Preparatory works begin for Amman Cable Car project

AMMAN — The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) have begun preparatory works in downtown Amman as part of the Amman Cable Car project, aimed at boosting tourism and connecting key sites and landmarks.

In a joint statement, the ministry and GAM said that the buildings covered by the preparatory and removal works are not classified as heritage or archaeological buildings and are located outside the main historic markets.

They stressed that preserving Amman’s archaeological and architectural heritage and the identity of downtown remains a key focus of the development plans.

The statement said that the properties and buildings covered by the works are owned by GAM and are not privately owned, and that the current works will not require compensation or new expropriation.

They added that the works are being carried out in accordance with the Urban and Architectural Heritage Protection Law No. 5 of 2005.

Buildings of heritage value have been identified and documented, with officially recognised buildings included in the Urban and Architectural Heritage Register, they said, stressing that the cable car project will not affect any building officially registered in the heritage buildings and sites register.

The areas designated for demolition and preparatory works are subject to the necessary technical procedures and inspections by competent authorities, including the Department of Antiquities, to verify that the sites contain no archaeological remains, according to the statement.

If any indications of archaeological remains or discoveries emerge during the works, the relevant legal and technical procedures will be followed, it added.

The ministry and GAM said that the cable car project is part of an integrated vision to develop downtown Amman and is not intended to replace its historic markets and heritage landmarks, but rather to strengthen links between them and facilitate visitors’ access to the heart of the city.

The project will also offer visitors a new perspective of Amman and, once completed, provide a qualitative addition to the capital’s tourism offering, they said.

The project is part of a broader vision to establish downtown Amman as an integrated tourist destination that combines the area’s historic character with modern development needs, the statement said.

The government announced the Amman Cable Car project in October 2025. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan said at the time that the project would serve as a tourism, investment and economic attraction, help restore the appeal of central and eastern Amman, create job opportunities and reinforce the status of old Amman as a prominent tourism and heritage destination.

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