
Jordan: CBJ maintains interest rates amid positive economic indicators
The committee conducted an extensive review of local economic, monetary and financial developments while also assessing regional and global economic conditions.
Available economic indicators stressed the strength of monetary stability and the resilience of the Jordanian banking sector, supported by a comfortable level of foreign reserves at the CBJ, which exceeded $21 billion by the end of February, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
The data also showed that the inflation rate remained low at 2.2 per cent during the first two months of this year, with expectations of stability at the same level for the entire year, contributing to maintaining purchasing power and enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy.
In the banking sector, the data indicated positive growth, reflecting the sector's strength and confidence in it.
Customer deposits in banks grew by 6.8 per cent year-on-year to some JD47 billion by the end of January.
Meanwhile, the balance of credit facilities granted by banks increased by 4.8 per cent to about JD35.1 billion.
Regarding the external sector's performance, indicators continued to show positive improvement, with tourism revenues increasing by 16.3 per cent in the first two months of 2025 to about $1.3 billion compared with the same period last year.
Remittances from Jordanians expatriatesincreased by 1.2 per cent in January to some $320 million.
Total exports increased by 5.8 per cent last year, reaching a value of $13.3 billion.
Preliminary estimates indicate that the volume of foreign direct investment inflows into the Kingdom reached about $1.6 billion in 2024, reflecting investor confidence and the attractiveness of the investment environment in the Kingdom.
At the economic activity level, the GDP recorded a growth of 2.4 per cent during the first three quarters of 2024, with expectations of it stabilising around this rate for the entire year.
A relative acceleration is expected to reach about 2.7 per cent during this year, driven by improved domestic and external demand, particularly investment-related demand, and the continued positive performance of various economic sectors.
© Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
Oman Air celebrates inaugural flight to Amsterdam
Muscat: Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, today celebrated the launch of its inaugural flight to Amsterdam, marking a significant addition to its growing European network and reinforcing the airline's commitment to connecting Oman with key global markets. The four-weekly service, the first direct connection between Oman and the Netherlands, was officially inaugurated in a ceremony held at Muscat International Airport. The event was attended by His Excellency Azzan Qassim Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, H.H Dr. Faris Al Said, Member of the Technical Team for Oman Promotional Brand, Her Excellency Stella Kloth, Dutch Ambassador to Oman, senior officials from Oman Air, government representatives, airport stakeholders, and media partners. H.E. Azzan Qassim Al Busaidi said, 'The launch of direct flights between Muscat and Amsterdam marks another step in strengthening Oman's position as a high-quality, accessible tourism destination. The Netherlands is a key source market for us, and this new route enhances our ability to welcome more visitors to experience Oman's landscapes, heritage, and hospitality. We congratulate Oman Air on this milestone and look forward to the opportunities it will bring for tourism, trade and investment.' Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, added, 'We are delighted to launch services to Amsterdam, a vibrant European gateway and a strategic addition to our network. This route not only connects two dynamic cities, but also opens new possibilities for travellers across the world. Coming just one day after our official entry into oneworld, today's launch symbolises the momentum we're building for our airline, for Oman, and for our guests.' The launch comes just one day after Oman Air's official integration into the oneworld alliance, making Amsterdam the first new destination to join the airline's network under the oneworld banner. Through oneworld, Oman Air guests will now benefit from seamless connectivity to over 900 destinations around the world, while travellers from across Europe can more easily access the beauty, culture, and hospitality of Oman. Amsterdam becomes Oman Air's 11th destination in Europe, joining Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Milan, Rome, Zurich, Istanbul, Trabzon, Moscow, and London, which the airline will increase to double daily in October. The new route supports Oman's broader tourism strategy and Vision 2040 goals by improving accessibility to the country and expanding its international footprint. © Muscat Media Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (


Khaleej Times
21 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Dh3 million in prizes: Sharjah Summer Promotions begins; win gold bars, luxury gifts
The 2025 edition of Sharjah Summer Promotions kicked off on Tuesday, featuring raffles and prizes worth up to Dh3 million. Running until September 1 across all cities and areas of the emirate, the 60-day campaign offers a lineup of over 75 events, exclusive promotions, and discounts of up to 75 per cent on a variety of products from top local and international brands. This year's promotions include a wide array of entertainment and promotional activities across more than 19 summer destinations. Retail outlets and central markets are offering exclusive deals, backed by a robust entertainment schedule and six major raffle draws, starting July 10 and continuing through July 20, 31, August 10, 21, and concluding with the final draw on September 1. The prize pool features gold bars, shopping vouchers, luxury gifts, and instant rewards from participating malls. The programme also encompasses various hotel deals, with over 35 hotel packages provided by 23 hotel establishments. These packages include discounted rates on accommodation, dining, and beverages. Moreover, guests can enjoy complimentary tickets to popular tourist destinations in Sharjah, along with free credit for use at various hotel facilities. New mascot This year, Sharjah Summer Promotions is introducing 'Shamsa', a newly launched mascot character to enhance the campaign's appeal to families and children. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, said the event will support the retail and tourism sectors. He added, "We believe that these initiatives are not merely seasonal events but are part of a long-term strategy aimed at solidifying Sharjah's status as a leading destination for tourism and commerce while enhancing the quality of life for both residents and visitors. Through close collaboration with our partners from government and private entities, we strive to make Sharjah Summer Promotions a platform that combines innovation and creativity, contributing to the emirate's sustainable economic and social vision." The Organising Committee of 'Sharjah Summer Promotions' introduced this year a smart application allowing users to participate in electronic raffle draws. It has also launched a digital platform through the official website providing real-time access to top offers, daily events, discount campaigns, hotel packages, and direct booking links with participating partners. Both the application and the website facilitate automatic entry into exclusive prize draws for shoppers and hotel guests upon each registered purchase or booking made via official campaign channels.


Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Saudi hospitality sector sees record double-digit growth
Saudi Arabia's hospitality sector is enjoying record double-digit growth, thanks to the growing global interest in the country as a travel destination, according to global property consultancy Knight Frank. Across Saudi Arabia's hospitality sector, the average daily rate (ADR) climbed by 10.8%, and revenue per available room (RevPAR) rose by 12.3% in the 12 months to March. This growth has been driven largely by strong demand in the holy cities and the capital. In 2024, Saudi Arabia welcomed a record 30 million international visitors, highlighting growing global interest in the country as a travel destination. Looking ahead, the target is to attract 70 million international tourists by 2030, stated Knight Frank in its latest report. Makkah remains a critical destination for religious tourism, supported by infrastructure upgrades and increased hotel capacity, it stated. In Q1 2025, ADR rose by 28.9% year-on-year to SAR 859, while RevPAR was up by 35.7% to SAR 673. The surge in performance reflects heightened demand linked to the rise in issued Umrah visas, which grew by 8.3%, according to Ministry of Hajj data. With more than 8,500 rooms under construction across 12 hotel developments, Makkah's total inventory is set to increase from 63,428 to 71,643 rooms by 2027, according to Knight Frank. Large-scale masterplans such as Masar Destination and Rua Al Haram aim to open up Makkah, as the spiritual heart of Islam, to a greater number of visitors, improving access, capacity and guest flow within walking distance of Al Haram, it stated. In Q1, the ADR in Madinah reached SAR891 ($237) – the highest in the Kingdom and an 11.8% year-on-year increase – while RevPAR increased by 15.1% to SAR 724. Madinah currently has 20,673 hotel rooms, and an additional 2,100 keys expected to be delivered by 2027. Major international operators continue to expand their presence, including Hilton and Marriott, with planned openings totalling over 6,000 rooms by these two operators alone. In parallel, Rua Al Madinah, a new giga project located east of the Prophet's Mosque, is set to reshape the hospitality landscape with over 47,000 planned hotel rooms, integrated transit and public realm enhancements, said the industry expert in its report. Amar Hussain, Associate Partner – Research, Middle East, said: "These latest figures point to resilient demand amid limited new supply and further highlight Madinah's pricing strength." "Pilgrim arrivals in the city are expected to reach 30 million by 2030, up from 17.3 million in 2025, reflecting the city's growing role as a global hub for religious tourism," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (