German Jordanian University

Jordan shares borders with Israel and Palestine to the west, Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, and Saudi Arabia to the south. To the south, it has 27 km of coastline on the Red Sea, with Aqaba being its only port. Around 80% of the country is desert, while the West Bank mountains rise to over 1,000 metres.

The Jordan Rift Valley runs from north to south through the country and reaches the lowest point on Earth's surface at the Dead Sea, which lies 395 metres below sea level.

Jordan has a diverse climate, influenced by its geographical location and topography. The northwest, including the capital city of Amman, experiences a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers above 30 °C and mild, rainy winters (12–15 °C). In contrast, the east and south of the country, including Petra and Aqaba, have a desert climate with very hot summers above 40 °C and cool nights. Winters are mild with frosty nights and little rainfall.

The best times to travel are from March to May and from October to November, when the weather is pleasantly mild. Aqaba and other coastal regions are attractive all year round, while the desert is less recommended in summer due to the extreme heat.

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The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a constitutional monarchy. King Abdullah II bin Hussein (in office since 7 February 1999) is the head of state, commander-in-chief of the armed forces and appoints the prime minister and the Council of Ministers.

The parliament consists of the House of Representatives with 110 members (9 seats reserved for Christians, 3 for Circassians and 6 for women) and the Senate with 40 members. Since 22 November 2007, the office of Prime Minister has been held by Nader Dahabi and the office of Foreign Minister by Dr Salahuddin Al Bashir.

The legal system is based on the British model, but there is also an Islamic religious jurisdiction (Sharia).

Jordan is a member of the United Nations (UN), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League.

Jordan's currency is the Jordanian dinar (JOD), which is pegged to the US dollar (1 US$ ≈ 0.709 JOD). Although small, the economy is attractive to foreign investors due to its skilled workforce. Despite regional challenges, the country is experiencing stable economic growth.

Jordan has a population of over 11.5 million, predominantly Sunni Arabs (99.2%). Around 50% of the population are of Palestinian descent. Minorities include Circassians, Armenians and Kurds. The official language is Arabic, but English is widely used in tourist areas and in business. There are also various Bedouin dialects and minority languages (Armenian, Kurdish and Aramaic). Islam is the state religion (93% Sunni), while Christians make up about 5% of the population. Other religions account for 2%.

Education is a high priority in Jordan. Compared to other Arab countries, it invests above average in its education system. School attendance is compulsory for children aged 6 to 15, and the school system leads most pupils to a university entrance qualification (Arabic: ‘Taudschihi’, comparable to the British A-levels) after 12 years.

There are over 20 universities in Jordan, including many private ones. The best-known state universities are: University of Jordan (Amman), Jordan University of Science and Technology (Irbid), Yarmouk University (Irbid) and Al-Balqa University for Applied Sciences (Salt) and the German Jordanian University (Amman), founded in 2005

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Amman, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a city with deep historical roots and dynamic modern development. Today, Amman has a population of around 2.1 million (2005 census), but its journey from a small village to one of the most important metropolises in the Middle East is a remarkable story. While Amman was still a small village with around 2,000 inhabitants in 1900, it developed into the region's leading commercial and economic city in the 20th century, especially after the decline of Beirut in the 1970s and 1980s.

The city's name refers to the Ammonites, a Semitic tribe mentioned in the Old Testament, whose state of Ammon was located in the region. The city was originally called Rabbat-Ammon (often referred to as Rabba).

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The Forum

With more than 7,600 square metres, Philadelphia Square is one of the largest forums in the Roman world. Built in the 2nd century AD, it was used less for trade and more for political activities. Redesigned in 2005, the green space is now a popular meeting place for people of all ages.

Roman Theatre

At the northern foot of Jaufa Hill stands the theatre, arguably the most impressive testament to Roman rule in Amman. Partially buried until 1957, it was restored soon after its excavation. Today, the theatre houses two small museums: the Jordan Folklore Museum and the Jordan Museum of Popular Traditions.

The Hussein Mosque

The Hussein Mosque was built under Emir Abdullah and already represents the tradition of modern Amman. The two minarets, which are different in height and design, are architecturally unique. Amman is not rich in significant Islamic architecture. In addition to the Hussein Mosque, built in 1924, there is also the Abu Darvish Mosque and the Iranian-style King Abdullah Mosque, built in 1989.

The Citadel Hill

Jebel el-Qala, or simply Qala (Arabic for ‘fortress’), is the name given today to the L-shaped citadel hill that towers over the city centre of Amman in the north. This archaeological site is the heart of the city and features remains from various eras, including Roman, Byzantine and Islamic structures. Royal City or Acropolis are older names that mark sections of a settlement history spanning around four thousand years. The citadel hill, which is around 850 metres high, has long since ceased to be inhabited.

Bilateral economic relations and investments between Jordan and Germany are dynamic and diverse, with Germany being one of Jordan's most important trading partners in Europe. Jordan mainly exports clothing, textiles and agricultural products to Germany, while German imports such as vehicles, machinery and chemical products play a central role in the Jordanian economy.

There is close cooperation in the field of technology, particularly in the areas of renewable energies and water management. German direct investment in Jordan, particularly in infrastructure and services, is becoming increasingly important. Germany also supports Jordan with development projects aimed at strengthening economic stability. Despite challenges such as high unemployment and a trade deficit in Jordan, the economy offers great potential for growth and innovative cooperation.

Investment in Jordan has increased in recent years, particularly in the areas of renewable energy, tourism, and potash and phosphate mining. A new investment law is intended to further improve the investment environment and stimulate economic growth.

The Jordanian government's Housing Project aims to help low-income families by building 100,000 apartments. By 2024, over 30,000 residential units had been completed.

Jordan's foreign trade shows important developments, with exports of clothing, fertilisers and chemical products accounting for a significant share. Jordan faces challenges such as heavy dependence on energy imports and regional instability, which place an additional strain on trade. Nevertheless, there are opportunities for economic diversification, particularly through investment in renewable energies and the tourism sector.

The following travel information has been compiled to the best of our knowledge and belief, but errors cannot be ruled out. This collection of practical tips does not claim to be exhaustive.

Banks/Money

The currency unit is the Jordanian dinar (JOD). 1 JOD is divided into 100 piasters or 1000 fils. Fils is the unit commonly used for pricing. There are numerous cash machines in Amman where you can withdraw cash using your EC card or credit card. Cash can be exchanged without any problems at the inexpensive exchange offices.

Food/Drink/Restaurants

There are numerous restaurants in the cities offering Arabic and international cuisine in all price ranges. Jordanian cuisine uses fresh ingredients, the food is generally mildly spiced and easily digestible for Central Europeans.

Alcohol

Islam forbids alcohol, but the consumption of alcoholic beverages is not prohibited by law in Jordan. However, alcohol in public is taboo.

Holidays/Public Holidays

Important national holidays: 30 January (King Abdullah II's birthday), 1 May (Labour Day) and 25 May (Independence Day). Government offices and shops are closed on these holidays. As Islamic holidays are calculated according to the lunar calendar, their dates shift by about 10 days each year in relation to the international calendar. The most important Islamic festivals are: Eid Al-Fitr (approx. 4 days, festival of breaking the fast, after the fasting month of Ramadan), Eid Al-Adha (approx. 4 days, festival of sacrifice at the end of the month of pilgrimage to Mecca). Protected Christian holidays are Christmas (25 December) and Easter (variable).

Photography

Military installations and state utilities such as dams, sewage treatment plants and refineries may not be photographed! When photographing people, you should proceed with particular caution and tact, and always ask first.

Business Hours

The weekly holiday is Friday. Banks, government offices and most shops are also closed on Saturdays. Many shops also close on Thursday afternoons. Department stores and supermarkets are open.

Health/Doctors

Medical care in Amman is good, but outside Amman, Western European standards cannot be expected. Addresses of German-speaking doctors and good hospitals are available from the embassies.

Tip

In hotels and restaurants, ten percent of the bill is customary. In upmarket hotels, the tip is added directly to the bill. In taxis, you can round up, but tipping is not expected. Porters at the airport, parking attendants and other service providers receive a tip of 0.5 to 1 JOD.

Visa and Customs Regulations

Information on visa and customs regulations can be found at the Foreign Office.