1Jordan

 

​​JORDAN: Historic Legacy and Digital Future:

First: Name Etymological Foundations:

The name "Jordan" originates from the confluence of the two primary tributaries of the Jordan River, “Jor" and “Dan". The "Jor", an Aramaic term referring to the steep-sloping, fast-flowing Bania​​s River, and the "Dan", which is linked to the historical city of the same name. Over time, the meeting of the two rivers at the beginning of the Jordan River became pronounced “Ordan", then, the phonetic fusion of these watercourses evolved from Ordan into the modern Arabic name Al-Urdun, a term synonymous with strength and dominance. The earliest written reference to this region dates back to the 13th century BCE, appearing in Egyptian hieroglyphic papyri from the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II.​

Strategically, Jordan positioned in in southwestern Asia, p​articularlly, situated in the heart of the Levant, Jordan serves as a natural bridge between the continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe. Located in the northern expanse of the Arabian Peninsula, the Kingdom is bounded by Palestine to the west, Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, and Saudi Arabia to the southeast and south. Furthermore, Jordan maintains a critical maritime gateway to the Red Sea via the Gulf of Aqaba, facilitating essential access to regional and global trade routes.​

Geographically, the Kingdom extends between latitudes (29°) and (33°) North and longitudes (34°) and (39°) East, a position that informs its characteristic arid and semi-arid climate. The terrain is marked by distinct seasonal variations, featuring long, warm summers and mild, dry winters. Jordan’s topography is equally defined by its unique water features: the coastline of the Gulf of Aqaba provides a (25) kilometer outlet to the Red Sea, while the western border encompasses a (50) kilometer expanse along the shores of the Dead Sea. This diverse landscape—from the desert interior to these vital maritime and inland water boundaries—positions Jordan as a central node in the modern economic and digital landscape of the Middle East.

Third: The Portal of History:

Jordan is a country whose roots run deep in history. Many civilizations, kingdoms, and entities have succeeded one another on its land, making it a model of continuous human cultural interaction. It has been inhabited since the dawn of history, with numerous human settlements establishing flourishing communities. This was facilitated by Jordan's diverse climate and its strategic location between the continents of the world. The archaeological sites found on Jordanian soil indicate the antiquity of life in this region, particularly in the Jordan Valley. Al-Shobak, Al-Quwayra, Al-Jafr, Ain Ghazal (Amman), and the village of Al-Bayda north of Petra, whose origins date back to the Stone Age.

Archaeological sites belonging to the Metal Ages, encompassing the Copper, Bronze, and Iron Ages, are scattered throughout Jordan. Among the sites where Copper Age remains have been found are Tell Ghassul area in the Jordan Valley near Deir Alla, and Tell Abu Hamed in the northern Jordan Valley. The land of Jordan witnessed the rise of several states and civilizations during the Bronze Age, the most important of which were:

On the other hand, the region was subject to Persian rule (539-333BC), followed by Greek rule (332-46 BC), during which northern Jordan formed the cornerstone of the Decapolis, a league of ten Greek cities. This was followed by Roman rule (46BC-395AC), during which many prominent and important population centers emerged in the region, particularly in northern Jordan. Then came Byzantine rule (395-535AC), which took on a purely religious dimension, leading to the widespread establishment of Christian churches and monasteries in central Jordan.

Following this, Islamic rule arrived, and Jordan played a prominent role in significant events in Islamic history, including the Battle of Mu'tah (8AH), the Battle of Tabaqat Fahl (13AH), and the Battle of Yarmouk (15AH). It also witnessed the famous arbitration between Ali ibn Abi Talib (may God be pleased with him) and Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufian (may God be pleased with him) in the Adhruh region of southern Jordan. Subsequently, several civilizations flourished in Jordan, beginning with the Umayyad Caliphate (41-132AH), during which the Umayyads constructed a number of desert palaces, such as Qusayr Amra, Qasr al-Mushatta, Qasr al-Harranah, Qasr al-Muwaqqar, Qasr al-Hallabat, Qasr al-Tubah, and Qastal.

The Abbasid Caliphate also originated in the village of al-Humaymah, near Ma'an in southern Jordan, and the Abbasid era lasted from (132AH) to (656AH). In the later stages of Abbasid rule, several nominally Abbasid states emerged, ruling the Levant, including Jordan. These included the Tulunid dynasty (266-359AH), and the Ikhshidid dynasty (323-334AH). Then came the Fatimid Caliphate, to which the Levant remained subordinate until (1099AC).

The region then fell under Crusader occupation, which was met with Arab-Islamic resistance. This resistance culminated in victory over the Crusaders and the end of their presence throughout the Levant at the Battle of Hattin in (1187AC), led by Saladin, who liberated Jerusalem. Ayyubid rule continued until the beginning of the Mamluk Sultanate in (1250AC), which was followed by the rise of the Ottoman Empire after the Battle of Marj Dabiq and the Ottoman victory over the Mamluks.Thus, the Levant region, including Jordan, came under Ottoman influence until the end of (1918).

Fourth: The Modern State:

By the end of World War I (1918), Jordan was part of the Arab Kingdom of Syria, led by King Faisal bin Hussein. This continued until northern Syria fell under French occupation following the Battle of Maysalun on July 24^th, 1920. After the end of Faisal's Arab rule in Greater Syria, the Jordan region experienced a state of political ​vacuum until August 21^st, 1920, when it came under British mandate. There was no official governmental authority or military forces, which led to increased unrest and instability in the region at all levels. Then came the noble Hashemite family, who worked to establish the modern state of Jordan with all its vital components and basic elements. Furthermore, the following is a general summary of the most important stages in the emergence and development of the modern Jordanian state:

1. The Founding Stage (1921-1946):

This stage began with the arrival of Prince Abdullah I bin Hussein in Ma'an in (1920), and then in Amman in (1921). Were the following was accomplished:

2. The Setting and Consolidation Phase (1946-1999):

This phase witnessed the formal transformation into a fully independent state and the establishment of major sovereign and developmental institutions, as follows:

3. The Modernization and Consolidation Phase (1999- ):

This phase began with His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, assuming his constitutional powers in (1999). It has actively sought to propel Jordan towards globalization and digitalization, particularly in the areas outlined below:

Economic and Technological Empowerment: The state has focused on integrating Jordan into the global economy through international agreements, digital transformation, and investing in national human capital.

The Tripartite Modernization System: The modern state is currently being guided through three parallel reform tracks adopted by the government: political modernization, economic modernization, and administrative modernization.

Fifth: The Digital Ecosystem in Jordan:​

Under the direct patronage of His Majesty the King, and with the constant supervision of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and through the combined efforts of all relevant national expertise and qualifications, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has witnessed a qualitative and unprecedented leap in various fields of artificial intelligence and digital transformation. This progress is supported by the vision of economic modernization, the Jordanian Digital Transformation Strategy, and the implementation plan (2026–2028), which primarily aims to make Jordan a leading regional hub for innovation and technology. This will be achieved through cooperation and coordination among the various national institutions and expertise related to digital affairs in the country.

In general, the importance of artificial intelligence and digital transformation lies in their role as key pillars for building the smart future. Digital transformation represents the infrastructure and technological environment for building institutions, while artificial intelligence empowers them with superior thinking capabilities, thus improving decision-making based on the analysis of massive amounts of data to support strategic choices. This also enhances customer experiences by providing personalized digital experiences tailored to user behavior, which in turn raises the efficiency of operational processes, reducing human error and increasing employee productivity. Furthermore, it enables future foresight, based on predicting crises and economic and market trends before they occur.

It is worth noting that the Royal directives have emphasized the importance of utilizing all available human and material resources to advance the digital sector in all its fields and at all levels, in order to achieve the best sustainable development indicators across all related sectors. Accordingly, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship was established, accompanied by numerous integrated national councils, centers, and institutions specializing in artificial intelligence and digital transformation.

These initiatives were based on a genuine partnership between various public and private sector entities, and were accompanied by the issuance of a set of digital legislations that regulate the digital environment in all its dimensions, particularly digital identity, data protection, and cybersecurity, to enhance trust in digital transactions.

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship was established to lead the digital transformation, aiming to stimulate the entrepreneurial environment and ensure a sustainable digital economy. Meanwhile, the National Council for Future Technology's primary mission was to enhance Jordan's position as a technologically advanced nation and unify national efforts to accelerate the implementation of advanced technology and artificial intelligence initiatives. It served as a digital umbrella and an integrated strategic platform to connect disparate digital initiatives under a unified national framework that supports the vision of economic modernization.

Conversely, the National Cybersecurity Center's main role was to safeguard the country's digital sovereignty, by building an effective system to protect the Kingdom from cyber threats, secure critical infrastructure, and ensure the continuity of operations in both the public and private sectors.

These efforts were supported by numerous national institutions, most notably the Central Bank of Jordan, which adopted artificial intelligence technologies as a cornerstone for supporting digital transformation and developing financial technology. The Central Bank took the initiative to establish advanced regulatory frameworks to ensure the safe and responsible use of these technologies in the banking sector. These frameworks focused on data governance and privacy, risk management, human oversight, transparency and decision-making, the adoption of a central incident log, and the launch of the Innovation and Financial Technology Center (Jo-Fintech), dedicated to supporting startups that integrate artificial intelligence and blockchain into financial services and employ intelligent systems to monitor suspicious financial transactions and predict risks.

The discussion about the institutions of the financial technology ecosystem in Jordan is extensive, as their number has exceeded (200) companies and startups that are subject to the supervision and control of the Central Bank of Jordan. They are distributed among governmental regulatory institutions, banking accelerators, and startups specializing in digital payment, finance and lending. Perhaps the most prominent of these are the Financial Technology and Innovation Center (Central Bank of Jordan).

In addition, the Financial Technology Center (JOIN) Finncubator, which is wholly owned by Jordan Payment and Clearing Company (JoPACC). It aims to accelerate and develop startups with the support of some local banks and investment funds supporting fintech, such as Oasis 500, Silicon Badia, and Dash Ventures, which are considered the most prominent venture capital (VC) funds supporting lending and financial technology companies in Jordan. This has led to Jordan achieving advanced competitive rankings regionally and internationally in many aspects of artificial intelligence, digital maturity, and technological innovations.

Sixth: General Facts and Info: