On 25 April 2017, Al Eqbal Real Estate Development and Marriott International announced the signing of a landmark agreement to bring the Ritz-Carlton brand to Amman, Jordan, marking a significant milestone in the Kingdom’s luxury hospitality sector.

The project, located at Fifth Circle, comprises a five-star Ritz-Carlton hotel and branded residences. Slated for completion in 2020, the development will include high-end suites, fine dining venues, serviced apartments, and a grand ballroom, designed to deliver an elevated hospitality and lifestyle experience in the Jordanian capital.

A formal groundbreaking ceremony was held on 18 May 2017, with Prime Minister Hani Mulki laying the foundation stone and inaugurating the project.

Khalifeh & Partners acted as legal counsel to Al Eqbal Real Estate Development, advising on all hotel management and residential agreements. The team was led by Khaldoun Nazer (Partner), who praised the project’s significance for both the client and the market:

“The fact that Jordan is considered to be an integral part of the growth of the Ritz-Carlton brand in the Middle East, and that they established a close partnership with a prominent Jordanian firm, has exciting implications for future development and growth within the country,” he noted.

The Ritz-Carlton Amman project is part of Marriott International’s broader Middle East expansion strategy, which includes new openings in Tunisia, the UAE, Egypt, and Morocco. Marriott currently operates five hotels in Jordan and plans to double its regional portfolio over the next four years.

Importantly, the Ritz-Carlton Amman is a fully Jordanian-funded investment, and is expected to create approximately 2,000 jobs during construction and operations, with a strong emphasis on employing Jordanian youth. The design process will integrate both local and international architects, aiming to reflect Jordanian cultural identity through a modern luxury lens.

Khalifeh & Partners continues to advise on high-profile hospitality and real estate transactions, with a longstanding track record in hotel management, construction, and mixed-use developments across the region.

In 2019, Khalifeh & Partners acted for Al Arabi Investment Group “AB Invest”, the Investment Manager of the Jordanian Banks’ SME Investment Fund, in connection with four strategic equity investments in targeted Jordanian companies across key sectors.

In December 2019, Khalifeh & Partners advised on the Fund’s acquisition of a 26% stake in the Eye Specialty Hospital, the first hospital in Jordan dedicated solely to ophthalmology. The team advising on this transaction included Khaldoun Nazer (Partner), Noor Abu Al Samid (Senior Associate), and Saed Obeidat (Junior Associate).

Earlier in 2019, the Fund acquired a 36.4% stake in ATICO Fakhreldin Group, a prominent hospitality holding company in Jordan. Khalifeh & Partners served as legal counsel on the transaction, which involved both a share transfer and a share subscription. The team advising on this matter included Khaldoun Nazer (Partner), Dana Mubaidien (Senior Associate), and Mera Alamat (Junior Associate).

The same K&P team also advised on the Fund’s acquisition of a 46% equity stake in Japanese Flavor Co., a limited liability hybrid food chain, through a capital raise at the company level.

In July 2019, Khaldoun Nazer (Partner) and Siwar Saket (Associate) acted as legal counsel to AB Invest and the Fund on the investment in a 35.63% equity stake in International Company for Outsourcing Services (“Crystel”), a Jordanian multilingual contact centre.

“Working with Khaldoun and the K&P team has been an absolute pleasure,” says Jameel Anz, Head of the Jordanian Banks’ SME Investment Fund.
“The level of commitment and unwavering support we have received from them played a key role in a swift and successful closing of these investments. We will most certainly be engaging K&P in more transactions going forward.”

Khalifeh & Partners continues to advise AB Invest and the Jordanian Banks’ SME Investment Fund on their investment activity across Jordan, supporting the growth of the local SME ecosystem and contributing to broader market development.

In a major win for Jordanian football, Khalifeh & Partners successfully represented Al-Faisaly Football Club in a high-profile appeal before the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), overturning regional disciplinary sanctions that had threatened to sideline key players from both club and national competition.

The dispute arose following the 2017 Arab Club Championship, held in Alexandria, Egypt, during which a controversial referee decision in extra time led to Esperance de Tunis claiming victory over Al-Faisaly. A post-match confrontation resulted in the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) issuing one-year suspensions against five Al-Faisaly players and a club official, alongside financial penalties against the players and the Club.

Subsequently, UAFA requested that these sanctions be extended across Asia by the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee, a move that would have severely impacted both Al-Faisaly FC and the Jordanian National Team, with four of the sanctioned players also serving as national team members.

Khalifeh & Partners, in close coordination with the Jordan Football Association (JFA) and with the strong support of His Royal Highness Prince Ali bin Hussein, filed 16 appeals before the AFC Appeals Committee, seeking to reverse the decision.

On 13 November, the AFC Appeals Committee ruled in favor of Khalifeh & Partners’ appeals, setting aside the extended sanctions in full.

“This is a great achievement; the result has been awaited by practically everyone in Jordan,” said Managing Partner Ala’ Khalifeh, who led the firm’s legal team.
“I’m very proud of our team. The fact that our appeal was upheld speaks to the standard of work that our lawyers adhere to and produce.”

This outcome reinforces Khalifeh & Partners’ growing reputation in sports and entertainment law, having represented the Jordan Olympic Committee, the JFA, and numerous Jordanian athletes.

As Jordan’s sports sector gains increasing international visibility — from Ahmad Abu Ghaush’s Olympic gold medal to ambitious reform plans by the Jordan Olympic Committee — the need for specialised legal support in sports-related regulatory matters is more critical than ever. The firm’s success in this matter highlights Jordan’s preparedness to navigate the legal complexities of modern athletics, both regionally and globally.