General Information

The Department of Land and Survey plays a vital role in guaranteeing the right of ownership of land, and to solve conflicts in matters concerning land as well as water sources. It is (Jordan’s memory) and Jordan’s land information bank of ownership.

Towards the middle of the nineteenth century, this area witnessed an increased interest from the Ottoman Empire. Indeed, the first general governor for the area lying between the Yarmouk River and the Zarqa River was appointed, with Irbid as the center of this constituency that belonged to the district of Horan. The same was true for the area lying between the Zarqa River and the Mujeb River (as it was called at the time), a constituency that belonged to the district of Nablus. In 1905, this constituency was separated from the district of Nablus and added to the district of Kerak, south of the Mujeb River, created in 1894 and directly belonging to the State of Damascus.

In 1274 of the Muslim Calendar (1857 A.D.), the Department of Land and Survey was created in accordance with the Ottoman law issued during this period of increased interest in the area and in its administrative organization. Various departments were created with the aim of land registration, called Land Registration Offices (Land Registry Departments - Tabu).

The area was undergoing great turmoil. Many events characterized this period: the outbreak of World War 1 in November 1914, the Ottoman Empire’s siding against the Allies, the blockade imposed by the Allies on the Arab coastal areas, the Allies’ going back on their promise of ensuring the unity and the independence of the Arabs in Arab Asia; the Allies’ signing of the Sykes-Picot Agreement on 16/5/1916 which divided greater Syria (Bilad ash Sham) and Iraq into two spheres of influence, one British and the other French, and that remained secret until November 1917, when the Bolsheviks revealed it. It was according to this agreement that Trans Jordan was placed under British influence, the British forces withdrew from Trans Jordan and the area was left without a government, an army or even a police force for the safeguard of security.

Until 11/4/1921, local governments were created in agreement with the British government. These governments were not capable of tackling public issues, or improving the deteriorating situation in the country. Prince Abdullah came to Trans Jordan, and during the meeting held on the morning of 29/3/1921 between Prince Abdullah and Winston Churchill, the birth of a national government in Trans Jordan headed by Prince Abdullah was declared. On 11/4/1921, the Jordanian government, headed by Rasheed Tlei’, was formed.

Establishment

The Department of Lands and Survey Plays a vital role in preserving land property rights, and resolving any conflict, concerning right in land or water.

DLS represents Jordan’s land information bank.

The establishment of DLS can be traced back to 1857 when the ottoman government created Tabu (land registry offices in bilad ash sham) greater Syria, which included Jordan. Of the Jordan legally remained part of the Ottoman empire until 6 August 1924, the date of certification of Luzanne treaty, article (139) of which entitled and enabled Trans Jordan to a quire the registers and documents related to public and private property .the government soon began reorganizing lands and properties, it issued the bylaw of land.

And that of land apportionment (breaking up of in 1927 the law of land, and valuation was assed. this law implied the fixing of borders of village, lands, state forests and often land properties.

The name of lands department appeared in 30/9/1929 often unifying the surveying department, treasury land department, and services of land and registration on the other hand the land department, the forests branch the buildings and lands section, and the soil analysis lab. Were unified it was attached to the prime ministry, and an English official was assigned by the Mandatory Government to presidio it.

After unification of Trans Jordan and the west bank, the lands and Surrey Departments in the two banks were unified, its headquarters was in Amman and it became responsible for the registration directorates throughout the country, in 1952 and 1953 most of the laws concerning land and water settlement, registration, etc…. Were enacted and applied in the two banks.

So the department of lands and survey (DLS) is one of the oldest in Jordan. Laws regulate all of its work, but only recently the bylaw of administrative organization of DLS (bylaw no. (80)/1999) was enacted according to clause 120 of the Constitution.

Duties and Authorities

Clause 3 of the bylaw (80) /1999(organization of DLS) states that DLS should do the following.

1. Perform a comprehensive survey of the land s of Jordan. And fixing their borders, settling differences on land, and issuing Cadastral maps.

2. Registration of land property rights, maintaining them and facilitating their use.

3. Establishment and maintenance of triangulation network of fourth and fifth orders based on the national geodetic network which was built by the royal Jordanian Geographic Center (RJGC).

4. Performance of land registration transactions and fixing due fees and collecting them.

5. Administration, guarding, follow-up, renting, assignment and appropriation of treasury lands, and misappropriation of land for public interest.

6. Comprehensive valuation of land, and maintaining it for the purposes of registration transactions.

7. Registration land property data and keeping them.

8. Development of land information base, and maintaining it to serve as abase for a national information system.

9. Organizing the practice of licensed surveyors and land agents.

Contact Information

Location