jordan pulse -

Jordan used the 10th Arab Fiscal Forum in Dubai to spotlight fiscal reform priorities and strengthen policy coordination as Arab economies grapple with rising uncertainty in global trade, debt dynamics, and growth prospects.

The Kingdom was represented at the forum by Minister of Finance Abdul Hakim Al-Shibli, who participated in the high-level discussions held as part of the World Government Summit in Dubai.

Organized by the UAE Ministry of Finance in cooperation with the Arab Monetary Fund and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the forum brought together Arab finance ministers, senior policymakers, and international experts to examine pressures on public finances across the region.

Discussions focused on fiscal sustainability, public debt management, expenditure efficiency, and tax base expansion, against a backof slowing global growth, trade disruptions, and tighter financing conditions.

Al-Shibli chaired the forum’s opening session, "Arab World Outlook Amid Shocks and Uncertainty," attended by Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF, and Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs. Speakers examined how global volatility is reshaping fiscal and macroeconomic indicators across Arab economies.

In the second session, "Arab World Priorities in the Coming Years," Al-Shibli participated as a keynote speaker, calling for a more active role for the forum in supporting Arab countries in designing policy responses to prolonged uncertainty and external shocks.

He pointed to recent economic and fiscal reforms in Jordan as evidence of the economy’s resilience, highlighting progress that continues to position the Kingdom as a competitive investment destination in the region.

On the sidelines of the forum, Al-Shibli held meetings with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, during which he reviewed key reforms under Jordan’s national fiscal and economic reform programme implemented in cooperation with the Fund. Georgieva commended Jordan’s reform trajectory and the results achieved.

The minister also met with UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, with both sides reaffirming the depth of Jordanian–Emirati relations. Al-Shibli praised the organization of the forum and its value as a platform for regional fiscal coordination.

//Petra// RZ