Many argue that today, Jordan’s middle class is much larger than it was a few year back. However, since I came back to the country I feel the opposite has been true. This is in line with many economists who observe the growing disparity between the wealthy and the poor. Swallowed in the gulf is […]

The topic this week was surprisingly about prices and energy. I say surprisingly because the Jordan Business team has just finished a major cover story on inflation in the country, which essentially questions the government’s statements on the topic, and the measures they’ve taken (or lack thereof) to curb it. I have to admit that […]

Intellectual property: it may be one of the most unsexy topics in economics, but the strange market that is Jordan always makes even the most boring of topics, quite interesting. In these past 5 years, two entwining phenomena have arisen. The first being Jordan’s discovery that in order to enhance an investor environment as well […]

Our Father
Which are in Heaven
White man owe me eleven and pay me seven
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
And if I hadn’t took that
I wouldn’ta get
None
- Negro Folk Secular
Modern slavery?
nuff said.

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Emad Hajjaj does, what I personally consider, the best social commentaries on Ramadan in the Arab world, especially in Jordan. They portray Jordanian society in all its aspects. From the workplace environment with the angry boss who hasn’t had a cigarette, to setting new working hours according to who’s fasting and who’s not, to the […]

Long before Petra became a World Wonder, many suggested that they would not be voting for it primarily out of “concern” that Jordan did not have the required infrastructure to uphold the site. In my opinion, I think those people were probably too cheap to spend the 10 piasters for voting or waste their valuable […]

I recently got to sit down with a few people from the Talal Abu Ghazaleh Organization (TAG) during their ongoing battle with the Amman Municipality (GAM). For those who don’t know the story it can basically be summed up into the following points: TAG purchases land just outside their HQ and on the borders of […]

So far I have to admit the experience has been quite interesting. I’m hesitant to using the word ‘amazing’ because this isn’t exactly a roller coaster ride; well, maybe it is. But blogging live from the event on 7iber dot com has made the experience worthwhile to say the least. So if you haven’t checked […]

Who says God doesn’t work in mysterious ways? When I came back to Jordan in December I remember it hadn’t rained for months, inciting fears of a drought. This forced the country to have a ‘national’ prayer (supplication) asking God for rain.
God delivered.
It actually poured for the next few days right after.
The rain however […]

Kuwaiti investors are seeking government approval to launch a medical city near Amman at a cost of $3-5 billion, according to a statement by the official news agency, Petra.
The project will include hospitals with the latest medical technology, hotels, entertainment centres, swimming pools and gardens, said the statement
…If the project goes ahead according to plan, […]

With inflation what it is these days, not to mention taxes, maybe this is the only benefit of election time in Jordan this year. By the way, be sure to read Oula Farawati’s article in Jordan Business on the tax hell we’re living in.

Not mentioned above: Turkish delights (or ra7a)

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I think Hajjaj’s latest explains perfectly the inflation situation in Jordan…

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[source]

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For all the nay sayers out there…eat your heart out…
Jordan Times: AMMAN �?? The Ministry of Environment on Wednesday proposed an alternate location for the construction of the JD100 million tourist complex in Dibbeen.
�??The ministry suggested the new site due to many reasons, mainly because it believes that implementing the project in the new […]

A few economic highlights from a recent article:
- The kingdom shipped $4.1 billion worth of goods last year, a 12.9 per cent lift on 2005’s figures and, if re-exports are included in the mix, the total rises to $5.1 billion, a jump of more than 20 per cent. But what, ultimately, will cause concern is […]

HM King Abdullah just canceled two national holidays: the celebration of his father’s birthday in November and his own birthday on January 30th.
In Jordan there are two common complaints: too many holidays and not enough of them. But things went a little haywire a few days ago when the Christmas holiday filled into the […]