Ma'ale Adumim-Jerusalem Continuity – One Urban Bloc in E1
Ma'ale Adumim-Jerusalem Continuity: What's Actually Changing on the Map
The Ma'ale Adumim-Jerusalem continuity is not just a planning term – it is an accurate description of what is about to happen on the ground in the coming years. The E1 area, spanning roughly 12 sq km between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim and falling under the municipal authority of Ma'ale Adumim, is the missing link that will connect the two cities into one continuous urban bloc. Until now, anyone driving from Jerusalem to Ma'ale Adumim crossed open, empty land – once construction begins, that distance will fill with residential neighborhoods, roads and infrastructure, and Ma'ale Adumim will effectively become an eastern neighborhood of "Greater Jerusalem."
What It Looks Like on the Ground – From Geographic Barrier to Urban Continuity
Today, the area between eastern Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim is mostly hilly and open, with a few small communities within it. The E1 plan, approved by the Supreme Planning Council in August 2025 and enabling construction of 3,401 housing units in the first stage, is fundamentally changing this picture. Actual construction is expected to begin between 2026 and 2027, and once completed, it will be possible to travel from Jerusalem to Ma'ale Adumim through a built continuity of neighborhoods, rather than through empty land.
The Umbrella Agreement Driving the Continuity
In September 2025, an umbrella agreement worth approximately ₪3 billion was signed, designed to ensure this continuity does not remain only on paper. The agreement includes a significant expansion of Route 437, the paving of an additional transportation route to Jerusalem through the Ma'ale HaAdumim ridge area, and new access roads connecting the future E1 neighborhoods to both Jerusalem and existing Ma'ale Adumim. Transportation infrastructure is exactly what turns "continuity on the map" into "continuity in everyday life" – without quality roads, there is no true urban continuity, only geographic proximity.
| Milestone | Date | Significance for Continuity |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme Planning Council plan approval | August 2025 | First 3,401 housing units approved for construction |
| Umbrella agreement with the government | September 2025 | ₪3 billion for infrastructure and connecting transportation |
| First construction tender (460/2025) | January 2026 | Start of actual construction processes |
| Additional tender – 1,234 units in the southern section | 8/18/2026 | The first real step toward construction, after more than three decades |
Why This Is Considered a Historic Move
Since the Allon Plan of the 1990s, the idea of built continuity between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim remained largely on paper, due to international pressures that delayed its actual advancement. The publication of the tender for 1,234 housing units in the southern part of E1, on 8/18/2026, is therefore a genuine historic milestone – the first time a concrete planning-execution step has been taken toward realizing the continuity, rather than just a principled plan. Together with the neighboring Tzipor Midbar neighborhood, comprising approximately 3,500 additional housing units, this amounts to a total of roughly 7,000 new apartments that will form the physical core of the urban continuity.
What This Means for Those Who Live or Invest in Ma'ale Adumim Today
- Ma'ale Adumim is transforming from an "eastern suburb" into a locality physically connected to Jerusalem – a significant change in urban status.
- Improved transportation accessibility via the expanded Route 437 and the Ma'ale HaAdumim ridge route.
- Expected growth in demand for both housing and rentals, given direct proximity to the capital.
- An opportunity to enter the market before the continuity is fully complete and fully reflected in prices.
Anyone interested in understanding the full planning scope is also invited to review the general Ma'ale Adumim area page, and to explore the range of properties already available today through the list of apartments for sale and rent in Ma'ale Adumim.
Continue Reading – Everything You Need to Know
For a full picture of the historical aspect of the continuity, we recommend reading From 1994 to 2026: The History of the Territorial Continuity. To understand the planning vision of "Greater Jerusalem," we recommend the article Greater Jerusalem – The Ring of Neighborhoods Around the Capital, and the full construction and infrastructure timeline is detailed in Construction and Infrastructure Timeline in E1.
Interested in Living or Investing in the New Continuity?
Merkaz HaNechasim Ma'ale Adumim guides families and investors who want to be part of the new urban continuity between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim, from selecting the property through to signing. Visit the full E1 project page and contact us for personal, free consultation.