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Hilton in Aqaba
Thursday, February 20, 2007 |
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To run KHIA in Aqaba Aqaba Airports Company announced
Thursday, February 20, 2007 |
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France’s 2nd biggest investor in Jordan
Thursday, February 20, 2007 |
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Gov’t qualifies three companies for Disi project
Thursday, February 20, 2007 |
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Overall arrivals rise 13 % in 2006
Monday, February 19, 2007 |
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4 areas earmarked for construction of high-rises
Monday, February 19, 2007 |
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Housing Ministry budget set at JD125 million
Sunday, February 18, 2007 |
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Jordan looks to attract Gulf investment
Wednesday, January 24, 2007 |
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All News
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State and Government:
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
is a constitutional monarchy,
ruled since 1952 by His Majesty
King Hussein. With the passing
of the monarch in February of
1999, the King’s eldest son, His
Majesty King Abdullah, ascended
the throne. In Jordan, executive
power is vested in the Council
of Ministers which is appointed
by the King, and which is
accountable to a two houses
parliament. The 40 members of
the Upper House are appointed by
the King, while the 80 deputies
of the Lower House are elected
by popular vote.
Since 1989 all elements of the
Jordanian political spectrum
have demonstrated commitment to
increased democracy,
liberalization and consensus
building. These reforms, which
have been guided by the late
King Hussein, have placed Jordan
on an irreversible path toward
democratization.
The remarkably stable political
and social climate that Jordan
has enjoyed for decades under
the Hashemite Dynasty continues
to thrive under His Majesty King
Abdullah’s leadership. The new
King has undertaken his father’s
legacy of reform, committing his
country to the goals of
privatization, economic
liberalization, and
modernization of the law.
Geography:
Strategically positioned at the
convergence of Europe, Asia and
Africa, Jordan’s 89,342 square
kilometers present a diversity
of landscapes. From the hills
and mountains of the geographic
center of Jordan, the Badia
Plains extend in an eastward
direction into Saudi Arabia. The
Jordan River, flowing through
the fertile Rift Valley, forms
Jordan’s western boundary and
terminates in the Dead Sea. This
body of water lies at the lowest
point on earth, 400 meters below
sea level. To the south, the
Port of Aqaba provides Jordan
with a gateway to the Red Sea.
Amman:
Spread over 19 hills, Amman,
Jordan's capital is an ancient
city, first known as Rabbath 'Ammon
in the Iron Age and later as
Philadelphia, which is one of
several Greco-Roman cities in
the urban confederation known as
the Despoils, and which is now
referred to as the white city,
due to its canvas of stone
houses.
One of Amman's treasures is the
Roman Byzantine and early
Islamic ruins on Jabal al-Qal'a
(Citadel Hill); a 2C AD Roman
theater built to hold 5,000
spectators, and an
archaeological museum.
Amman has many fine hotels,
restaurants, art galleries and
museums. Shopping amenities vary
from old markets and souqs full
of gold and spices to modern
boutiques offering local
handicrafts and imported
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Tourism:
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Besides Amman,
northern Jordan is home
to other ancient cities
of the Despoils. These
include Jarash (Gerasa),
Umm Qays (Gadara),
Tabaqat Fahl (Pella),
Bayt Ras (Capitolias),
and Quwayliba (Abila).
Jarash, straddling one
of the ancient world's
key trade routes, offers
extensive and
breathtaking ruins of
colonnaded streets,
arches, temples, and
baths in a remarkable
state of preservation
and completeness. |
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Tabaqat Fahl, in the
northern valley, has
yielded an impressive
display of
archaeological evidence
revealing human presence
from early Neolithic
times to the present.
These include the
remains of a Bronze Age
fort, a 1C AD theatre, a
100,000 gallon Byzantine
cistern, along with
churches, houses, and
shops from various
periods. |
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Tabaqat Fahl, in the
northern valley, has
yielded an impressive
display of
archaeological evidence
revealing human presence
from early Neolithic
times to the present.
These include the
remains of a Bronze Age
fort, a 1C AD theatre, a
100,000 gallon Byzantine
cistern, along with
churches, houses, and
shops from various
periods.
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Tabaqat Fahl, in the
northern valley, has
yielded an impressive
display of
archaeological evidence
revealing human presence
from early Neolithic
times to the present.
These include the
remains of a Bronze Age
fort, a 1C AD theatre, a
100,000 gallon Byzantine
cistern, along with
churches, houses, and
shops from various
periods. |
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Umm Qays offers
fascinating ruins; a
stunning black basalt
theatre, a colonnaded
main street, a city gate
and a museum in a
restored Ottoman house,
among others. Besides
these ruins, Umm Qays
offers a spectacular
view of the Jordan
Valley, the Sea of
Galilee, and the Golan
Heights.
Moreover, Jordan
contains many religious
sites. The country is
part of the Holy land
that gave birth to three
of the world's great
monotheistic religions.
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Madaba is an
archaeological
park, and an
ancient city of
mosaics; it has
the oldest
preserved
ancient mosaic
map of the holy
land. To the
west is Mount
Nebo,
traditionally
believed to be
the burial place
of Prophet
Moses.
East of the
River Jordan, is
Wadi Kharrar,
where Jesus
withdrew when
the crowds in
Jerusalem
threatened him.
South of Wadi
Kharrar is the
biblical Bethany
Beyond the
Jordan, the
place where John
the Baptist
lived, Jesus
Christ was
baptized, and
Elijah ascended
to heaven.
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Jordan is also very
popular with its Red
Rose city of Petra. This
2000-year-old Nabatean
city, carved into
rose-colored stone and
hidden from view by
mountains, was lost to
the world for over 1000
years, but was
rediscovered in 1812 AD.
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Petra is
entering only
through one
passage known as
the siq, a
narrow crevice
in the rock.
Petra offers
onlookers al
Khazna
(treasury),
which is carved
out of solid
rock, the High
Place of
Sacrifice above
the city, a
theatre seating
up to 8000
people, and the
Dayr
(monastery),
which is found
at the top of
the hills.
In addition to
the ruins in
Petra, Jabal al-Bayda
is one of the
oldest sites in
the Middle East
showing evidence
of habitation by
Pre-Pottery
Neolithic
humans.
Excavations
indicate that
these early
people were
herders who were
beginning to
experiment with
a semi-settled
agricultural
existence.
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Jordan offers other
unique experiences. Wadi
Rum's (Ramm) beautiful
mountains are one of
hikers and campers
favorite destinations.
Campers marvel nights
under brilliant stars
surrounded by rugged
mountains and desert.
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Jordan also has
six nature
reserves that
include some of
the country's
most beautiful
landscapes. To
mention just a
few; Mahmiyyat
al Mujib, which
surrounds al
Mujib, a deep,
majestic canyon,
the natural
treasures of
Wadi Dana, which
offer intriguing
archaeological
ruins, and
Mahmiyyat Zubya
located in the
highlands of
Ajlun |
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Jordan is very
popular for
having the
lowest spot on
earth, the Dead
Sea, which is
also
appropriately
named, as its
high mineral
content allows
nothing to live
in its waters.
The shoreline of
the Dead Sea
stands at 1300
feet below sea
level, water
does not drain
from this lake
and its salinity
ranges from
26-35 percent.
And Jordan's
only outlet to
sea is Aqaba,
which enjoys a
spectacular Red
Sea setting of
purple colored
mountains and
sandy beaches.
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Aqaba offers
visitors
pleasures such
as scuba diving,
snorkeling, and
a full range of
other water
sports. Several
archaeological
sites are being
excavated in
Aqaba, such as
the ancient Ayla,
which is marked
by a walled
early Islamic
city, a crusader
island fortress
and a medieval
Arab fort.
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Besides its natural
treasures, the country
offers its tourists the
experience of true
Jordanian hospitality.
Climate and Clothing:
Jordan is blessing
with a moderate
Mediterranean climate
and it is arid and
moderate in temperature.
Winter temperatures in
Amman average around 7 –
10 ° C in January, with
July temperatures
reaching 23 - 27° C.
Population:
Jordan’s population
of 5.5 million is 92%
Jordanian and 8%
non-Jordanian. Gender
distribution is fairly
even at 52% male, 48%
female. The country is
young, with 40% of the
population under the age
of 15, and only 3% over
the age of 65.
Language:
Arabic is the
official language, but
English is spoken
widely, especially in
business.
Currency and Credit
Cards:
The Jordanian
currency is the Dinar,
or JD. It is subdivided
into 1000 fils, or 100
piasters. Exchange rate
is approximately USD 1 =
JD 0.71.
Credit cards are
accepted at most large
hotels, restaurants, and
most stores. The most
widely accepted cards
are American Express,
Visa, Diners Club and
MasterCard.
Electrical:
Jordan’s electricity
supply is 220 volts/50
cycles AC. Most hotels
can accommodate 110
volts. Sockets are
generally of the
two-pronged European
variety. Most varieties
of adaptors and
transformers are
available.
Weights and Measures:
Jordan operates on
the metric system.
Length counting in
meters, distances in
kilometers, weight in
kilograms and volume in
liters.
Time:
From end of October
through end of March,
Jordan time is GMT +2,
the rest of the year,
Jordan is GMT +3.
Working Days & Hours:
Most private
businesses observe
Friday as the weekly
holiday, while banks and
government offices close
on Fridays and
Saturdays. Business
hours are from 8:00 to
15:00. Shopping hours
are flexible and
generally, shops are
open until 22:00. Most
shops are closing on
Fridays except for
shopping centers.
Jordanian labor law
limits most workers to
48 hours per week,
Visas & Working
Permits:
Visas are required
for entry into Jordan.
Fees and length of stay
vary according to the
visitor’s nationality.
Visas can be obtained
either from a Jordanian
diplomatic mission, or
for some nationalities,
at point of entry.
Work permits are
required from the
Ministry of Labor, and
are issued for a period
of one year
Tipping:
It is recommended
that you leave a 10% tip
in places where there is
no service charge in
accordance with the
quality of the service.
Taxis are not tipped but
it is customary to pay
the nearest round figure
to the price on the
meter.
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Official Magazine
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Official Hotel
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Official Contractor
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