: Jordan’s Cabinet approved a digital system to cut fuel waste in government fleets, using electronic data links and RFID-based automated fueling so every transaction is logged to the specific vehicle and flagged against real usage. AI Talent in Jordan: Applied Science University won the Jordan edition of the 2026 Arab Artificial Intelligence Olympiad, topping tracks from programming to cybersecurity and qualifying for the Arab-level event in Egypt. Green Hydrogen Cooperation: Jordan and China are moving toward green energy collaboration after a memorandum of understanding to study a green hydrogen project in Jordan, leveraging renewables and desalinated water via Aqaba. Regional Tech & Media Governance: At the Arab Media Summit 2026, Jordan’s government communication minister backed faster, verified official updates during crises while protecting professional media independence. Space Education in Jordan: Jordan announced a Space Week 2026 program featuring astronomy, education, and student innovation. International Development Finance: The U.S. DFC approved $8B+ in investments spanning Ukraine, Jordan, and Africa, including digital and water infrastructure support for Jordan. Energy Security Context: Reports say Iran severely damaged the U.S. Fifth Fleet logistics hub in Bahrain, forcing evacuations and raising questions about U.S. regional posture.

Government Tech & Energy Efficiency: Jordan’s Cabinet approved a fuel-savings rollout for government fleets using electronic data-linking and RFID automated fueling, requiring electronic logs for every fill and enabling checks against real vehicle movement to flag waste. AI & Education: Applied Science University won the Jordan edition of the 2026 Arab Artificial Intelligence Olympiad, topping tracks from programming and cybersecurity to machine learning and computer vision, and qualifying for the Arab-level event in Egypt. Digital Economy & Public Services: Jordan hosted the World Development Report 2026 launch on “The Promise of Artificial Intelligence,” highlighting AI’s role in productivity, public services, and exportable digital services. Green Energy Cooperation: Jordan and China moved toward green hydrogen cooperation after a memorandum of understanding to study a project using renewable power and desalinated water via Aqaba. Public Sector Communications: A Meta-led workshop trained 126 Jordanian government media professionals to modernize digital outreach and social media skills. Regional Tech-Backed Finance: The U.S. DFC approved $8bn+ in investments including a Jordan-linked desalination and water transport project, aimed at boosting services and U.S. technology exports.

AI for Development: Jordan hosted the World Development Report 2026 launch, “The Promise of Artificial Intelligence,” with the World Bank highlighting how AI can boost productivity, public services, and exportable digital services—Jordan’s minister pointed to an emerging national AI ecosystem. Space Education: Jordan will launch Space Week 2026 (Oct. 4–10) with astronomy events, teacher training, and a student competition mixing space research and rocket design. Green Cooling: Jordan marked World Ozone Day by pushing the Kigali Amendment and cleaner cooling tech, aiming to modernize refrigeration and air-conditioning with training and new refrigerants. Digital Media Skills: Government communication officials trained with Meta experts to modernize social media outreach and keep public messaging aligned with fast-changing digital tools. Port Growth: Aqaba Port reported major handling gains—June and August volumes jumped sharply year-on-year—crediting smoother cargo flow and coordination across partners. Regional Tech & Policy: Crown Prince Hussein chaired Cabinet discussions on economic impacts of instability, urging priority focus on supply chains and better public-sector data management for AI use.

Space & Education: Jordan will launch a World Space Week 2026 program (Oct 4–10) with astronomy events, teacher training, and a student competition split between space-research projects and rocket design plus experiment videos. Energy & Industry: ADIPEC 2026 is set for Abu Dhabi (Nov 2–5) under UAE President patronage, aiming to mobilize investment in resilient, intelligent energy systems as AI and demand rise. Environment Policy: Jordan says it is on track to phase out ozone-harming gases by 2030, highlighting HCFC elimination progress supported by the World Bank. Investment & Business Climate: Jordan’s Ministry of Investment released its H1 2026 performance report, citing digitized procedures, faster licensing, and a shift toward high-quality investment with measurable local impact. Trade Resilience: Jordan outlined three contingency plans to keep supply chains running if Bab al-Mandab is disrupted, including rerouting via Syrian ports and overland corridors. Climate Risk Planning: Jordan is urged to adopt a climate risk index that targets the most vulnerable communities, not just the weather events.