By Muhna Nafi

Last Tuesday morning, the Elite Forum held a special meeting with the Director of the Department of Lands and Survey, His Excellency Eng. Khaldoun Al-Khalidi, and the Assistant Director General for Technical Affairs, His Excellency Eng. Ahmad Jarrar. Both officials spontaneously expressed their desire to hear from the colleagues in attendance before diving directly into a dialogue. This approach gave the meeting a unique character, akin to a brainstorming session that opened the floor for everyone to present their inquiries, suggestions, and solutions. As is the customary practice of the Forum, each participant will write about their own perspective on what was raised during this meeting.

From my personal perspective, the registration document—commonly known as the Kushan—is the most vital document for a citizen when it comes to proving property ownership in all its forms. This is by no means to downplay the importance of the procedures that precede it, but the document itself, along with its notes and every detail mentioned within, remains of paramount importance to the citizen. It is the first thing a prospective seller presents, and the last thing a buyer receives. For this reason, I praised the step taken to facilitate its issuance through the Department's website.

I also commended the recent additions to the document's descriptive notes regarding apartments, which now specify the designated parking spot numbers for each unit based on the engineering blueprints certified by the Greater Amman Municipality or local municipalities. This preemptively blocks any disputes between apartment owners regarding parking choices. Similarly, I praised the formal documentation of the roof area (roof) as an attached extension belonging to the apartment below it. Regarding this document, I proposed a suggestion to add an indicator showing whether the 'statutory quarter' (Al-Rub' Al-Qanooni) has been deducted or not, particularly for lands that generally fall outside municipal zoning boundaries.

In my second intervention, I proposed reducing the minimum plot size required for subdivision (ifraz), accompanied by nominal fees, in specific locations where decision-makers believe it is in the public interest to direct urban expansion. Conversely, I suggested raising the minimum plot size for subdivision in areas where agricultural property must be protected, ensuring it is not fragmented or encroached upon by urban sprawl.

As for my third intervention, it focused on the importance of the directory of certified real estate offices available on the Department’s website. These offices are partners in development and a crucial arm for guiding and assisting citizens looking to buy or sell property. They stand in contrast to certain individuals who practice brokerage without any accreditation from the Department—or even without physical offices—operating solely through social media advertisements. This often leaves citizens, whether wanting to buy or sell, surprised to find they were dealing with an adversary rather than a neutral broker trying to guide them toward a fair price free of deception or exaggeration. Instead of reconciling the citizen with a third party, such unaccredited individuals are, in reality, that third party themselves, which completely disrupts the fairness of the transaction.

Finally, I can only extend my deepest gratitude to everyone managing this Department, which holds a special place of importance for citizens. To them, it stands as a secure and trusted institution dedicated to enforcing all legislation that safeguards their real estate rights and the rights of their families.

Muhna Nafi

By Muhna Nafi

Last Tuesday morning, the Elite Forum held a special meeting with the Director of the Department of Lands and Survey, His Excellency Eng. Khaldoun Al-Khalidi, and the Assistant Director General for Technical Affairs, His Excellency Eng. Ahmad Jarrar. Both officials spontaneously expressed their desire to hear from the colleagues in attendance before diving directly into a dialogue. This approach gave the meeting a unique character, akin to a brainstorming session that opened the floor for everyone to present their inquiries, suggestions, and solutions. As is the customary practice of the Forum, each participant will write about their own perspective on what was raised during this meeting.

From my personal perspective, the registration document—commonly known as the Kushan—is the most vital document for a citizen when it comes to proving property ownership in all its forms. This is by no means to downplay the importance of the procedures that precede it, but the document itself, along with its notes and every detail mentioned within, remains of paramount importance to the citizen. It is the first thing a prospective seller presents, and the last thing a buyer receives. For this reason, I praised the step taken to facilitate its issuance through the Department's website.

I also commended the recent additions to the document's descriptive notes regarding apartments, which now specify the designated parking spot numbers for each unit based on the engineering blueprints certified by the Greater Amman Municipality or local municipalities. This preemptively blocks any disputes between apartment owners regarding parking choices. Similarly, I praised the formal documentation of the roof area (roof) as an attached extension belonging to the apartment below it. Regarding this document, I proposed a suggestion to add an indicator showing whether the 'statutory quarter' (Al-Rub' Al-Qanooni) has been deducted or not, particularly for lands that generally fall outside municipal zoning boundaries.

In my second intervention, I proposed reducing the minimum plot size required for subdivision (ifraz), accompanied by nominal fees, in specific locations where decision-makers believe it is in the public interest to direct urban expansion. Conversely, I suggested raising the minimum plot size for subdivision in areas where agricultural property must be protected, ensuring it is not fragmented or encroached upon by urban sprawl.

As for my third intervention, it focused on the importance of the directory of certified real estate offices available on the Department’s website. These offices are partners in development and a crucial arm for guiding and assisting citizens looking to buy or sell property. They stand in contrast to certain individuals who practice brokerage without any accreditation from the Department—or even without physical offices—operating solely through social media advertisements. This often leaves citizens, whether wanting to buy or sell, surprised to find they were dealing with an adversary rather than a neutral broker trying to guide them toward a fair price free of deception or exaggeration. Instead of reconciling the citizen with a third party, such unaccredited individuals are, in reality, that third party themselves, which completely disrupts the fairness of the transaction.

Finally, I can only extend my deepest gratitude to everyone managing this Department, which holds a special place of importance for citizens. To them, it stands as a secure and trusted institution dedicated to enforcing all legislation that safeguards their real estate rights and the rights of their families.

Muhna Nafi