How does off-plan buying work in Jordan?
The usual vehicle is a promise-to-sell contract registered at the Department of Lands and Survey and tied to the plan drawings, which the court can enforce. Law 17 of 2026 adds bank-approved allocation certificates and a Department regulatory unit for off-plan sales. We found no developer-licensing or escrow rules, so do your own checks of the title, permits and developer.
Sources: Law 13 of 2019: promise to sell (text mirror) · Petra: off-plan certificates and regulatory unit · Petra: works permit and clearance for apartment sellers. Legal points come from law-firm summaries and text mirrors of the statutes, not the Official Gazette, so confirm anything you rely on with the Department of Lands and Survey or a Jordanian lawyer.
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How off-plan works in Jordan
Promise to sell
Binding if registered at the Department and tied to plan drawings (Article 128 of Law 13 of 2019, per a text mirror).Instalment sales
Treated on the same basis (Articles 130 to 131).2026 allocation certificates
Bank-approved certificates let units be sold and subdivided before construction starts (Law 17 of 2026).Regulatory unit
The Department gets a Real Estate Regulatory Unit to monitor the market and oversee off-plan sales.Checks before you pay
- Title of the land
Registration extract in the developer's name, with no mortgage or seizure. - Permits
Building licence and works permit from the municipality. - Registered contract
Promise to sell registered at the Department, with plans attached. - Payment schedule
Tied to progress, in the contract. - Developer track record
Visit completed projects and ask residents. - Delay terms
Agree penalties for late handover, as no official rule was found.
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Can you buy off-plan property in Jordan?
Yes, through a promise-to-sell contract that is binding if registered at the Department of Lands and Survey and tied to the plan drawings. Law 17 of 2026 adds bank-approved allocation certificates so that units can be sold and subdivided before construction starts. This guide →
Is a promise-to-sell contract valid if it is not registered?
A commercial source says a promise signed outside the Department is void when the buyer will wait more than about six months, and the statute makes a registered promise binding. Register it. How to buy →
What protections do off-plan buyers have in Jordan?
A registered promise creates a right the court can enforce, and no registration can be made on the promised unit without both parties' consent. We found no developer-licensing, escrow or delay-penalty rules, so check the contract, the developer and the title. Due diligence →
What is the allocation certificate in the 2026 law?
A bank-approved certificate backing the sale or subdivision of a building before construction starts; the Department is to issue certificates describing the unit that buyers can use to finance the purchase, and a Real Estate Regulatory Unit will oversee off-plan sales. We have not read the implementing instructions. Foreign buyer rules →
Can foreigners buy off-plan in Jordan?
The same approval rules apply: the Interior Minister's approval, reciprocity and the barred areas. Law No. 17 of 2026, published in the Official Gazette in September 2026 and in force from about October 2026, also lets non-Jordanians own or lease a private residence outside urban planning zones, up to 10 dunums, with the Finance Minister's approval. Foreign ownership limits →
How do I pay for an off-plan apartment in Jordan?
Typically an earnest payment to the developer and instalments, but we found no official payment schedule or escrow rule, so agree the schedule in the registered contract and tie payments to progress. Mortgages in Jordan →
How do I check a developer in Jordan?
Check the project's permits at the municipality, the title of the land at the Department, and the developer's past projects. We found no official developer-licensing regime to cite. Due diligence →
What are new projects in Amman?
Our new projects page explains how off-plan buying works in Amman and the checks to run. New projects →