Ras Al Ain market to reopen on Thursday — GAM

AMMAN – The Ras Al Ain market will reopen on Thursday after being temporarily closed for organisational and technical reasons, a Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) official said on Monday.  

Street vendors recently submitted requests to set up stalls at the new market and their names will be announced on Tuesday between 10am and 2pm, according to Basem Tarawneh, deputy director for districts and environment affairs at GAM.  

“Another space at the same location will be ready if the number of vendors who apply is high,” Tarawneh told The Jordan Times over the phone. 

The Abdali Friday Market was moved to an eight-dunum area in Ras Al Ain in October to alleviate traffic jams in the Abdali area. 

At the time, street vendors protesting against the decision clashed with anti-riot personnel at Hashemite Square in downtown Amman, with several protesters throwing Molotov cocktails at gendarmes, prompting security forces to use tear gas to disperse them.

The riots were a continuation of protests that began on October 10, when GAM began removing street stalls from Abdali to turn the area into a parking lot.

Subsequently, several stall owners were referred to the State Security Court on charges of engaging in terrorist actions using weapons and combustible materials, in addition to committing acts that would harm the Kingdom’s relations with foreign countries and endangering public safety.

They were also indicted for lèse-majesté.

Tarawneh said security patrols will be deployed around the area to ensure that only Jordanians showcase their goods. 

“We will not let guest workers display their goods. This market is for Jordanians who face financial hardships,” he added.

The municipality official said the new location is much better than the older one because it includes medical facilities, good lighting and parking lots. 

“The good thing about this venue is that a branch of the Civil Defence Department is located nearby, in additional to the bus terminal,” he added.