Law No. 47 of 2006 allowed foreign natural and legal persons to own real estate for business purposes or private residence, subject to prior approval and reciprocity (except for Arab nationals). For foreigners, quantitative ceilings applied (e.g. up to 10 dunums for personal housing; 30 dunums for legal persons inside planning boundaries; 50 dunums outside). The law also introduced a prohibition on leases exceeding 10 dunums and three years without approval from the Minister of Interior, as well as restrictions on transfer of ownership before three years (housing) or five years (business), unless for development projects.
In 2016, Regulation on Non-Jordanian Investments No. 77/2016 introduced foreign equity restrictions in certain activities, including a 49% ceiling on foreign participation in projects involving the purchase of land for the construction, sale, and rental of residential apartments.
In 2019, Law No. 13/2019 entered into force, repealing Law No. 47/2006. It reaffirmed the general rule that foreigners may own land and buildings for licensed business purposes with prior approval, while prohibiting ownership in border areas and archaeological/historical zones (not scored under the FDIRRI). Reciprocity remained for natural persons (except Arab nationals). Article 12 (Art. 148 in consolidated numbering) maintained the discriminatory condition requiring Minister of Interior approval for leases of more than 10 dunums over a period exceeding three years. The law also codified obligations to complete projects within four years (residential) or six years (business) and to obtain ministerial approval before any transfer of ownership within those periods. This discriminatory condition on project completion and transfer is recorded under the OECD FDI RRI as a restriction on capital repatriation.
Also in 2019, Regulation No. 80 of 2019 (amending Regulation No. 77/2016) entered into force. It removed the 49% ceiling for foreign participation in residential apartment development projects, thereby liberalising greenfield investment in this segment. However, passive ownership by foreign-owned entities of existing developed residential or of commercial property, whether under development or already developed, as mere financial assets, remained prohibited.
In 2023, Law No. 23 of 2023 (amending Law No. 13/2019) significantly raised the ceilings applicable to foreigners. Natural persons may now acquire up to 10 or 20 dunums depending on prior ownership (Art. 139), subject to reciprocity (except Arab nationals). Legal persons may acquire larger plots for licensed business purposes (e.g. up to 20 dunums with Director approval, 50 with Minister approval, over 50 with Cabinet approval inside planning boundaries, and up to 200 outside) (Arts. 144, 146). Arab nationals were granted broader rights to acquire up to 200 dunums outside planning boundaries for agricultural or housing projects (Art. 142). These reforms did not remove project completion deadlines or restrictions on transfer prior to completion.
"Article 133
Chapter 7
Owning and renting real estate by non-Jordanians and legal persons
A- A non-Jordanian and a legal person may own real estate in the Kingdom after obtaining permission to do so in accordance with the provisions and objectives set forth in this chapter.
B- It is prohibited for a non-Jordanian to own real estate in the border, archaeological and historical areas.
[...]
Article 134
A- A non-Jordanian and a legal person may acquire a right in kind in the Kingdom after obtaining permission to do so in accordance with the provisions set forth in this chapter.
B- The provisions of the ownership of real estate by a non-Jordanian and a legal person shall apply to his acquisition of real property rights.
[...]
Article 135
It is not permissible for non-Jordanians and a legal person who holds the nationality of a country that is not recognized by the Kingdom to own a property or to acquire a real property right in it in any way.
[...]
Article 139
A- Subject to the provisions of the applicable legislation and the condition of reciprocity, a non-Jordanian may own real estate for the purpose of private housing for himself or his family within the planning boundaries based on the approval of the relevant authorities with a permit granted in accordance with the following powers:
1- By a decision of the Director, for an apartment, floor, or plot of land whose area does not exceed (10) ten dunams, whether built or vacant, provided that the applicant for the permit does not have real estate owned in the Kingdom. [as amended by Amending Real Estate Law No. (23) of 2023; Previously five (5) dunums]
2- By a decision of the Minister based on the recommendation of the Director for an apartment, floor, or plot of land whose area does not exceed (10) ten dunams, whether built or vacant, and the applicant for the permit has real estate in the Kingdom other than the property requested to be owned, or for a plot of land whose area does not exceed (20) twenty dunams and the applicant for the permit does not have real estate in the Kingdom. [as amended by Amending Real Estate Law No. (23) of 2023; Previously five (5) dunums and ten (10) dunums respectively]
B- The condition of reciprocity stipulated in paragraph (A) of this article shall not apply to a non-Jordanian who holds the nationality of any Arab country.
C- The condition of reciprocity stipulated in paragraph (A) of this article shall apply to every country whose nationality a non-Jordanian holds, in the event that the applicant for the ownership permit holds the nationality of more than one country at the same time.
Article 140
The Minister, based on the Director's recommendation, may authorize a non-Jordanian to own, within the boundaries of the planning areas, for the purpose of investing in an industrial or service project, a plot of land whose area does not exceed (40) forty dunams, provided that the Jordanian is treated in the same manner.  [as amended by Amending Real Estate Law No. (23) of 2023; Previously ten (10) dunums]
[...]
Article 142
A non-Jordanian who holds the nationality of any Arab country may own a plot of land outside the boundaries of the planning areas, with the intention of investing in it by reclamation or cultivation, or by establishing an industrial or housing project on it, with a permission granted in accordance with the following powers:
A- By a decision of the Minister based on the Director's recommendation for a plot of land whose area does not exceed two hundred (200) dunums. [as amended by Amending Real Estate Law No. (23) of 2023; Previously fifty (50) dunums]
B- By a decision of the Council based on the Minister's recommendation for a plot of land with an area of more than two hundred (200) dunums. [as amended by Amending Real Estate Law No. (23) of 2023; Previously fifty (50) dunums]
[...]
Article 144
A legal person, whether Jordanian or non-Jordanian, may own real estate within the boundaries of the planning areas in order to carry out his specific business within his goals listed in the legal documents for his registration, with a permission granted in accordance with the following powers:
A- By a decision of the director for an apartment, a floor, or a plot of land whose area does not exceed twenty (20) dunums, whether it is built-up or a space, and the permission applicant has no real estate in the Kingdom. [as amended by Amending Real Estate Law No. (23) of 2023; Previously five (5) dunums]
B- By a decision of the Minister based on the Director's recommendation for an apartment, a floor, or a plot of land whose area does not exceed twenty (20) dunums, whether it is built-up or vacant, and the applicant for permission has real estate in the Kingdom other than the property to be owned, or a plot of land whose area does not exceed thirty (50) dunums. [as amended by Amending Real Estate Law No. (23) of 2023; Previously five (5) dunums and thirty (30) dunums respectively]
C- By a decision of the Council based on the Minister's recommendation for a plot of land with an area of more than thirty (50) dunums. [as amended by Amending Real Estate Law No. (23) of 2023; Previously thirty (30) dunums]
[...]
Article 146
A legal person, whether Jordanian or non-Jordanian, may own, with the intent of investing, real estate outside the boundaries of the regulation areas to carry out his specific business within his objectives listed in the legal documents for his registration with a permission granted in accordance with the following powers:
A- By a decision of the Minister based on the manager's recommendation for a plot of land whose area does not exceed two hundred (200) dunums. [as amended by Amending Real Estate Law No. (23) of 2023; Previously fifty (50) dunums]
B- By a decision of the Council based on the Minister's recommendation for a plot of land with an area of more than two hundred (200) dunums. [as amended by Amending Real Estate Law No. (23) of 2023; Previously fifty (50) dunums]
[...]
Article 148
A- Non-Jordanians, whether natural or legal, may rent real estate in the Kingdom to conduct their business or to live with the permission of the Minister of Interior, provided that this is done in accordance with a regulation issued for this purpose.
B- I- Subject to the provisions of Clause (II) of Paragraph (B) of this Article, non-Jordanian persons may rent immovable property in the Kingdom for the purposes of work or housing.
II- If the lease relates to a land area of more than ten (10) dunums and for a total period of more than three years, the non-Jordanian person requesting the lease must obtain the approval of the Minister of Interior or his authorized representative, under pain of nullity.
Article 149
A- A non-Jordanian and a legal person who owns real estate in accordance with the provisions of this law must complete the project for which the real estate is owned or any other project compatible with its objectives within four years if the ownership is for the purpose of housing, and within six years if the ownership is for any other purpose from the date of registering the real estate in his name.
[...]
Article 150
A- It is prohibited for a non-Jordanian and a legal person who owns a real estate in accordance with the provisions of this chapter to dispose of the real estate in a manner than transfers ownership in any way before the lapse of the periods stipulated in Article 149 of this Law. [...]
C- Excluded from the provisions of Paragraph (A) of this Article are real estate properties that were owned with the intention of developing them or investing them in the establishment of housing, commercial or industrial units on them for the purpose of selling them. To this end.
[...]
Article 159
The  ownership of real estate covered by the provisions of the Jordan Valley Development Law, the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Law, the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority Law, and the Investment Environment Law, as well as any real estate located within the boundaries of any region whose establishment law decides to exclude the ownership of real estate located within its region from the application of the provisions of this chapter, shall be exempted from the application of the provisions of this chapter.
[...]
Article 223
A- When the provisions of this law come into force, the following laws shall be repealed: [...]
13- Law No. 47 of Renting and Selling Immovable Property to Non-Jordanians and Legal Persons for the year 2006. [...]" (Law No. 13 of 2019 on the Ownership of Real Estate, as amended by Amending Real Estate Law No. (23) of 2023 [google translation])
---------------------------
"Article (2)
A) The following words and expressions, wherever used in this Regulation, shall have the meanings hereunder assigned to them, unless the context provides otherwise: [...] Non-Jordanian Investor: a natural person holding a non-Jordanian nationality or a juridical person incorporated and registered outside the Kingdom.
[...]
Article 4
A non-Jordanian investor may own a percentage not exceeding (50%) of the capital of any project in the following economic activities: [...]
Rental activities excluding finance leasing.[repealed by System Regulation No. 80 of 2019 on Amending Regulation on Non-Jordanian Investments] 
[...]
Article (5)
A non-Jordanian investor's ownership shall not exceed (49%) of the capital in any project within the following economic activities:
e) Land purchase for construction, sale and rental of residential apartments. [repealed by System Regulation No. 80 of 2019 on Amending Regulation on Non-Jordanian Investments]  [...]" (Regulation on Non-Jordanian Investments No. 77/2016)
--------------------------
"Article (2): The following words and phrases, wherever they appear in this law, shall have the meanings assigned to them below, unless the context indicates otherwise: [...]
Minister: Minister of Finance 
Director: Director General of the Department of Lands and Survey 
Natural person: Individual, and spouses and minor children shall be considered as one individual 
Legal person: Legal person whose legal personality is established in accordance with the legislation of the state in which it is established and registered, whether Jordanian or foreign. 
[...]
Article (3) : Article 3 - A - Subject to the provisions of the applicable legislation and subject to reciprocity, a non-Jordanian natural person may own immovable property for the purpose of private residence for himself or his family within the planning boundaries based on the approval of the competent authorities, in accordance with the following powers: 1 - With the approval of the Director if the ownership does not exceed two houses and an office for practicing his work. 2 - With the approval of the Minister based on the recommendation of the Director for more than two houses and an office for practicing his work, provided that the area of ​​the plot of land allocated for this purpose does not exceed ten dunams, and the common share is considered full ownership for this purpose. B - Holders of the nationality of any Arab country are exempted from the condition of reciprocity stipulated in paragraph (A) of this article. C - If the natural person holds two nationalities, they must be disclosed upon registration, and the condition of reciprocity applies to the two countries of nationality, under penalty of invalidity of the sale contract.
Article (4) : Taking into account the provisions of the applicable legislation and subject to reciprocity, the Minister, based on the recommendation of the Director based on the approval of the competent authorities, may allow a non-Jordanian natural person to own immovable property to practice his work or to establish industrial or service projects thereon, within the boundaries of the organization, provided that the area of ​​the plots of land designated for practicing the work or for establishing these projects thereon does not exceed ten dunams, and the common share is considered full ownership for this purpose.
[...]
Article (10) : Taking into account the applicable legislation, any legal person, in accordance with its registration documents, may own within the organizational boundaries the immovable property necessary to practice its business, in accordance with the following: A- With the approval of the Minister based on the recommendation of the Director if the area of ​​the lands it intends to own does not exceed (30) thirty dunams. B- With the approval of the Council of Ministers based on the recommendation of the Minister if the area of ​​the lands it intends to own does not exceed (30) thirty dunams.
Article (11) : Any legal person, in accordance with its registration documents, may own, outside the boundaries of the planning areas, the real estate necessary for the practice of its business, in accordance with the following: A- With the approval of the Minister based on the recommendation of the Director, after consulting the opinion of the competent authority, if the area of ​​the lands it intends to own does not exceed (50) fifty dunams. B- With the approval of the Council of Ministers based on the recommendation of the Minister, after consulting the opinion of the competent authority, if the area of ​​the lands it intends to own does not exceed (50) fifty dunams.
Article (12) : -A- Subject to the provisions of paragraph (B) of this article, non-Jordanian persons may rent immovable property in the Kingdom for work or residential purposes. B- If the rent relates to land with an area exceeding ten dunams and for a period exceeding three years in total, the non-Jordanian person requesting the rent must obtain the approval of the Minister of Interior or his delegate, under penalty of nullity. The procedures related to registering such contracts shall be determined by instructions issued by the Minister for this purpose.
[...]
Article (14) : No non-Jordanian natural person or any legal person who owns immovable property in accordance with the provisions of this law may dispose of it by transferring its ownership in any way before the lapse of three years from the date of ownership if it is for housing and five years if it is for any other purpose, under penalty of nullity, unless he obtains the approval of the Minister upon the recommendation of the Director, provided that the provisions of this law and the relevant applicable legislation are observed. B - Real estate owned by a non-Jordanian person are exempted from the provisions of paragraph (A) of this article if the purpose of owning it is to invest in residential or commercial projects, after the establishment of the project, provided that the instructions issued by the Minister for this purpose are adhered to.[...]" (Regarding the law on the leasing and sale of immovable property to non-Jordanians and legal persons, Law No. 47 of 2006, Articles 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, and 14 [google translation])
Law No. 13 of 2019 on the Ownership of Real Estate, as amended by Amending Real Estate Law No. (23) of 2023
Regulation on Non-Jordanian Investments No. 77/2016, Articles 2, 4 and 5, as amended by System Regulation No. 80 of 2019 on Amending Regulation on Non-Jordanian Investments
Regarding the law on the leasing and sale of immovable property to non-Jordanians and legal persons, Law No. 47 of 2006, Articles 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, and 14
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