The Impact of Shopping Mall upon the Future of Urban Planning in Greater Amman

Abstract

Greater Amman in the beginning of the 21st century started an economic reform process that involves enhancing the climate for foreign investment to improve the economy. The emerging international status of Greater Amman, as measured by the economic growth, real estate activity and the building of large shopping malls, is becoming obvious to international and local investors. Greater Amman has developed into a city of regional importance within the global urban economic system of the Middle East.This research investigates the impact of one of these large scale projects now taking place at Greater Amman, the shopping malls upon social life and urban planning of the city. In 2000, two mega shopping malls have been planned in Greater Amman, the Mecca Mall and the City Mall, each of an area of around 150 thousand square meters. Both of them are located in the western section of the city, only 600 meters apart. Amman Mall, previously the largest mall in Greater Amman, has an area of only 35.8 thousand square meters and was built in 1998. This sudden and huge transfer to the new scale malls that have an area of more than four times the Amman Mall needs investigation and appraisal especially in its social effect upon the residents of Amman and upon the urban planning of the city. This research is taking Mecca Mall as a case study and appraising cultural and social aspects. At end, a number of conclusions are reached in order to improve the shopping malls environments.