| Omar Maani | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Amman | |
| In office April 2006 – March 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Nidal Al Hadid |
| Succeeded by | Ammar Gharaybeh (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 April 1956 Amman |
Omar Maani (born 1956) 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.[1]
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.[2]
The 'Amman Plan', as the master-plan that Maani has overseen has been officially known,[3] 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,[4] initially to strong objections from the outdoor advertising industry. Street signage and building numbering were also introduced on a wide scale.[5]
On Dec. 13, 2011, he was detained on allegations of "failure to perform his official duties" [6]
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B.Sc Civil Engineering, The University of Birmingham, UK. M.Sc. Construction Management, University of Southern California, USA.
Omar Maani served 5 years as Mayor of Amman, Jordan. His office is credited for several major projects in the city including
The Amman Master Plan is an initiative launched under a royal decree in 2006. It is a series of documents that ouline planning policies and a future vision for the city and direct development for the coming 20 years.
A not-for-profit institution that focuses on urban governance, community planning and sustainable community development. It has a staff of over fifty (50) professionals.
This program empowered community members to create their own image for the city and its people and attempted to establish a sense of identity and loyalty to the city.
Amongst many smaller "pocket parks" and planting hundreds of rooftop gardens in downtown
In 2008, Omar Maani accepted, on the behalf of the city of Amman, the World Leadership Awards in Town Planning Category[7]
He is included among the finalists for the 2010 World Mayor prize.
The Amman Master Plan received the Award of Planning Excellence from the Canadian Institute of Planners in 2010.
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[8]