Technical Information

WHERE IS JORDAN?

Jordan is located in the Middle East and borders Syria, Saudi Arabia, the Red Sea, Palestine, and Iraq. Covering some 89,342 sq.km., it is located at 31 00 N, 36 00 E.

ATTIRE

Jordan is a primarily a Muslim country, although freedom of religion is protected. Muslim women’s clothing often covers their arms, legs and hair. Western women are not subject to these customs, but very revealing clothing is never appropriate and conservative dressing is advised for both men and women in the old part of Amman (downtown), and outside the cities. Shorts are rarely worn by either sex, and would be out of place in the downtown Amman area. Topless sunbathing is prohibited and one-piece swimsuits are preferred, although two-piece swimsuits are acceptable at hotel pools.

ACCESSIBILITY

Visitors with a valid passport may obtain a visa at any Jordanian embassy, consulate, or legation abroad. A visa can also be obtained at Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport or at any other border crossing except King Hussein Bridge and the ferryboat from Egypt. Visas are valid for one month, but can be extended at any police station.

NEWSPAPERS

The main English-language daily is The Jordan Times. Foreign newspapers are available at hotels and some shops.

CREDIT CARDS

Credit cards are accepted at hotels, restaurants and larger shops, including American Express, Visa, Diners Club, and MasterCard. Please note that many smaller shops still prefer cash payment in the Jordanian currency, and it’s essential for shopping in the local souks (markets).

LANGUAGE

The official language of Jordan is Arabic, but English is widely spoken especially in the cities. Many Jordanians have travelled, or have been educated abroad, so French, German, Italian and Spanish are also spoken, but to a lesser extent.

SHOPPING

Wherever you go in Jordan you will find plenty of opportunities to shop. For visitors there is a wide range of locally made handicrafts and other goods available at all the popular sites, as well as within the boutiques of the leading hotels and at the various visitor centers. There you will find hand-woven rugs and cushions, beautifully embroidered items and clothing, traditional pottery, glassware, silver jewelry embedded with semi-precious stones, Bedouin knives, coffee pots, narghiles (hubble bubble), marquetry work, antiques and other artifacts. The list is endless and about as varied as you can imagine.

Take time to visit the souks in Jordan’s larger towns and cities. These are treasure troves for those seeking something a little bit out of the ordinary. Within the souks are also excellent gold and silver outlets, where some great bargains can be found. Also worth visiting are the busy market shops, especially for exotic spices, herbs and seasonings.

Both Amman and Aqaba offer sophisticated shops and boutiques selling the very latest fashions in jewellery, clothing, accessories, leather and electronic goods.

When in Amman, don’t forget to visit Al-Wakalat Street to find all European and North American brand stores lining the streets and offering their latest collections, as well as in the many malls available throughout the city. Also, Rainbow Street is a great tourist area, where many handicraft stores, coffee shops, and lounges overlook the paved lanes.

Almost everywhere in Jordan you can find the world-famous Dead Sea spa products. All are of excellent quality and produced under strict clinical conditions. They are also very reasonably priced.

In all cases, the shopkeepers are helpful and friendly. Most speak at least a little English but even if they don’t, there is usually someone around who will only be very willing to assist you. After all, this is Jordan!

LOCAL TIME

October – March: Greenwich Mean Time plus 2 hours (G.M.T. + 2).

April – September: Greenwich Mean Time plus 3 hours (G.M.T. + 3).

Jordan is seven hours ahead of US Eastern Time.

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone services within Jordan are efficient and reliable. Directories in Arabic and English are widely available and international calls can be made from public and private phones. Fax services are available at most hotels while telegrams can be sent from post offices. Internet access is widespread via Internet cafes and hotels.

CURRENCY

The local currency is the Jordanian Dinar, symbol JD, also pronounced as “jaydee.” There are 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 JD notes. The dinar is divided into 100 piasters (pronounced “pee-asters”) of 1000 fils (“fills”). The fils is the unit most commonly used and you will usually see prices written as 4,750 (which is 4 JD and 750 fils).

Currency can be exchanged at major banks, exchange booths and at most hotels. Street money-changers are best avoided. Exchange rates are set daily by the Jordanian Central Bank.

It’s better to know also the following information

 Air Transport

Besides Royal Jordanian, more than 20 international air carriers fly into Queen Alia International Airport, located 35km south of Amman. The flying time from the major European cities is about four hours. The easiest way to get to downtown Amman from Airport is by taxi; the Journey takes 30-45 minutes, and the fare is about 15 JDs (equivalent to around $22). However, shuttle buses to the city centre bus station are also available, leaving the Airport every half-hour.

Airports

Queen Alia International Airport

Conveniently located within 50 minutes of Amman’s downtown, Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) is considered to be the main airport in Jordan and is serviced by many global airline carriers.

Taxis are readily available outside the terminals. Shuttle buses also link QAIA with Amman’s South terminal (and back) every half-hour between 06.00 and 16:30, every hour between 17:00- 00.00, and every hour between 00:00 – 03:00am only Airport – Amman. The cost of the ticket is JOD3.00.

GROUND TRANSPORT

Taxis

Taxis are inexpensive and often the most convenient form of transportation in Jordan, even over substantial distances, such as the trip between Amman and Aqaba. The white-painted “service taxis” ride fixed routes and are shared. Private taxis are painted yellow; they can be taken from ranks outside larger hotels, or hailed in the street. Taxis have metres, but these are not always used at night, so it is advisable to agree on the cost beforehand. The same applies to long journeys. Taxi drivers are friendly, know the city well, and usually speak English. It is considered appropriate for a woman to sit in the back of the taxi. Tipping isn’t compulsory, but it is customary to add about 200 fils (20 piasters) to the price of the metre.

EMBASSIES

MEDICAL CARE

Medical services are excellent in Jordan and most doctors are bilingual in Arabic and English. Larger hotels have a doctor on call and embassies can also suggest doctors and hospitals.

BUSINESS HOURS

Friday is the weekly holiday. Banks, government offices and most businesses are closed on Saturdays as well. Many businesses, including airline offices, travel agencies and some shops also close on Thursday afternoon, although department stores and supermarkets remain open. A few businesses and shops close for some of Sunday as well.

FEASTING IN JORDAN

Rich Jordanian food coupled with famous Jordanian hospitality creates an atmosphere of festivities each time a meal is served.

Feasting is a preoccupation not only of Jordan, but of the Middle East as a whole.

Mealtime in Jordan is not merely a biological function, but rather a social event. Jordanians are generally grouped during mealtime and are presented with food in a collective manner.

Food is a very important aspect within the Jordanian culture. In most villages, meals are a community event with the immediate and extended family present. In addition, food is commonly used by Jordanians to express their hospitality and generosity. Jordanians by nature are very hospital people and, often, it is presented within minutes of a person’s invitation to a local house.

It is with pride that Jordanians serve family, friends, and guests in their homes; no matter how modest their means.

A ‘Jordanian invitation’ means that you are expected to bring nothing and eat everything. This invitation is followed by the popular Arabic phrase “Sahtain wa ‘Afiya.”

Of course, when we discuss Jordanian food, we have to mention- at length- the most distinctive Jordanian dish, Mansaf.

Mansaf is the national dish of Jordan which often symbolizes an occasion.It consists of Arabic rice, a rich broth made from dry sour milk (jameed), and either lamb or chicken. Whether Jordanians are celebrating a graduation, an engagement, or a wedding, Mansaf is commonly served. In addition, Mansaf is also served during condolences and as a means to patch up ties with others.

Feasting on Mansaf is taken seriously, and hours are spent in its preparations.

Mansaf on the menu is the greatest symbol in Jordanian culture for generosity. The level of generosity is determined by the amount of lamb presented. Utensils are not commonly used when eating Mansaf.

Guests feast from the communal dish using their hands, due to the fact that it symbolizes a social community gathering. The grand presentation is placed in the middle of the dining setting.

Another delicacy that is popular in Jordan is stuffed baby lamb. It consists of roasted lamb, stuffed with rice, chopped onions, nuts and raisins.

There is also Al-Zarb, the name given to an oven that is dug one metre deep into the ground and is about 60cm in diameter, and coated with bricks while the bottom is left as is. It is also the name of the lamb dish cooked in this oven.

No matter what your preference, Jordanian cuisine will most definitely offer you something to please your taste buds.

RELIGION

Jordan is an ideal destination for those seeking cultural knowledge and spiritual enrichment. Jordan values its ethnically and religiously diverse population, consequently providing for the cultural rights of all its citizens. This spirit of tolerance and appreciation is one of the central elements contributing to the stable and peaceful cultural climate flourishing in Jordan. More than 92% of Jordanians are Sunni Muslims and approximately 6% are Christians. The majority of Christians belong to the Greek Orthodox Church, but there are also Greek Catholics, a small Roman Catholic community, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and a few Protestant denominations. Several small Shi’a and Druze populations can also be found in Jordan.

As Jordan is predominantly an Islamic country, one may explore the principles of Islam through direct interaction with the people of this monotheistic religion. As the capstone of a long tradition beginning with Judaism and Christianity, Muslims believe that Islam completes the revelation of God’s message to humankind. Islam – which in Arabic means “submission” – is an assertion of the unity, completeness, and sovereignty of God. Muslims believe that God, or Allah as He is known in Arabic, revealed his final message to humankind through the Prophet Muhammad and the Holy Qur’an, which is the divine immutable word of God. Islam focuses heavily on the equality of all humans before the one true God, and therefore it is in many ways a return to the original doctrine of the pure monotheism that characterized the early Judeo-Christian tradition.

Islamic tradition has crystallized five fundamental observances, or “pillars,” that are as important as faith in defining Islamic identity and strengthening the common bond that ties all Muslims together. They are Confession of Faith, Daily Prayer (five times per day facing the holy city of Mecca), Fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Almsgiving, and Pilgrimage to Mecca.