For twenty years, Souq JARA has been the most important destination for marketing handmade and crafts products for entrepreneurs. It is the most important bazaar in the Kingdom due to its wide popularity among local visitors and tourists looking for a unique experience of viewing and shopping, in addition to another space to encourage arts, literature and music by organizing art exhibitions and concerts.

To shed light on the experience of the popular markets in Jabal Amman,  learn more about the stories, opportunities, and challenges of the market participants, and celebrate the 20th  anniversary of JARA Association's founding, the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) and the Jabal Amman Committee hosted representatives of the United Nations Economic Empowerment Working Group on Friday, August 30, 2024, as part of an event entitled: “Souq Jara: Delving into the phenomenon of popular markets in Jordan”.

ARDD’s Executive Director, Samar Muhareb, valued the cooperation between all parties, including the Greater Amman Municipality, representatives of Souq Jara, civil society, and the private sector, to embrace owners of initiatives and small projects in the popular markets, stressing the importance of such markets in providing and increasing economic opportunities for the people and residents of Jabal Amman, in addition to Souq Jara and the economic, social, cultural, and entertainment services it provides to the region as a whole.

For his part, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of MENA Hotels Company and Chairman of Jabal Amman Committee, Michel Nazzal, stressed the importance of integration and cooperation to support the old neighborhoods and unify efforts to serve this important and attractive area. He indicated that the Jabal Amman Committee includes multiple entities with diverse expertise, which contributes to developing the capabilities of initiatives and project owners and working with them in a strategic and effective manner.

Stuart Kefford from the United Nations Development Programme, and member of the Economic Empowerment Working Group, spoke about the need to continue sponsoring Souq JARA as it provides a unique opportunity to network and exchange experiences between customers and market participants, in addition to display and market their distinctive products.

The researcher at Renaissance Strategic Center in ARDD, Joel Alfonso, explained that this market has become a key attraction to reviving the spirit of this ancient neighborhood as a center for cultural diversity, where visitors can view contents that document the stages of the place’s development in words and pictures, which adds an aspect of listening to its contents and corners.

In the same context, extensive discussions and interventions took place with local market participants from Jordanian women and refugees, during which they stressed the need to preserve the heritage and history of the area and improve services and infrastructure in it, as well as preserve the legacy inherited from fathers and grandfathers; the goal is to revive the neighborhood as it was before the migration of the original residents of the neighborhood at some point in time.

One of the Market participants who comes from the Jordan Valley to sell her products at Souq Jara said that she started participating in the market many years ago, and uses trees and olive wood to make her traditional handmade products, which she recycles to become artistic products.

Another market participant (of Syrian nationality) indicated that she is a semi-permanent participant in the Jara Market, “We wait for it from year to year.” She continued: “The opportunity to participate in the market gives us an attractive and real opportunity to deliver our products to visitors.”

A visual artist (of Iraqi nationality) saw that the market contains a type of exhibition that is different from closed art halls, as it represents an open space for displaying artworks, and allows everyone to see this art that expresses human values ​​in their most beautiful forms.

According to the participants, the market is diverse and comprehensive, as several artists display their creations there, including paintings, sculptures, antiques, and copper. Many of its exhibits are handicrafts and accessories. It also has a stage for holding singing and popular concerts, in addition to a beautiful children's area and an oriental café. It also attracts more than ten thousand visitors every Friday.

At the end of this event, ARDD and the Economic Empowerment Working Group honored representatives of the JARA Association on its twentieth anniversary.