Jordan - Country Information

Film Commissions

The Royal Film Commission - Jordan
Tel: 6 464 22 66, 6 463 2581 Fax: 6 464 22 99
E-mail: info@film.jo
Website: www.film.jo
 Pernilla Frykholm

General Information

Location: Middle East
Local Time: From 28 Mar 08 to 30 Oct 08 GMT +3
From 30 Oct 08 to 27 Mar 09 GMT +2
From 27 Mar 09 to 29 Oct 09 GMT +3
Capital City: Amman
Population: 5.6 million
Area: 92,300 square km, 57,355 square miles.
Language(s): Arabic, English, some French
Dialling Code: 962
Emergency: Police: 192. Fire: 199. Ambulance: 193
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard:
Driving: Driving is on the right. International Driving Permit required. Visitors are not allowed to drive vehicles with Jordanian plates unless a Jordanian licence is held. Rental cars have special plates
Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Jordanian Dinar (JOD 1 = 1,000 Fils)
Notes: JOD: 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 20, 50. Fils: 500
Coins: Fils: 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted

Opening Hours
Bank: 0830-1500 Sun-Thur
Office: 0800-1800 Sat-Thur, 0800-1500 Sun-Thur (Government offices)
Shops: 0900-1300 & 1500-2000 Sat-Thur

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1 New Years Day, Jan 10 Islamic New Year*, Jan 30 King Abdullas Birthday, Mar 20 Birth of Prophet Mohammad*, Mar 21 Good Friday, Mar 23 Easter Monday, May 1 Labour Day, May 25 Independence Day, Jun 10 Army Day, Jul 30 Prophet's Ascension, Sep 2 Ramadam begins, Oct 2 Eid Al Fitr (End of Ramadam)*, Nov 14 Late King Husseins Birthday, Dec 9 Eid Al Adha*, Dec 25 Christmas Day, Dec 29 Islamic New Year
* Dates may vary according to the lunar calendar

Business/Social Hints: Women should dress conventionally. Business is conducted in Arabic, many executives speak English, some speak French or German. Business cards to have Arabic translation on reverse side. Islamic conventions apply. At meetings it is polite to drink coffee or tea, when offered. It is the convention to use the right and not the left hand when shaking hands and passing or receiving anything. Smoking is generally accepted. Alcohol is generally available in most major hotels. Eating and drinking in public during Ramadan should be avoided. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants, be punctual and dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated

Tipping: A service & government tax of 13% is added to the bill, additional tips are not necessary but it is customary to leave around 5%. Tips for taxis around 10%

Health

Reciprocal health:

Compulsory vaccinations: Yellow fever certificate if arriving from infected areas. Exempt infants under 1 year.

Recommended immunisations: Diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, polio, TB*, tetanus, typhoid, rabies
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Restrictions: Holders of temporary travel documents issued by European countries & United States to foreigners resident in those countries, must obtain prior approval from the Ministry of the Interior

Passports

Required, but NOT by the following:
1) Holders of passports expired a maximum of 5 years issued to nationals of Jordan
2) Holders of Laissez-Passer issued by Arab countries to Palestinians provided holding tickets & documents for onward travel

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond intended stay

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Jordan
2) For stays up to 3 months by nationals of Lebanon
2) For stays up to 1 month by nationals of Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates & Yemen
3) Holders of a residence permit and/or re-entry permit issued by jorda, provided their stay outside jordan does not exceed 6 months

The following can obtain a visa by personal invitation only:
Nationals of Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina, Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Congo Zaire, Cuba, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Iran, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Macedonia, Madagascar, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia

Notes: On arrival passengers can also obtain a visa upon arrival at the airport (extension possible at nearest police station), without sending advance information
JOD 10 for single entry or transit visa per passport. Payable in JOD only

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:
1) Persons continuing their journey to another country by the same or first connecting aircraft within 24 hours

Notes: 1) Wives, being a national of one of the countries as noted under `Transit' above, but provided being married to a Jordanian national, may obtain a visa on arrival
2) Bona fide tourists may obtain a 14 day transit visa upon arrival if travelling from a neighbouring Arab country with the exception of nationals of Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Rep, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Congo Dem Rep, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Czech Rep, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, India, Iran, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam & Zambia

Exit Permits

Special Notes

Climate

About 80% of the country is desert where summers are consistantly hot and sunny, but occasionally can have cold winters with snow on high ground. What rainfall there is falls in winter and spring. The northwestern area is hilly and is the wettest region with rainfall between Nov-Mar. To the west of this area in the River Jordan Valley winters are mild and summers especially hot and there is little rainfall

Clothing

Lightweights for summer with warmer wear for evenings and winter period. Rainwear needed Nov-Apr

Charts for Amman

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 12 13 16 23 28 31 32 32 31 27 21 15 Min Temp (C) 4 4 6 9 14 16 18 18 17 14 10 6 Humidity am (%) 80 78 57 53 39 40 41 45 53 53 66 77 Humidity pm (%) 56 52 44 34 28 28 30 30 31 31 40 53 Rainfall (mm) 69 74 31 15 5 0 0 0 0 5 33 46

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Jordan Tourism Board
c/o Brighter Resolution
Lee House, 2nd Floor
109 Hammersmith Road
London, W14 0QH
tel: +44 20 7371 6496
fax: +44 20 7603 2424
e-mail: info@jordantourismboard.co.uk
website: www.jordantourismboard.co.uk

Embassy
Embassy of Jordan
6 Upper Phillimore Gardens
London, W8 7HA
tel: +44 20 7937 3685, 0906 550 8968* (visa enq)
fax: +44 20 7937 8795
e-mail: info@jordanembassyuk.org
website: www.jordanembassyuk.org
hours: 0900-1200 (Mon-Fri) lodging, 1300-1400 (Mon-Fri) collection
* calls cost 1 per minute