Mahali, meaning “local” in Arabic, is a grassroots initiative started in 2019 by residents and activists in Jabal Lweibdeh, one of Amman’s oldest neighbourhoods. The initiative emerged in response to the arrival of international franchises in the area and the growing pressure of gentrification on the locals.Through petitions, workshops, and neighbourhood campaigns, Mahali advocates for the rights of residents and small businesses, working to preserve the area’s cultural identity and socioeconomic diversity. Its work highlights issues such as gentrification, overcrowding, rising costs, and the decline of public spaces, calling for development that benefits all residents rather than only higher-income groups.
The main driver for the initiative, which later became Mahalli, was the collective opposition towards global enterprises opening up within local neighbourhoods, namely Starbucks in Lweibdeh. The movement started spontaneously, when marketing visuals for a new building appeared on Al Hawooz Circle. The building would not comply with building standards in the area, towering over most of the humble stone buildings, and hosting a Starbucks branch.
Al Hawooz Circle in Lweibdeh to the left, and to the right, the new commercial building outgrowing its surroundings
A few activists started petitioning against its construction, and against licensing for commercial conglomerates in Lweibdeh. They used a door-to-door petition approach to get signatures and open up space for conversation amongst the community. As such, Mahalli gathered community support, and addressed the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) with how they envision their neighbourhood, and resist it being shaped by commercial power. The activists also addressed the importance of preserving Lweibdeh’s old buildings and architectural identity, which GAM had started to allow it to succumb to bigger developments.
The two branches of the franchise starbucks opening in downtown and Lweibdeh, which mahali advocated against
Fayrouz bakery in one of Lweibdeh’s older buildings, demolished to make way for a commercial hotel that does not follow the area’s building regulations
The initiative places strong emphasis on participatory approaches, collaborating with residents to address local challenges. They emphasise the importance of the local neighbourhood, and the small and long-rooted economies it possesses. Their actions range from petitions, holding conversations, raising awareness, and amplifying the locals’ voices, thus, reflecting a commitment to neighbourhood solidarity and the belief that residents have the right to shape their environment, even through accumulative wins.