AMMAN — Amman has been recognised as a pioneering model in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for the adoption of zero-emission buses (ZEB), according to the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) 2026 report.

 

The recognition highlights the Jordanian capital’s progress in developing sustainable public transport systems and advancing environmentally friendly mobility solutions, Al Mamlaka TV reported.

 

The report praised the Greater Amman Municipality’s (GAM) strategic approach to transforming Amman into a smart and sustainable city through initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions, improving infrastructure efficiency, and enhancing residents’ quality of life.

 

According to the UITP report, GAM shared first place regionally with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in governance and ownership models. The report placed GAM in the highest sovereign contractual category, noting that the municipality is the sole owner of electric buses, charging stations, and related data networks.

 

It also recognised GAM’s hybrid operational model, which it said helps protect municipal transport systems from dependence on private-sector monopolies.

 

The report ranked GAM among the top three municipal authorities in the region for operational maturity, alongside authorities in Mecca, Jeddah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Muscat. The ranking reflects GAM’s shift from a regulatory role to direct operational involvement through its executive arm, the Amman Vision Transport Company.

 

The report also noted that Amman has moved ahead of several regional municipalities that remain in the early planning stages of developing green transport strategies.

 

In integrated urban planning, GAM ranked first among non-GCC municipalities in the region for its efforts to link the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network with parking facilities and broader digital transformation projects.

 

The UITP recognition reinforces Amman’s emerging role as a regional example in sustainable urban mobility and the transition toward cleaner, more efficient public transport systems.