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When Jordanians are asked to name their country’s closest allies, two names always rise to the top: the US and ºÚÁÏÉçÇø. Yet, while Washington remains most favorable among Jordanians in terms of security, Riyadh’s economic allure is now translating into increased political appeal.

According to a September poll by NAMA Strategic Intelligence Solutions, 35 percent of Jordanians identify ºÚÁÏÉçÇø as Jordan’s closest economic partner, compared with 32 percent for the US. The poll also revealed that nearly 30 percent of Jordanians see ºÚÁÏÉçÇø as Jordan’s most important political ally, slightly ahead of America at 28 percent.

These numbers underscore a powerful reality: for most Jordanians, ºÚÁÏÉçÇø is not just a neighbor but a regional power viewed in terms that rival, and in some areas surpass, the US. The foundation of this perception is economic, as 87 percent of Jordanians favor strengthening the economic ties between Amman and Riyadh — the highest rate recorded for any country, even higher than the 81 percent who said the same about China or the 50 percent who supported closer ties with Washington.

For many Jordanians, ºÚÁÏÉçÇø represents job opportunities, with thousands of Jordanians working in the Kingdom and sending home remittances that sustain families across the country. Moreover, when asked which country Jordan should cooperate with more economically in the future, nearly one in three Jordanians chose ºÚÁÏÉçÇø — more than double the percentage who named the US (13.7 percent). Even Qatar, whose influence has grown markedly among Jordanians in recent years, ranked well behind ºÚÁÏÉçÇø at 15.5 percent.

For most Jordanians, ºÚÁÏÉçÇø is a regional power viewed in terms that rival, and in some areas surpass, the US

Mohammed Abu Dalhoum

In addition to jobs, ºÚÁÏÉçÇø is also viewed as an investment destination and an emerging technology hub, as Jordanians named the Kingdom as the third most preferred country with which they would hope to see their country partner in terms of science and technology, just behind China and the US.

Clearly, Jordanians view ºÚÁÏÉçÇø as the partner most supporting of Amman in addressing its economic hardships, especially as 84 percent of the public identifies economic issues — unemployment, poverty, low wages and price hikes — as the country’s most pressing problems.

Beyond economics, Jordanians are well aware of ºÚÁÏÉçÇø’s geopolitical significance. NAMA’s poll revealed that 83 percent of Jordanians believe it is very important to maintain strong political ties between the two kingdoms. This is not just about formal diplomacy, it reflects cultural, religious and familial ties. For decades, Jordanians have viewed ºÚÁÏÉçÇø through the lens of shared Arab identity and regional coordination. Compared with the West, which tends to be viewed as external — powerful but distant — ºÚÁÏÉçÇø feels like a familiar partner.

This does not mean that Jordanians are blind to the role of the US. Indeed, 35 percent said Washington offers Jordan the greatest benefits for safety and security, compared with 18 percent who said the same about ºÚÁÏÉçÇø. This is understandable given that it has been the US that Jordan has long relied on for security and military support.

At the same time, ºÚÁÏÉçÇø and Jordan’s interests are naturally aligned, grounded in shared identity and common goals. Granted, the two Kingdoms share the unfortunate plight of being situated in a troubled neighborhood just as much as they share the common burden of fighting drug trafficking. Yet, the past two years have demonstrated a clear reminder of the significant roles both ºÚÁÏÉçÇø and Jordan play in terms of conflict resolution.

Jordanians have long viewed ºÚÁÏÉçÇø through the lens of shared Arab identity and regional coordination

Mohammed Abu Dalhoum

Also during these past two years, Jordan found itself the target of a series of disinformation and defamation campaigns, to the point that trust in external information sources has expectedly deteriorated. Yet, more Jordanians report trusting information that comes from Saudi sources than from any other source. This dynamic is critical. In today’s geopolitics, narrative credibility is as valuable as military strength and economic power.

Riyadh’s growing appeal among Jordanians offers tremendous opportunities for the two partners. Jordanian labor has traditionally done well in the Saudi market. NAMA’s poll revealed that 31 percent of Jordanians would travel to ºÚÁÏÉçÇø if they were to work outside Jordan, while 23 percent would do the same for business and trade. With that, the Saudi Vision 2030 and Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision 2033 provide vehicles for both government and private sector enterprises to explore investment opportunities, particularly in the areas of tourism, energy, manufacturing, health, and information and telecommunications technology.

Geopolitically, and as the region awaits a successful peace plan for Gaza, the two kingdoms have tremendous diplomatic roles to play in advocating for and ensuring the materialization of a ceasefire and resumption of two-state solution talks.

For Jordanians, ºÚÁÏÉçÇø is more than a neighbor, it is a stabilizing force whose economic weight and political solidarity are indispensable at a time when the region faces uncertainty from Gaza to Tehran.

• Mohammed Abu Dalhoum is the president of MENAACTION and a senior research analyst at NAMA Strategic Intelligence Solutions.