Maan, Aug. 12 (Petra) -- His Majesty King Abdullah II's visit to Maan Governorate underscored the strong bond between the leadership and the people, conveying messages of reassurance and confidence in the future while reaffirming that Jordan remains secure through the unity of its people and their support for their leadership.

The visit also carried clear development priorities, placing young people at the forefront through a focus on economic empowerment and expanding opportunities for employment and productive activity.

It further reflected a field-based approach centered on direct engagement with citizens and listening to their demands, supporting comprehensive development in Maan and strengthening its position as a promising environment for investment and growth within an integrated national vision.

Maan Governor Khaled Al-Hajjaj said His Majesty the King's continued visits to Maan and other governorates reflected his commitment to reaching citizens, identifying their needs and listening to their demands, adding that they demonstrated the Hashemite leadership's closeness to the people and the depth of the bond between them.

He said the people of Maan would remain loyal to Jordan and the Hashemite leadership, committed to national principles and rejecting anything that could threaten the country's security and stability, undermine its unity, or jeopardize its resources and achievements.

Al-Hajjaj said the king's directives and continued attention to Maan had contributed to its development, particularly through a focus on education, infrastructure, and basic services, as well as investment across various sectors, especially in Petra, enhancing its tourism and economic standing and benefiting residents.

He said the king's directives placed particular emphasis on young people in Maan by supporting initiatives and projects that empower and train them, create jobs, and encourage their participation in the labor market and productive sectors.

Maan, he added, has promising growth opportunities given its tourism, economic, and investment potential, stressing the need to continue attracting investment towards productive sectors to create jobs, improve services, and promote sustainable development.

President of Al Hussein Bin Talal University Aatef Al-Kharabsheh said the king's visit represented an advanced model of direct engagement with citizens and reflected a leadership approach based on proximity to people and genuine attention to their concerns and aspirations.

He said the visit was distinguished by the spontaneous and personal nature of the king's meetings with residents of Maan. The king personally took notes of citizens' concerns and demands without barriers or intermediaries, demonstrating transparency and seriousness in following up on issues on the ground.
Al-Kharabsheh said the king gave special attention to retired military personnel, prioritizing listening to them in recognition of their national role and sacrifices.

He also highlighted the king's emphasis on strengthening tourism cooperation between Jordan and Egypt, which could maximize the benefits of their shared tourism assets and open new opportunities for travel between the two countries, both of which have rich historical and civilizational heritage.

The king also stressed Jordan's balanced and moderate foreign policy, which has enabled the country to maintain stability despite regional challenges and reinforced its position as a pivotal state capable of building effective regional and international partnerships, Al-Kharabsheh said.

He said the king also discussed promising development projects in Maan, notably the dry port project, which could bring a qualitative shift to the logistics sector and strengthen the governorate's position as a regional commercial hub. The Maan Development Company also plays a key role in attracting investment, creating jobs, and stimulating local economic growth, he added.

Journalist and writer Ramadan Al-Rawashdeh said Jordan had remained a country where justice prevails since its establishment in 1921, stressing that Jordanians stood behind the king in protecting the country's security against threats from any source.

He said Jordan remained safe through the unity of its people and their support for the king, noting that tribes and all segments of Jordanian society stood united in confronting any threat to the country.

Al-Rawashdeh praised the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army for defending the country's airspace, land, and waters, as well as the security agencies, particularly the General Intelligence Directorate, for protecting Jordan and thwarting attempts by transnational terrorist organizations to infiltrate the country.

He said the king's statement that "Jordan, the country of brave men, is nothing to fear for" carried a message not only to Jordanians but also to various parties in the region and beyond that Jordan was capable of protecting its territory, airspace, and resources.

He also praised the efforts of the armed forces and security agencies in combating drug smuggling along Jordan's northern borders, saying their response had helped curb a threat to the country's security and stability.

Director of the Al Qantara Centre for Human Resources Development Rakan Al-Rawad said the king's visit to the center reaffirmed his continued support for Jordanian youth, particularly young people in Maan and the Southern Badia, and his commitment to developing their talents and capabilities and supporting innovation and creativity.

He said the king was briefed on the center's programs and services, which have benefited about 51,000 residents of Maan and the Southern Badia. The king also toured facilities offering English-language classes and training in smart systems design, electronics, and programming, as well as a children's choir room.

Al-Rawad said the king's meeting with young men and women benefiting from the center's programs and listening to their experiences and ideas reflected his commitment to empowering young people and encouraging them to use their skills and experience to serve and develop their communities.

Sociology professor at Al Hussein Bin Talal University's Faculty of Educational Sciences, Aida Muhajer Abu Tayeh said women in Maan had received royal support that had expanded their participation in political and public life.

She said women's presence in Maan had become increasingly visible in recent years in urban, rural, and Badia communities, particularly in higher education, employment, and public affairs.

The development had helped women build education, experience, and skills, which could be leveraged to expand their participation in employment, leadership, and decision-making, Abu Tayeh said.

She added that women had gained greater opportunities to compete and participate in programs covering leadership, political awareness, entrepreneurship, project management, and digital skills, strengthening their capacity to contribute to economic and social development.

The meeting with the king also provided an opportunity to highlight challenges facing women in Maan, particularly employment and access to finance, she said, stressing that royal support should encourage continued efforts to turn women's skills and capabilities into genuine economic and development opportunities by strengthening women's organizations, linking training with financing and markets, and enhancing women's role as active partners in local development.

//Petra// AF

12/08/2026 21:59:48