Amman ranks among world’s top cities after first Quality of Life Index

Jordan’s capital Amman has completed its first Quality of Life Index, ranking among the world’s leading cities to be assessed under the globally recognized framework, it was reported on Monday. (Jordan News Agency)
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Updated 29 December 2025
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Amman ranks among world’s top cities after first Quality of Life Index

  • Jordanian capital second Arab city to be ranked in UN-backed index after Saudi Arabia’s Madinah

AMMAN: Jordan’s capital Amman has completed its first Quality of Life Index, ranking among the world’s leading cities to be assessed under the globally recognized framework, it was reported on Monday.

As a result, the city has become only the second in the Arab world — after Saudi Arabia’s Madinah — to be ranked in the program.

The Greater Amman Municipality said the city placed 10th globally out of 100 participating cities, with its index set to be officially listed on the international Quality of Life platform, the Jordan News Agency reported.

The assessment was developed in collaboration with the Quality of Life Initiative of the UN Human Settlements Programme — known as UN-Habitat — to advance urban well-being and human-centered development.

The Quality of Life Index combines objective data with residents’ perceptions, using global well-being indicators alongside local measures, offering a comprehensive picture of daily life.

The index measures performance across nine key areas: basic services, mobility, culture and recreation, education, environment, economy, governance, health and well-being, and housing and social cohesion.

Yousef Shawarbeh, the mayor of Amman, said the initiative aimed to support the city’s long-term vision of becoming a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable urban center, Petra reported.

He added that the index provided deeper insight into residents’ lived experiences and would help guide policymaking to improve quality of life.

Akram Khraisat, director of the Amman Urban Observatory, said the city’s participation marked a major step toward data-driven urban planning.

He added that the index would enable the municipality to better prioritize services, promote inclusive development, and assess the impact of policies on residents’ well-being, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Officials said the initiative complemented a range of ongoing development projects in the capital, including public transport improvements, participatory greening and urban agriculture schemes, climate action planning, digital transformation initiatives and the Greater Amman Municipality Strategic Plan 2022–2026.


UN seeks $1.6bn to aid nearly 6m people displaced by war in Sudan

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UN seeks $1.6bn to aid nearly 6m people displaced by war in Sudan

  • Communities in countries hosting refugees have shown ‘remarkable solidarity’ but capacity is being pushed to the brink, says UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric
  • Appeal by UN Refugee Agency and 123 partners aims to fund food, shelter, health care, protection services and other critical support for refugees and host communities

NEW YORK CITY: The UN is seeking $1.6 billion in donations to provide life-saving assistance to 5.9 million people displaced by the conflict in Sudan internally and across seven neighboring countries, as humanitarian needs continue to outpace available resources.

The appeal, launched by the UN Refugee Agency and 123 partner organizations, aims to fund efforts to provide food, shelter, health care, protection services and other critical support for refugees and host communities affected by what the UN describes as an unprecedented displacement crisis.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said communities in countries hosting people fleeing Sudan have shown “remarkable solidarity,” but he warned that their capacity is being pushed to the brink as the conflict between warring military factions, which began in April 2023, drags on.

The funding request marks the fourth consecutive year in which the UN has issued an appeal of this scale for a regional response to the crisis in Sudan, reflecting the persistent shortfalls in humanitarian financing.

In addition to providing emergency assistance, the UN plan aims to promote longer-term solutions, including support for governments to integrate refugees into national systems and expand access to public services, Dujarric said.

He reiterated the UN’s call for stronger international backing of efforts to address chronic underfunding of operations in countries hosting people fleeing Sudan. He also urged all of those involved in the conflict to respect the principles of international humanitarian law.

“We reiterate once again, especially in light of the continued attacks on civilians, that the parties must respect international law and never target civilians, health infrastructure, religious sites, schools and other civilian facilities,” Dujarric said.