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The Abdali Project

Amman, Jordan

2004 - Ongoing

DowntownEconomic DevelopmentLarge Urban ProjectMixed Use

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Project Description

Approach Words: Integrated City, Urban Livability, Vibrant City

Public Policy Instruments: Financial Mechanism, Organization, Physical Intervention, Planning, Regulatory

The Abdali project is a large mixed-use urban development located at the heart of Amman city,¹ in proximity to major public, financial, commercial and touristic institutions.² Envisioned as the new Downtown of Amman,³ it “will catapult the city into the 21st Century, placing it on par with other international modern urban centers”.⁴ The project aims to become the hub of economic activity and a premier leisure destination for the Jordanian capital⁵ by attracting foreign and local investments⁶ and accommodating new businesses, subsequently creating employment opportunities.⁷ Approximately 100,000 people are expected to live, work, and visit the new downtown area daily.⁸

Title: Abdali Project Master Plan.

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Title: View of Al Abdali Project after Construction.

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Title: Abdali Boulevard.

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Title: Public Spaces in Abdali Project.

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Title: Abdali Project Master Plan.

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Title: View of Al Abdali Project after Construction.

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Title: Abdali Boulevard.

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Title: Public Spaces in Abdali Project.

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A detailed master plan was developed for the new downtown, covering an area of 384,000 square meters of land, with a total built up area of 1.8 million square meters.⁹ It consists of a mix of uses, including residential (49%), offices (17%), commercial (20%), hotels (11%), and medical facilities(3%).¹⁰ ¹¹ The project components include:

The Abdali business district features 20 office buildings.¹²
Residential zones cover an area of 0.97 square kilometers¹³ and comprise 734 residential units.¹⁴
Commercial and entertainment zones cover an area of 0.4 square kilometers,¹⁵ including the Abdali Mall,¹⁶ with an area of 0.227 square kilometers,¹⁷ and the Abdali Boulevard pedestrian market, a pedestrian street of 0.37 kilometers in length and 0.026 kilometers in width.¹⁸
Hotel zones include several famous hotels in Jordan, such as The Boulevard Arajaan, Amman Rotana, and The W Amman.¹⁹
The medical zone includes Abdali Hospital, which has 200 beds²⁰ and a multi-specialty teaching and research center.²¹

In addition, the project incorporates spaces for social gatherings and events, such as public piazzas and public parks,²² as well as the spring festival, which includes musical performances and recreational activities.²³ The project also features 0.06 square kilometers of pedestrian roads and underground parking with a capacity of 25,000 cars after completing Phases 1 and 2.²⁴

Regarding digital infrastructure, the Abdali project implemented a fiber optic communication network to provide high-speed, reliable internet connectivity, ensuring efficient communication and data transfer for residents, businesses, and visitors.²⁵

Owner/Developer (Public)

MAWARED ³⁶

Owner/Developer

Horizon International for Development ³⁷

United Real Estate Company ³⁸

Consultant/Designer

Laceco ³⁹

Funder

Abdali Investment and Development ⁴⁰

Contractor/Implementer

Abdali Investment and Development ⁴¹

Owner/Developer (Public)

MAWARED ³⁶

Owner/Developer

Horizon International for Development ³⁷

United Real Estate Company ³⁸

Contractor/Implementer

Abdali Investment and Development ⁴¹

Funder

Abdali Investment and Development ⁴⁰

Consultant/Designer

Laceco ³⁹

The project was initiated by Abdali Investment and Development (AID), established in 2004 as a public-private partnership with an estimated value exceeding USD 5 billion.²⁶ It involves the National Resources and Development Corporation (MAWARED),²⁷ a state-owned corporation,²⁸ and Horizon International for Development,²⁹ a real estate holding company owned by Bahaa Hariri.³⁰ The joint venture expanded when United Real Estate Company (URC)-Jordan, a subsidiary of Kuwait Projects Company (KIPCO), joined as a partner.³¹ The master plan was designed by Laseco.³²

The project has been under implementation in two key phases: the first phase was implemented between 2006 and 2014 and encompassed the construction of the boulevard area.³³ ³⁴ The second phase, which is under implementation, is projected to cover an area of approximately 0.13 square kilometers of residential, commercial, and public spaces.³⁵