On 21 June 2018, Khalifeh & Partners hosted a working session with delegates from the Energy Charter Secretariat as part of the Secretariat’s official visit to Jordan. The meeting, held at the firm’s offices in Amman, focused on identifying and assessing the key legal, regulatory, and policy-related risks facing investors in the Jordanian energy sector.

The Khalifeh & Partners team was represented by Ala’ Khalifeh (Managing Partner), Khaldoun Nazer (Partner), and Siwar Saket (Senior Associate). The discussion formed part of the preparatory work for the Secretariat’s flagship publication, the Energy Investment Risk Assessment (EIRA), which evaluates investment conditions in the energy sectors of participating countries.

Khalifeh & Partners had previously been invited by the Secretariat to contribute legal analysis and insight on Jordan’s investment framework and regulatory landscape in the energy sector.

Jordan, while not yet a signatory to the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), holds observer status within the Energy Charter Conference. The Kingdom signed the International Energy Charter political declaration at a ministerial-level summit in The Hague in May 2015 and had earlier endorsed the European Energy Charter Declaration of 1991. Jordan has also completed the necessary technical steps for ECT accession.

According to the Secretariat, Jordan’s ratification of the ECT is expected to enhance investor confidence, attract foreign capital to large-scale infrastructure projects, and strengthen Jordan’s strategic role as a secure and stable energy transit hub in the region—particularly in relation to oil and gas pipelines and regional electricity interconnection initiatives.

The ECT is currently under review by the Jordanian Parliament, and ratification is anticipated in the near term.

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.

Jordan is rapidly positioning itself as a regional hub for renewable energy, driven by regulatory reform, investor interest, and the Kingdom’s strategic commitment to sustainability.

In January 2017, the EDAMA Association for Energy, Water and Environment, in partnership with USAID, released the first-ever Jordan Clean Technology Sector Report, identifying renewable energy and energy efficiency as the most mature clean technology sectors in the country. The report also highlighted future opportunities in hydropower and biogas.

Momentum in the sector has continued to build. In a recent milestone, His Majesty King Abdullah II presided over the launch of 12 photovoltaic power plants that are expected to contribute an additional 200 MW to the national grid. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) has also invited expressions of interest for the development of a major utility-scale battery storage facility in the Ma’an governorate — one of the largest of its kind in the region — with phased commissioning scheduled through 2020.

Meanwhile, Jordan’s first commercial wind farm in Tafila recently marked its first anniversary of successful operations.

“The wind farm project in Tafila has laid the foundation for the government to achieve its goal of diversifying energy sources. Since the launch of this project, we’ve advised numerous developers, lenders, and EPC contractors in connection with a number of solar and wind projects,” said Ala’ Khalifeh, (Managing Partner) at Khalifeh & Partners.

Active renewable energy developments are now underway in Ma’an, Fujeij, El Quweira, Mafraq, and Aqaba, supported by a mix of domestic and international financiers, including the International Finance Corporation, ACWA Power, and the European Investment Bank.

Regulatory Landscape

Recent legislative changes — notably the Regulation for Organizing Non-Jordanian Investments No. 77 — have eased restrictions on foreign ownership, making Jordan a more attractive jurisdiction for clean energy investment. In parallel, the Renewable Energy and Efficiency Law (REEEL) provides robust support through long-term PPAs, tax and customs exemptions, and dedicated government incentives.

Jordan has committed to deriving 10% of its total energy mix from renewables by 2020, with continued growth expected beyond that target.

Private Sector and Employment Impact

According to EDAMA, 82% of companies active in the clean energy sector are Jordanian-owned, employing nearly 13,000 individuals — 72% of whom are engineers or technicians. The geographical spread of renewable projects also supports job creation in rural areas, improving local economies and social outcomes.

The sector’s growth has driven the expansion of university-level programs focused on energy engineering, environmental management, and water resource planning, building a talent pipeline for long-term industry development.