Helpful Facts
Facts
| Name |
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan |
| Area |
97.740 square km |
| Population |
5.5 million |
| People |
Arabs, Circassians |
| Official language |
Arabic |
| Religion |
Islam, Christianity |
| Time |
GMT +2 (winter), GMT +3 (summer) |
Visa
All visitors need a valid passport at least for six months and non Arabs need an entry visa. The visa fee and the length of stay depends on the nationality. Entrance visas are for many nationalities obtainable at the airport and at Jordan’s land border crossings except at King Hussein Bridge. Visas obtained in Jordanian consulates are valid for 3 to 4 months from the date of issue, and can be issued for multiple entries. Tourist visas allow a stay of up to one month initially. This period can be extended for up to another two months. After that date you must exit and re-enter the country, or undergo immigration procedures. If your visa has not been renewed properly by the time you will have to pay a fine at the border. If you plan to stay for more than two weeks in Jordan, you need to register at the nearest police station. We recommend to contact the embassy or consulate in your country, also visa issues may have changed.
Departure Tax
There are three departure taxes from Jordan:
5 Jordanian Dinars (JD) across land borders (8 JD for Jordanians),
5 JD from Aqaba by sea
10 JD when leaving by airplane (25 JD for Jordanians).
Climate
Spring and autumn are the most pleasant times to travel as days are sunny and temperatures are moderate. Summertime, especially July and August, is hot with temperatures over 36°C, the winter months can be very cold, even with snow. Good places for this time are Aqaba and the Dead Sea, where temperatures are still over 20°C.
For summertime light and casual clothes during day and some warmer clothes for evenings are recommended. It can be very cold in winter, especially in Amman, so raincoats and heavy jackets are needed. Sunset in winter is around 4:30am and in summer around 7:30pm.
Health
Inoculations are not required unless you are traveling from an infected location. If you come from a country where cholera and yellow fever are prevalent, you will have to show a certificate of inoculation. It is advisable to have active polio and tetanus vaccinations. Jordan is a clean country, but nevertheless bottled water is recommended, fruit and vegetables should be washed thoroughly. Salads and cold meats which have been sitting out for a long time should be avoided, especially during summer months.
Medical services are well developed throughout Jordan, with a medical center or clinic in every town and village. There are hospitals in Amman, Aqaba, Ma’an, Kerak, Madaba, Zarqa, Irbid, Ramtha and Petra. In larger towns many doctors have been trained overseas and speak English. We advise to check the current health information before you travel.
Currency
Currency unit: Jordanian Dinar (JOD) = 100 Piasters.
Notes: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 dinars.
Coins: 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 50 piasters.
Business Hours
Government departments: 8:00am to 2:00pm except Friday.
Banks: Sunday to Thursday 8:30am to 1:00pm, some also from 4:00 to 6:00pm.
Museums open every day except Tuesday.
During Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, business hours are shorter.
Customs
Jordan is a Muslim country and especially for women it is advisable to cover shoulders and knees in public. Before entering a mosque women have to cover their hair and men should wear long trousers.
Electrical Current
Jordan’s electricity supply is 220 volts/50 cycles AC. Sockets are generally of the two-pronged European variety, while a variety of other sockets and plugs especially the 13 amp square three-pinned plug are in use. To be on the safe side, bring a multi purpose adapter.
Tipping
Many of the better hotels and restaurants will add a gratuity of about 10% to your bill. However, smaller establishments usually expect you to leave a tip. Taxi drivers are generally not tipped, but it is customary to pay the nearest round figure to the price on the meter. It may be difficult to get change for a large bill, so carry plenty of small denominations and coins for taxis.
| Useful Numbers |
| Police |
192 |
| Ambulance & First Aid |
193 |
| Highway police (Amman) |
5343402 |
| Traffic Accident (Amman) |
4896930 |
| Queen Alia Airport Flight Information (Royal Jordanian) |
4453200 |
| Queen Alia Airport Flight Information (other airlines) |
4452700 |
| Royal Jordanian Airline (Reservations) |
5678321 |
