RIYADH: Jordan’s local revenues increased 1.6 percent year on year to 2.19 billion Jordanian dinars ($3.08 billion) in the three months to the end of March, mainly driven by higher non-tax revenues, despite regional challenges.
According to the country’s Ministry of Finance, non-tax revenues increased by 53.5 million dinars annually in the first quarter of 2026 to 631.8 million dinars, state news agency Petra reported.
Jordan’s fiscal performance mirrors broader trends across the Middle East and North Africa, where growth is expected to moderate to 3.5 percent in 2025 and 3.8 percent in 2026, according to the World Bank, amid a gradual recovery in oil production and steady non-oil sector growth.
The International Monetary Fund also expects Gulf Cooperation Council economies to remain relatively resilient despite heightened uncertainty, with regional growth forecasts revised lower in 2026 but still positive, reflecting continued support from fiscal buffers and diversified non-oil activity.
The newly released statement said: “Government spending totaled 2.93 billion dinars by the end of March 2026, including 2.72 billion dinars in current expenditures and 215.2 million dinars in capital expenditures.”
It added: “Meanwhile, capital spending surged by 50.8 million dinars, or 30.9 percent, compared with the same period in 2025, reflecting continued spending on capital projects, aimed at boosting economic activity and improving public services.”
The ministry also said grants received by Jordan during the first quarter reached approximately 20.4 million dinars, compared with 3.4 million dinars during the corresponding period last year.
Accordingly, total public revenues, including grants, rose to around 2.21 billion dinars, compared with 2.16 billion dinars in the first three months of 2025.
Jordan aims to lower its public debt-to-gross domestic product ratio to 80 percent by 2028 under an IMF-backed reform program, Finance Minister Abdul Hakim Al-Shibli said in July.
The country has maintained its long-term sovereign credit rating at “BB-” with a stable outlook, S&P Global said in August, underscoring the country’s resilience despite heightened regional security challenges.
The US-based ratings agency attributed the decision at the time to the country’s macroeconomic stability, steady progress on financial and structural reforms, and continued international support. S&P also forecast at the time that growth is expected to accelerate to 3 percent in 2026 and 3.1 percent in 2027.
