AMMAN: Jordan’s cabinet approved on Wednesday a 9.25 billion dinar ($13 billion) budget for 2019 as part of a reform of public finances to ease the country’s record debt burden and spur economic growth hit by conflict in the region, officials said.
Finance Minister Izzedin Kanakrieh said the budget, which will be sent to parliament for approval, envisaged a deficit equal to 2 percent of Jordan’s gross domestic product.
The cabinet expects state revenues of 8.6 billion dinars next year, boosted by IMF-backed tax increases to help the kingdom restore fiscal prudence for a sustained recovery, the officials added.
Estimates in the projected budget include around 600 million dinars in foreign aid. Direct cash support by major donors traditionally covers chronic budget shortfalls.
Kanakrieh told the pro-government al Mamlaka television station that a tax bill that parliament approved earlier this month will help the government to cut down on rampant tax evasion.
Critics say the tax bill will dampen domestic consumption and deal a blow to investor sentiment, already hit by political uncertainty over risks of a new wave of protests.
An earlier version of the bill triggered some of the largest protests in years last summer that brought down the previous government.
Prime Minister Omar al Razzaz has pushed the new tax bill, saying its passage was needed to get a clean bill of health from the IMF and lower the cost of servicing over $1.4 billion in foreign debt due next year.
Jordan’s economy has been badly hit by conflict in neighboring Syria and Iraq, both traditionally major trading partners.
Its public finances are under strain and the government is struggling to curb a public debt of over $37 billion, equivalent to 96 percent of GDP.
An expansionist fiscal policy in previous years characterised by job creation in the public sector had pushed the debt to record levels.
Over the last two years the kingdom has raised general sales taxes and cut subsidies under an IMF austerity program aimed at lowering public debt to 77 percent of GDP by 2021.
Jordan cannot expect high levels of aid that have underpinned the stability of the kingdom to be maintained indefinitely, Western donors say.
But the austerity steps have hurt the economy, with growth expected to continue to stagnate at around 2 percent next year. That is almost half the levels seen over the last decade during a boom period fed by high aid levels and capital inflows and investments.
While the government has focused on fiscal reforms, it has refrained from public wage reforms that remain a red line, donors say.
Economists say maintaining a large bureaucracy which consumes the bulk of state expenditure is increasingly untenable.
Jordan cabinet approves $13bn budget for 2019
Jordan cabinet approves $13bn budget for 2019
- Finance Minister Izzedin Kanakrieh said the budget, which will be sent to parliament for approval, envisaged a deficit equal to 2 percent of Jordan’s gross domestic product
- An earlier version of the bill triggered some of the largest protests in years last summer that brought down the previous government
Middle East AI adoption reaches 75%, beating global average: PwC survey
RIYADH: Artificial intelligence is becoming embedded across Middle East workplaces, with 75 percent of employees using AI tools at work over the past year, a higher rate than the 69 percent global average, a new survey showed.
According to PwC’s Middle East Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey 2025, the region is outpacing global peers in adopting AI for everyday work, driven by government and corporate digital transformation efforts.
Based on responses from 1,286 employees, the survey indicates AI use has moved beyond pilot stages, with 32 percent of workers using generative AI tools daily — above the global average of 28 percent and reflecting growing familiarity with AI-driven workflows.
The survey findings align with trends observed in Saudi Arabia, where advanced technologies such as AI are being widely embraced across workplaces.
In November, a report released by KPMG highlighted the Kingdom’s progress in the technology sector, noting that 84 percent of CEOs in Saudi Arabia are ready to deploy AI responsibly — well above the 76 percent global benchmark — supported by the Kingdom’s data governance ecosystem, including national initiatives led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.
Earlier this month, data from the Global AI Index revealed that Saudi Arabia ranked fifth globally and first in the Arab region for growth in the AI sector.
Commenting on the findings, Randa Bahsoun, partner at PwC Middle East, said: “As employees confidently embrace change, build new capabilities and show remarkable adaptability with AI, they also want to feel secure and supported.”
She added: “Organizations that provide clarity on how roles will evolve, expand access to learning and protect wellbeing will be the ones that retain talent and get ahead in a fast-changing labor market.”
Adapting to the tech-driven future
The latest PwC survey found that the Middle East workforce is confidently leading the integration of AI into daily work, while prioritizing job security and skills development at higher rates than their global counterparts.
According to the report, 49 percent of employees in the region expect technological change — including AI, robotics and automation — to impact their jobs to a large or very large extent over the next three years, compared with 45 percent globally.
PwC said this trend reflects not only higher adoption, but also greater readiness and comfort with next-generation technologies across the region.
Employees in the Middle East increasingly view emerging technologies as tools that enhance productivity and creativity rather than threats to job security.
Around eight out of 10 employees said AI has improved their productivity, with 87 percent reporting higher-quality work and 84 percent citing increased creativity.
Higher confidence among younger employees
The survey found that younger employees in the region demonstrate significantly higher confidence in AI’s potential, with millennials and Gen Z being the most hands-on users of AI tools. These groups are adopting new technologies quickly and often outpacing older cohorts in both usage and creative application.
“This puts early career employees in a strong position to adapt to the evolving technological demands of entry-level roles,” said PwC.
It added: “For employers, this is an opportunity to leverage younger talent to drive digital adoption and performance, while providing guidance, clarity and support as AI continues to reshape the future of work.”
Acquiring the tools
Skills development remains a defining priority for the Middle East workforce, according to the survey.
The report found that 69 percent of employees in the region gained new skills over the past 12 months, compared with 56 percent globally.
Some 81 percent of respondents said they would prefer a job that offers opportunities to build transferable skills — higher than the 69 percent global average.
Job security has also emerged as the top priority, with 85 percent of employees saying it is very important.
“As employees in the Middle East seek balance and flexibility, their expectations of career progression and reward are also evolving. Fewer employees are asking for a pay rise than last year, signalling a more cautious labor market,” said PwC.
The report found that engagement levels among the Middle East workforce remain among the highest globally, with 78 percent of regional employees saying they look forward to going to work, compared with 64 percent globally.
Despite this high level of engagement, 45 percent of employees said they feel fatigued at least once a week, and nearly half reported feeling overwhelmed, indicating that workload intensity is becoming a significant pressure point.
Converting momentum to benefits
PwC highlighted several actions organizations should prioritize to convert the current AI momentum into a lasting advantage.
The firm said companies should communicate clearly and consistently about where AI technologies are being deployed, what will change across processes, how job roles will be affected and where new value will be created.
The report also emphasized the importance of building a continuously evolving, future-ready, skills-first workforce that can fully harness AI’s potential.
“Leaders need to ensure upskilling, reskilling and capability building move 22 beyond periodic initiatives and become a key element of their organizations’ forward-looking business strategy,” said PwC.
It added: “This means identifying future skill needs early, assessing current capabilities to understand gaps and using those insights to create development pathways tailored to roles, seniority and diverse career trajectories.”
Companies should also foster a culture of agility and innovation and equip managers to effectively support AI-enabled teams.
PwC said managers must have the clarity, tools and protected time needed to coach teams, support skill development and manage workloads in ways that sustain employee engagement and wellbeing.
“This can be achieved by setting clear performance expectations for managers around employee development and wellbeing and supporting them with the knowledge and guidance needed to fulfil these responsibilities,” added PwC.
Organizations should also prioritize flexibility, autonomy and balanced workloads to sustain high performance, giving employees the freedom and clarity to manage their work effectively.
The report suggested that expanding flexible work arrangements, strengthening autonomy in day-to-day decision-making and giving teams a greater voice in how work gets done could help employees perform at their best.
“The Middle East’s workforce continues to demonstrate a powerful blend of optimism, ambition and adaptability. The challenge now is for leaders to amplify these strengths through vision, transparency and care – ensuring that technology, trust and talent progress together,” concluded the report.
Earlier this month, a KPMG report echoed similar views, saying UAE CEOs are accelerating investment in artificial intelligence while prioritizing people, skills and responsible innovation as core drivers of future growth.
The report said 84 percent of CEOs in the UAE expect to expand headcount over the next three years, while 80 percent are already redesigning roles to integrate AI collaboration across their businesses.
