The capital Amman is making rapid strides towards entering the era of smart cities, amid increasing calls for the development of advanced infrastructure and clear plans capable of keeping pace with global developments in this field.

Despite efforts made in recent years, the city still needs an integrated vision that unites government, private, and community efforts to transform it into a smart urban model that meets residents’ needs and improves their quality of life.

Abdullah Ghosheh, the head of the Jordanian Engineers Association, told Al-Rai in an exclusive statement that Amman has the qualifications to be a smart city according to international standards, but it needs to develop its systems and update its infrastructure in line with modern developments in energy, sustainability, and communication networks. He added:

“A smart city does not necessarily mean just introducing technology into our lives, but it is a broader concept that reshapes the relationship between the citizen and the city to be more efficient, responsive to residents’ needs, and better able to manage its resources.”

Ghosheh pointed out that the association, through its scientific and professional arms, is a key partner in shaping visions and plans that drive modernization through expertise, consultations, studies, and initiatives that serve the nation and society.

He explained that the association works with the Amman Municipality to develop engineering codes to keep pace with technological progress, emphasizing that “transportation and traffic are among the main challenges hindering the completion of smart city standards.”

He stressed that the project’s success will only be achieved through joint cooperation among all parties: the Engineers Association, Amman Municipality, government, private sector, civil society, and citizens.

He noted that the smart city roadmap is not a theoretical document but an integrated vision based on sound urban planning, innovative architectural design, sustainable engineering, and wise management.

Meanwhile, Imad Al-Dabbas, head of the architectural division at the association, said that digital transformation and artificial intelligence are shaping the features of future cities today, stressing that Amman needs to invest in these fields to be more competitive regionally and globally.

He added that there are pioneering Arab experiences in this field in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt that can be leveraged to build a distinguished Jordanian experience.

Al-Dabbas pointed out that the division seeks to raise awareness among young engineers and the community about sustainable architecture concepts, smart cities, sustainable transport, and green buildings, emphasizing the importance of specialized fields such as artificial intelligence in city management, renewable energy, and digital transformation in urban design.

Dr. Khaled Al-Momani, head of the urban planning and design committee, explained that a smart city is not just digital systems or electronic solutions but “a thought and vision aiming to humanize technology, making it a tool to serve society, improve quality of life, and efficiently manage resources.”

He pointed out that the committee will continue discussing important files related to sustainable urban planning, infrastructure and service management, and land use in the upcoming phase.

He stressed that the smart city project in Amman requires advanced technical infrastructure, training and qualifying engineering cadres to keep pace with global developments, alongside enhancing partnerships between the public and private sectors to accelerate progress.

Experts agree that the capital Amman has promising foundations to be an advanced urban model, but the project’s success depends on practical implementation plans and a genuine will to adopt comprehensive digital transformation that positively reflects on citizens’ lives and the city’s economy.