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About Jordan |Services & Sites | Tour Packages

General Information About Jordan

Currency
The local currency is the Jordanian Dinar, symbol JD, which is often called the “jaydee”. There are 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 JD notes. The dinar is divided onto 100
piasters (pronounced “pee-aster”) 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.

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

Clothing
Jordan is primarily a Muslim country, although the freedom of all religions 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 dress is advisable 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.

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. When Arabic is written in Jordan using the Latin alphabet, English spelling is applied however these spellings can be interpreted in various ways, the spelling for example of street addresses can vary widely. For this reason, the sounds of the words is a much better guide than the spelling. Speaking Arabic is easier than you might think and attempting a few basic words will gain you respect from the locals and is a good way to break the ice. The Jordanian people are extremely understanding and will help you whenever they are able.

Working 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.

 Public Holidays
Banks, businesses, government offices and many shops close all day for public holidays.

A number of public holidays are not fixed. These include Easter and the following Islamic Holidays, which are based on the Lunar calendar:

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 hotel and at the various visitor centers. There you will find hand-woven rugs and cushions, beautifully embroidered items and clothing, traditional pottery, glassware, silver jewelers 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.

Weights & Measures
Jordan uses the metric system

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 2 weeks, but can be extended at any police station. No inoculations are required for entry into Jordan, although preventive shots for hepatitis, polio, tetanus and typhoid are recommended.

Newspapers
The main English-language daily is The Jordan Times. A weekly English language paper, The Star, is published on Thursdays and has a French language supplement. 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.

Radio & Television

Television
Jordan television broadcasts in English and French on Channel 2. Daily programs listings can be found in The Jordan Times. CNN and other international stations are available via satellite at larger hotels.

Radio
Radio Jordan: 24hr English-language service on 96.3FM
BBC World Service: 24hr English-language service on 103.1FM.
Radio Sawa: 24hr English-language service on 98.1 FM

Electrical Current
220 AC volts, 50 cycles, requiring rounded two-prong wall plugs. Visitors from the US will need a transformer which most hotels can provide.

Postal Services
As well as post offices, most 4 and 5-star hotels offer postal services.
Post office opening hours are:
Summer: Sat-Thurs 0700-1900, Fri 0700-1300
Winter: Sat-Thurs 0700-1700, Fri 0700-1300
There are also a number of international courier services, including
DHL, FedEx, TNT International, UPS, etc.

Population
The population of Jordan has grown rapidly over the last fifty years or so to more than 5 million people. Around 80% of the population live in urban areas,
with approximately 2 million living in the capital, Amman.