Amman, May 9 (Petra) – Royal Court Chief Yousef Issawi said on Saturday that His Majesty King Abdullah II places Jordanian citizens and improving their standard of living and services provided to them as a paramount national priority.

This stems from a firm belief that a strong state starts with human dignity and empowerment, and providing various services to citizens, he pointed out.

Issawi was addressing a meeting at the Royal Court with about 350 figures from the Zarqa Governorate, attended by His Majesty's Advisor for Tribal Affairs, Kanaan Al-Balawi, to follow up on the priorities and needs of the governorate that were raised during the King's visit to Zarqa on Tuesday.

Issawi conveyed to the audience the pride of His Majesty and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah II in the sons and daughters of Zarqa, commending their efforts and sacrifices over the decades to protect the country and maintain its achievements and progress toward a modern state.

Zarqa Governorate has the direct attention and follow-up of His Majesty, given its profound national, historical, and humanitarian significance, and its pivotal role in national development, he said.

The King's directives, he said, are focused on enhancing development and job-generating service projects in the governorate and across the Kingdom, improving infrastructure, and raising the standard of living of local communities.

Issawi noted that His Majesty established a consistent approach based on direct communication with citizens in their locations, listening to their demands and needs, and openly addressing challenges they face. This approach reflects a strong relationship between the Hashemite leadership and the Jordanian people, which is built on trust, partnership, and national responsibility, he told the meeting.

Jordanians are "the true asset" to His Majesty, Issawi said, adding that the King's initiatives, in conjunction with government plans and programs, are guided by a comprehensive vision to improve the quality of life, develop health and education services, strengthen infrastructure, prop up productive sectors, and empower youth and women, economically and socially.

The Royal Court Chief said His Majesty exerts intensive political and diplomatic efforts in defense of Arab causes, foremost among which is the Palestinian issue, stemming from a conviction that a strong and stable Jordan is a true pillar of the Arab nation, a steadfast defender of Arab rights and protector of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

During the meeting, the attendees stressed that His Majesty's visit to Zarqa underscored a commitment to engaging with the people of Jordan and addressing the needs of the governorates on the ground.

They referred to an industrial city project in Zarqa, which His Majesty inspected, as a catalyst for economic development and a key driver for job creation and investment in the region. They noted that it aligned with economic modernization initiatives, and noted the King's directive to expedite the implementation of all phases of the project.

The representatives of Zarqa raised key demands related to various districts of the Ggvernorate, including in health, education, infrastructure, agriculture, roads, investment, and environmental sectors, and called for expanding development projects, creating job opportunities for youth, and improving public services.

//Petra//SS

09/05/2026 18:52:04