Share Story
AMMAN — The Cabinet, during a session chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Wednesday, approved the 2026 amendment to the Railway Services Licensing Bylaw, in a move aimed at modernising the sector’s regulatory framework and enhancing operational efficiency.
The endorsed measures aligned with regional and international standards, while supporting the phased expansion of the national railway network and strengthening its role within the Kingdom’s transport system, according to a Prime Ministry statement.
The draft bylaw aims to regulate the contractual relationship between the regulator and licensees by refining the licensing framework to balance investment incentives with stronger oversight. It also aims to improve operational readiness and ensure the sector’s long-term sustainability.
Additional provisions cover the regulation of professional licensing and the enhancement of monitoring tools, intending to improve safety and service quality, boost compliance and governance, and strengthen data management across the sector.
The Cabinet also endorsed measures to accelerate the modernisation of the truck fleet by lowering the maximum import age for tractor units to five years and phasing out trucks older than 20 years through scrapping or re-export.
The package includes financial incentives, notably a full exemption from the 16 per cent general sales tax and waivers on registration and licensing fees.
The incentive period was extended to two years to provide operators with greater flexibility in upgrading their fleets.
The plan targets the modernisation of more than 8,300 trucks over two years, aiming to reduce operating and maintenance costs, improve fuel efficiency, minimise breakdowns and enhance the flow of goods.
The measures are also expected to stimulate the transport sector and related services, attract investment and support digitalisation efforts, while enabling operators to improve efficiency and gradually phase out outdated vehicles, the statement said.
As part of efforts to advance service infrastructure, the Cabinet approved the rehabilitation and operation of the Abu Al Zeighan desalination plant in Deir Alla at an estimated cost of $37 million, alongside a wastewater network project in southwest Amman valued at over JD16 million.
The desalination project is expected to increase water supply by treating water from 15 wells to produce around 12 million cubic metres annually. It forms part of a broader package funded by the European Investment Bank to improve water services.
The wastewater project will involve the construction of around 35 kilometres of networks in areas within Naour Municipality, aimed at enhancing sanitation services.
"Together, the projects are expected to benefit some 400,000 people," the statement read.
At the institutional level, the Cabinet also moved forward with procedures to approve a draft bylaw on labour inspectors for 2026, aimed at modernising inspection mechanisms and improving efficiency in line with evolving labour market dynamics and international best practices.
The draft emphasises coordinated joint inspection teams to reduce duplication and unify oversight, while strengthening compliance with labour laws and occupational health and safety standards. It also supports the development of a unified electronic inspection system and encourages formalisation of the workforce.
The Cabinet also approved the administrative regulation for the Ministry of Youth for 2026, aimed at updating its organisational structure and establishing new units in line with evolving priorities.
These include a unit for the Hussein Bin Abdullah II Award for Voluntary Work, a Youth, Peace and Security unit aligned with UN Security Council Resolution 2250, and a National Guidance unit to enhance youth-focused programmes.
The Cabinet approved a draft bylaw on the rewards and savings fund for employees of Al Balqa Applied University, aimed at strengthening governance, improving resource allocation and supporting sustainable financial planning to ease future budgetary pressures.
