The city of Zarqa is situated in the northeast of the capital Amman. In 1998, its population was estimated at 399,000 inhabitants. Population increase from 1979 to 1994 was 3.28% annually. This rapid population growth resulted in large expansions of the ’s boundaries, bringing the total current area to about 65km2, and in changes in the characteristics, size and distribution of the population.

Zarqa is a major industrial city, as more than 50% of Jordanian factories can be found there. It is also an important business center. Zarqa is also characterized by the existence of poor neighborhoods, which provide land at low and affordable prices. Contrary to a general trend in Jordan whereby building constructions has decreased, Zarqa has been witnessing in the last three years a major increase in such an activity. This massive construction activity is the result of several factors in Zarqa, such as the relative lowering of the price of land, job opportunities and closeness to Amman.