RIYADH: Building permits issued in Jordan rose 26 percent to 4,199 in the first two months of 2026, up from 3,329 in the same period last year, according to data from the Department of Statistics Jordan.
The increase came even as total licensed construction area fell to 1.42 million sq. meters from 1.52 million sq. meters a year earlier, signaling a shift toward smaller-scale projects, the Jordan News Agency reported.
In January alone, permits rose 19.6 percent year on year to 2,296, while licensed building area declined 11.7 percent to 741,000 sq. meters.
This comes on the back of mixed construction trends across the region, with Saudi Arabia recording a 7 percent annual decline in construction permits to 6,919 in January, marking its first year-on-year drop since late 2024.
In the UAE, construction activity remains elevated, particularly in Dubai, where more than 10,700 building permits were issued in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting continued expansion in residential and mixed-use developments.
In Egypt, while official permit figures are less frequently published, the broader construction market is valued at approximately $54.87 billion in 2026 and is projected to grow at an annual rate of about 8 percent through 2031, supported by large-scale public investment and urban expansion projects, according to industry data.
Jordan’s data highlights a divergence between residential and non-residential construction trends domestically.
The country’s licensed residential building area reached approximately 1.27 million sq. meters, marking a 13.4 percent increase from 1.12 million sq. meters a year earlier.
In contrast, licensed non-residential building area fell sharply by 60 percent to 159,000 sq. meters, compared with 402,000 sq. meters in the same period last year.
Residential construction continued to dominate overall activity, accounting for 89 percent of the total licensed building area, while non-residential buildings made up the remaining 11 percent.
In Jordan, the central region held the largest share of licensed building activity at 65.9 percent of the total area.
The northern region followed with 27.8 percent, while the southern region accounted for 6.3 percent during the first two months of the year.
