The tallest building in Amman to be constructed in Abdoun

This is the first announced towers to be constructed at the new planned master plan in Abdoun and the second twin towers after Jordan gate which is still under construction. Do you think that this is a success to the Master Plan? What other measures do we need to look at?


AMMAN (JT) - A major United Arab Emirates real estate firm on Wednesday launched its operations in Amman, announcing the construction of twin towers in Abdoun.

The $300 million project, to be completed in three years, includes two high-rises housing 600 apartments, Limitless CEO Saeed Ahmad Saeed said at a press conference yesterday to announce the launch of the company’s investment activities in the Kingdom.

This is the second twin tower project in Amman, after Jordan Gate, which is under construction near the 6th Circle.

The 200-metre-high 60-storey towers will include a 1,000-square-metre indoor area designated for retail and entertainment outlets, Saeed told reporters yesterday.

The towers will be surrounded by 5,600 square metres of land as external space, which characterises all of the company’s projects, he noted.

Amman Mayor Omar Maani said this comprehensive project proves that the Amman Master Plan is a success.

Initiated in June 2006 as a response to the tremendous growth the capital has witnessed over the past several years, the Amman Master Plan seeks to provide a clear direction for sustainable development of the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) over the next 20 years in accordance with new planning legislation.

Last year, GAM announced four phases of the Master Plan: The tower, corridor intensification, industrial land policy and the interim rural residential policy.

The Limitless twin towers will be located in Abdoun, one of the four areas designated for high-rises in the capital, according to the GAM press centre.

“The project location was selected after accurately studying the required infrastructure, roads and green areas,” Maani said, during yesterday’s press conference.

The towers will be the highest structures in Jordan, and among the tallest in the Middle East, GAM Press Centre Director Taha Abu Redin told The Jordan Times.

Also yesterday, the GAM council approved an agreement between the municipality and Limitless, under which the company will buy a plot of land in Abdoun estimated at JD6.715 million, according to a GAM statement released yesterday.

Limitless, the “global master development arm” of Dubai World, was established in July 2005, with the key objective of diversifying and globalising Dubai’s portfolio of development companies by leveraging the know-how and exposure gained by Dubai World’s real estate initiatives through the “Nakheel” project.

The company is currently implementing projects in Saudi Arabia, India, Vietnam, Malaysia and the UAE, with more to come in Europe, South Asia and the Gulf region.

More Abdali high rise buildings and more money

The New Abdali Model, photo by: Emad Salameh

Abdali project came as a project to lead the transformation of the New Ammaan. It introduced some high rise buildings in the heart of Amman. The location of the project was criticized by many consultants due to it's location and size, and how it's transforming Amman besides problems in traffic and congesstions.

The model shows more high rise buildings being added to the project. There are many surprises that's shapping our city Amman and it's future.

Is everything being already planned and bought?

I see the motive behind these new high rises is to gain more money since the price of the land with a high rise have more value than without. The new expansion strategy of Amman came to regulate the location of high rise buildings in Amman especially after seeing Jordan gate at the 6th circle, but, I have doubts now that the new planning strategy were targeted to our citizens and not to the foreign investors who can buy and build anything, anywhere.

Is that true? I hope not

The new expansion strategy did not help us in re-imagining the Amman. It was just a proposal for the real estate brokers in this country to buy more lands and get richer.

If we need to develop Amman we need to start from what's already been done, fix it, make it more livable before we expand.

Related Posts:

Introducing the new Downtown Amman

We need Amman to be environmentaly sustainable and green

Regarding the new GAM Interim Strategy

Amman City Streets

Building what and why Amman?

Opening of the complex travel north and the conversion of Abdali into Garden

Promoting for transportation alternatives in Amman City

No to Abdali Project Nor to Abu Ghazaleh / A different perspective

Obviously, Abdali project was planned and created without being initially part of any development plans of the city. The new GMA Interim strategy, which was inspired by the vision of our beloved wise King Abdullah last year, came later after and the GMA took that project as the key element for the development of the city.

We need a more comprehensive study for the city of Amman development taking into the considerations all the Stakeholders for the city development, and everybody should cooperate.

I can say, the municipality started doing that by building the GMA interim strategy not by only talking to the community asking for suggestions but to be transparent in the process. There will be mistakes along the way that can be prevented. However, this debate is only the beginning but we don't need more mistakes and corruption. On the other hand, the GMA strategy need to be more comprehensive and careful of addressing such problems.

But why now after all this effort of producing such a plan we still see debates and corrupted actions like that? Is this the beginning only? Will the new city development plan cause debates? or can the municipality actions continue being transparent

Regarding the new GAM Interim Strategy

I am not sure if any of the architects/planners did or can criticize anything. The problem of the "Tower buildings" have different dimensions.
The study for Amman plan presented by the Mayor is not comprehensive, and there are few points I would like to mention:
1) It says: " We can partner with tower investors to achieve our vision" ... you represent the government and you enforce the city plan, you don't partner. If there is a plan, it should be implemented as it is.


2) Transportation. The problem is not just transportation accessibility, it's the increase in traffic congestions. New towers in the middle of the city will increase traffic congestions.

3) Environment...to ensure and promote. This is a weak statement for a global great concern. Green architecture, sustainability needs to be on the top list of priorities of future developments and you set rules and regulations based on them. it's the future.

4) Aesthetics "...Limestone, and metal materials. Some colors like white, peige are encouraged." We have enough stone that makes the city very pale now. Stone is beautiful, but we need variety of colors and new materials. For example: use Brick with its different colors and textures and it fits the proportion of the Human being since it's size is small.

5) "...Staggering buildings on slopes protecting views." This doesn't make since at all. a) What about the views of the tower itself? b) The tower is a tower, when you build it in the city it will still block the surrounding views.

6)"... Encourage taller and thinner over wider." Again: Encourage. Means nothing.

It was suggested to FILL 3 open areas to build Tower buildings in and arround Amman and I don't agree with that. Neither of the solutions presented solved anything.
1) We still have towers in the middle of the city.
2) We will have more traffic congestions in the city.
3) No environmental, sustainability plan.


A solution I might suggest:
1) Move all of the new towers to a new area, build a new modern city for all these new towers.
2) Build more Parks, we need to see more trees and playgrounds.
3) Encourage building with new materials and colors that brings more life to the city other than limestone, and the commercial metal.

One last thing, we don't only need a city plan we need new construction building methods, and building materials in Amman thats based on studying the available resources and the economical advantage of using new building technologies.