AMMAN — The Cabinet on Sunday approved a set of draft regulations and legislative amendments aimed at improving the investment climate, supporting public transport, and strengthening cybersecurity, as part of broader economic and administrative reform efforts.

 

During a session, chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, the Cabinet endorsed the validating reasons for the 2026 draft amendments to the Investment Environment Bylaw. The draft will be referred to the Legislative and Opinion Bureau to complete the formal legal requirements.

 

The draft bylaw comes as part of the executive programme for the Economic Modernisation Vision and within an integrated government approach to modernise the legislative framework governing investment, thereby enhancing the stability of economic policies and consolidating confidence in the business environment, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

 

The amendments also seek to simplify procedures and shorten the time needed to issue licences and approvals, reducing costs for investors and improving the efficiency of government services.

 

A key feature of the draft bylaw is the introduction of the “licensing as a condition for compliance” model, which would allow investors in development zones to obtain licences based on commitments to meet requirements, subject to later oversight.

 

The approach is intended to balance business facilitation with regulatory compliance, Petra said.

 

The amendments also expand access to investment incentives to include expansion and development projects, offering greater flexibility and supporting job creation and long-term investment sustainability. The government hopes the measures will help attract high-value investments in priority sectors and strengthen Jordan’s position as a regional investment hub.

 

The amended bylaw follows extensive consultations with public and private sector stakeholders, reflecting a broad consensus on improving the investment environment in line with international best practices, according to Petra.

 

The Cabinet also approved the validating reasons for a draft bylaw establishing a Passenger Transport Support Fund for 2026. The measure is intended to ensure the sustainability of public transport projects launched in recent years, including inter-governorate transport services, smart transport systems, and the expansion of the bus rapid transit network to Madaba, Balqa, and Zarqa, Petra said.

 

The proposed fund will support the development of passenger transport services and infrastructure, while also enabling access to grant funding through the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, particularly for green and sustainable initiatives.

 

Under the draft bylaw, a dedicated account will be created within the Ministry of Transport to receive revenues collected by the Land Transport Regulatory Commission. These funds, along with allocations from the state budget and service fees, will be used to support licensed transport operators.

 

The Cabinet also approved the validating reasons for a draft amendment to the Cybersecurity Law for 2026, as part of efforts to modernise public sector legislation.

 

The proposed law aims to keep pace with rapid technological advancements by updating key cybersecurity concepts and introducing definitions for emerging technologies.

 

It also seeks to strengthen the role of the National Cybersecurity Center, enhance its support for research and development, and establish standards governing the use of advanced technologies to mitigate potential risks.