Omar Maani
Encyclopedia
Omar Maani is a Jordanian engineer, businessman and the former Mayor of Amman
, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
. He was appointed as mayor by Royal Decree of King Abdullah II in April 2006. In March 2011, the Government of Jordan dissolved all municipal councils in the country, so Maani was relieved of his duties as Mayor.
Maani came to this office directly from the private sector, where, for twenty five years he had managed Maani Ventures, a Jordanian industrial and engineering group of companies.
As mayor, he was mandated with the creation of a strategic plan to accommodate the rapid growth and development of Amman, which had grown from a small town of a few thousand people in the early 20th century to a capital city inhabited by over 2.5 million people in 2005.
The 'Amman Plan', as the master-plan that Maani has overseen has been officially known, dealt with the future metropolitan growth of Amman, the intensification of the urban fabric inside the existing urban envelope, the protection of urban heritage and the formulation of high-rise building regulations that are sensitive to Amman's hilly nature and topography.
The Amman Plan process eventually led to the creation of the Amman Institute, an independent organisation that is responsible for the ongoing planning of Amman as well as providing planning advisory services for other cities in Jordan and the region.
Maani's presence as mayor of Amman has also been marked in an increased emphasis on the city's urban image. Regulations to reduce visual clutter, resulting from the excessive presence of advertising billboards, were introduced, initially to strong objections from the outdoor advertising industry. Street signage and building numbering were also introduced on a wide scale.
M.Sc. Construction Management, University of Southern California
, USA.
He is included among the finalists for the 2010 World Mayor
prize.
His mother, Subhieyeh Maani is a former member of the Jordanian Senate, where she served for two terms
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
. He was appointed as mayor by Royal Decree of King Abdullah II in April 2006. In March 2011, the Government of Jordan dissolved all municipal councils in the country, so Maani was relieved of his duties as Mayor.
Maani came to this office directly from the private sector, where, for twenty five years he had managed Maani Ventures, a Jordanian industrial and engineering group of companies.
As mayor, he was mandated with the creation of a strategic plan to accommodate the rapid growth and development of Amman, which had grown from a small town of a few thousand people in the early 20th century to a capital city inhabited by over 2.5 million people in 2005.
The 'Amman Plan', as the master-plan that Maani has overseen has been officially known, dealt with the future metropolitan growth of Amman, the intensification of the urban fabric inside the existing urban envelope, the protection of urban heritage and the formulation of high-rise building regulations that are sensitive to Amman's hilly nature and topography.
The Amman Plan process eventually led to the creation of the Amman Institute, an independent organisation that is responsible for the ongoing planning of Amman as well as providing planning advisory services for other cities in Jordan and the region.
Maani's presence as mayor of Amman has also been marked in an increased emphasis on the city's urban image. Regulations to reduce visual clutter, resulting from the excessive presence of advertising billboards, were introduced, initially to strong objections from the outdoor advertising industry. Street signage and building numbering were also introduced on a wide scale.
Education
B.Sc Civil Engineering, The University of Birmingham, UK.M.Sc. Construction Management, University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, USA.
Professional and civic associations
- Vice Chairman, Vocational Training & Employment, National Agenda.
- Board member, Amman Chamber of Industry.
- Board member, Social Security Investment Fund.
- Board Member, Jordan Exports Development Co.
- Board member, Institute of Standards & Metrology.
- Founding member, Young Entrepreneurs Association.
- Board member, Injaz.
- Regular member, Jordan Engineers Union.
- Regular member, Jordan Trade Association.
- Regular member, Jordan Businessmen Association.
- Board member, Jordan Basketball Federation.
Awards
In 2008, Omar Maani accepted, on the behalf of the city of Amman, the World Leadership Awards in Town Planning CategoryHe is included among the finalists for the 2010 World Mayor
World Mayor
World Mayor is a biennial award organized by The City Mayors Foundation since 2004. It intends to raise the profile of mayors worldwide, as well as honour those who have served their communities well and who have contributed to the well-being of cities, nationally and internationally...
prize.
Personal life
Omar Maani is married to Maisa Al Bataineh, a Jordanian architect. Together they have three children.His mother, Subhieyeh Maani is a former member of the Jordanian Senate, where she served for two terms
External links
- Mayor's Profile on official website of the Greater Amman Municipality.
- City Mayors profile
- Amman has a new mayor: Omar K. Maani from Jordanian blog 360east.com
- The web site of the Amman Institute
- Amman: Managing Rapid Growth PDF presentation by mayor Omar Maani at the Richard J. Daley Urban Forum in Chicago.