The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Capital:  Amman

Airports:  Amman's Queen Alia International Airport is the main airport for international travel.  It is located about 20 miles/32 km from Amman.  The web site for the Jordanian Civil Aviation Authority has information about this and other airports in Jordan, including Marka Airport, a secondary airport in Amman, and Aqaba (Al-Aqabah) airport.

Ferries:  There is a daily ferry boat service that runs between Aqabah and Nuweibah, Egypt.

Currency:  The dinar is the basic monetary unit.  For the current rate of exchange visit the Olson and Anderson web site.

Time Zones:  Current local time. Standard time is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).  Daylight Savings Time is observed from early April (when clocks are advanced one hour) to mid-September.

Languages:  Arabic.  English is also spoken by many citizens in commercial centers.

Visit the CIA World Fact Book for a large variety of particulars regarding Jordan.

Travel Advisories:  Travelers should check the web sites listed on our international pages that provide advice of possible security and health risks when visiting this region.

The web site for the Jordanian Embassy in Washington, DC has a list of embassies around the world and other information of interest to visitors. 

The Arab Net and Al Bawaba web sites are sources of news and information about countries with Arab and Muslim populations in the Middle East and North Africa.

The Jordan Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities web sites are very good resources to begin travel planning for a trip to Jordan.

Three sites in Jordan have been designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.  

The Jordan Meteorological Department provides weather reports and forecasts for the nation and region.

Recommended Reading:  The Blue Guide to Jordan; Lonely Planet - Jordan and Syria | Jordan, Syria and Lebanon travel atlas; Rough Guides - Jordan

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