Time
GMT plus 2 hours in winter, GMT plus 3 hours in summer.
Geography
Jordan is bounded by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudi
Arabia to the south and Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip to the
west. The only access to the sea is at Aqaba at the northern tip of
the Gulf of Aqaba and about 400km south of the capital Amman.
There are three major geographical regions - the Jordan Rift Valley,
the Eastern Uplands and the desert. Settlement is concentrated in
northern and central sections of the uplands which run in a narrow
strip from the Syrian border in the north to the Shubak/Petra area
in the south.
Climate
The climate is Mediterranean with dry, warm to hot summers and wet,
mild to cool winters. There are noticeable variations due to
altitude with temperatures in the Jordan Valley and Aqaba region
around 10 degrees Centigrade (C) higher on average than the
highlands area throughout the year. Daytime temperatures in the
highlands range from 25 to 32 degrees C in summer and from 7 to 15
degrees C in winter. Rainfall ranges from 40cm annually in the
northern highlands to 10cm in the south and 20cm in the Jordan
Valley.
Dress codes
Lightweight clothing is needed during the hottest months and warm
clothing in winter when snow is not uncommon.
Entry requirements
Passports
Required by all (with a few exceptions, mainly for neighboring
states and service personnel). There must be at least six months
validity on passport from date a visa is issued.
Visa
Required Visas are issued from Jordanian diplomatic and consular
missions abroad or from major ports of entry according to
regulations based on reciprocity with all countries according to the
following categories:
Citizens of the following countries are required to obtain a visa
2-4 weeks in advance:
A. Africa:
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central
African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cote d'lviore, Djibouti, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana,
Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria,
Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda,
Zambia.
B. Asia:
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Iran, Laos, Lebanon,
Mangolia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Sri
Lanka, Vietnam.
C. Europe:
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia.
D. South America:
Belize, Colombia, Cuba.
Citizens from all other countries except for those from Bahrain,
Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab
Emirates, and Yemen (exempt from visa to Jordan), are required to
obtain a visa from the Jordanian missions, consulates abroad or
border points upon their arrival to kingdom.
Applicants for a visa should attach a recent colored photo with the
passport (minimum validity of six months) and fees.
Since Jordan's membership with the WTO, visa fees were set as
follows:
1- JD10 for a single entry.
2- JD20 for a multiple entry.Please visit the
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
website for up-to-date information.
Currency advice/regulations
There are no restrictions on the import or export of foreign or
Jordanian currency. In addition to the banks, there are licensed
money-changers supervised by the CBJ, but free to set their own
exchange rates and commission fees, which generally makes them more
competitive than the banks.
Prohibited imports
A negative list (list of products that may not be imported) is in
operation. It is prohibited to import certain commodities into
Jordan in order to protect the safety and health of all fauna and
flora, national security and property.
Health (for visitors)
Mandatory precautions
There are no automatic health checks at entry points but travelers
arriving from areas with infectious diseases such as cholera are
expected to have had appropriate vaccinations.
Credit cards
Major credit cards are accepted in most shopping centers, hotels and
restaurants.
Public holidays
¤Islamic New Year January 20, 2007
Birthday of His Majesty King Abdullah January 30, 2007
¤Birth of the Prophet Muhammad March 31, 2007
Labour Day May 1, 2007
Independence Day May 25, 2007
King Abdullah's Accession to the Throne June 9, 2007
¤Isra Me'raj August 10, 2007
¤ Beginning of Ramadan September 13, 2007
¤Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) October 13 - 15, 2007
Late King Hussein's Birthday November 14, 2007
¤Eid al-Adha December 20 - 23, 2007
Christmas Day December 25, 2007
¤ The date for this holiday is subject to change.
Fixed dates
1 Jan (New Year's Day), 30 Jan (King Abdullah II's Birthday), 1 May
(Labor Day), 25 May (Independence Day), 14 Nov (King Hussein's
Birthday).
Variable dates
Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan) (Dec; Jan), Eid al-Adha (Mar), Hijra
New Year (Apr), Prophet's Birthday (Jun), Eid al-Isra wi'all Miraj
(Oct), Ramadan (Nov).
Christians also observe eastern calendar Palm Sunday and Easter
Sunday, and Christmas and Boxing Days.
Working hours
9:00- 300 (Sun-Thu); some businesses have 9:00 to 5:00 working hours
with one hour lunch usually between 1:00 and 2:00 PM.
Telecommunications
Jordan enjoys a sophisticated communications infrastructure,
recognized as one of the most developed in the MENA region. Building
on this already developed network, the government is creating a
nationwide broadband network to connect all public schools,
universities and colleges.
Postal services
Domestic and overseas services are generally cheap and reliable.
However, sending packages overseas is very expensive, and delivery
can take up to six months.
Mobile phones
There are four mobile operators serving over 2 million subscribers.
All mobiles use the GSM system and have roaming capabilities to most
of the world.
Electricity supply
Domestic 220V, 50 cycles AC. Industrial 220-380V 50 cycles AC.
Lamp sockets are screw-type, and there is a wide range of wall
sockets. Bring a universal adapter.
Weights and measures
Metric system. Land is measured in dunums (1,000sq metres).
Security
Street crime is rare in Jordan, with mugging virtually unheard of.
Getting there
Air
Queen Alia International Airport is normally served by the following
foreign airlines: Aeroflot, Air France, Alitalia, British Airways
(resumed flights on 5 December 1994), Cyprus Airways, Egyptair,
Emirates Airlines, Gulf Air, KLM, Lufthansa, Middle East Airways,
Pakistan International Airways, Saudia, Swissair, Turkish Airlines
and Yemenia.
National airline: Royal Jordanian Airlines
Main airport: Queen Alia International Airport, 30km south of Amman
Airport tax: There is a passenger service charge for international
departures JD25 (nationals), JD15 (nationals residing in Arab
countries), JD10 (non-nationals) and JD3.50 for transit passengers.
Land
Road: King Hussein Bridge is the only way to cross the Jordan river
from Israel, and only the official minibus services are allowed to
cross it. There are also buses and taxis from Syria, where the only
border crossing point is at Ramtha/Der'a. There are a number of
routes into Jordan from Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
Rail: Cross-border rail links are largely for freighting purposes.
Water: There are ferry services, including car ferries, between
Aqaba and Nuweiba in Egypt.
Main ports: Aqaba is the country's only port.
Getting about
National transport
Air: The only internal air route is between Amman and Aqaba. Royal
Jordanian operate regular flights. Arab Wings offer a charter
service.
Road: The road network is good, with well-surfaced main roads
connecting all the major towns and cities. The Jordanian Express
Tourist Transport Company (JETT) runs extensive bus services, and
there are also reliable service taxis.
Rail: The rail network is generally used for cargo, although there
are initiatives under way to provide tourist services, in particular
between Amman and Aqaba.
City transport
Taxis: Metered taxis are readily available in Amman and other cities
(do not let your driver forget to switch on his meter). Can be hired
for the journey, or the day for an agreed sum. There are also many
service taxis offering a standard charge for any journey. Since
there are few street names outside Amman, destinations are generally
described in relation to landmarks.
Tipping approximately 10 per cent.
Buses/trams: There are frequent bus services in Amman.
Car hire
National or international driving license required. Driver must be
at least 25-years old and not over 60. Speed limit is 100kph.
Insurance is compulsory. |
