 GENERAL INFORMATIONS |
| Visa requirements |
Any non Arab visitor to Jordan, whether entering for business or as a tourist, needs an entry visa. The fee required for a visa, as well as the length of stay which is granted, depends on the visitor's nationality.
Although entrance visas are obtainable at the airport fro visitors arriving by airplane, those arriving by land must get a visa prior to arrival. These are obtainable from any Jordanian diplomatic mission abroad, where they generally take a day to receive. Visas cannot be obtained at Jordan's land border crossings.
| Health Requirements |
Inoculations are not required unless you are traveling from an infected location. If you come from a country where diseases such as cholera and yellow fever are prevelant, you will have to show a certificate of inoculation at your point of entry into Jordan. Although not required, it is not a bad idea to have preventative shots for polio, tetanus and typhoid.
Jordan is one of the safest and cleanest countries, but it is nonetheless advisable to take some precautions until your digestive system adjusts. Hotels rated four star and up hace their own filtering systems, and their tap water is safe to drink.
| Religion |
The majority of the country's population (96%) is Sunni Muslim, and a small percentage (4%) of Jordanians are Christians.
| Public Holidays |
Holidays in Jordan are either religious (Islamic or Christian) or celebrations of important events in Joradanian or Arab History. Non Islamic holidays are fixed, while Islamic holidays vary according to the lunar Muslim calendar.
| Islamic Holidays |
As the lunar Hijra calendar is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, each year Islamic holidays fall approximately 11 days earlier than in the previous year. The precise dates are known only shortly before they fall, however, as they depend on the sighting of the moon.
Eid al-Fitr
(Marks the end of Ramadan) | January 8, 2000 | Eid al-Adha
(the end of the month of the Hajj) | March 16, 2000 | Hijra New Year
(Islamic New Year) | April 5, 2000 | Al-Mawlid al-Nabawi al-Sharif
(Prophet Mohammad's birthday | June 14, 2000 | Al-Isra' wa'al Mi'raj
(Prophet Mohammad's visit to heaven) | October 24, 2000 |
| | Business Hours |
Friday and constitute the weekly holiday when government offices are closed. Banks are closed on Friday and Saturday. Most businesses hace a half-day on Thursday, and some businesses take Sunday as a half-day or a complete holiday.
Government departments are open from 08:00 to 15:00 daily except Thursday and Friday. Banks are open from 08:30 to 15:00 daily, except Friday and Saturday. Small shops are open long hours, from around 09:00 until 20:00 or 21:00, often closing for a couple of hours in the mid-afternoon. Most Muslim shop owners close early or do not open on Friday, and Christians follow similar rules on Sunday. However, the markets and street stalls downtown remain open all week long, and Friday is their busiest day of the week. During Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, business hours are shorter. Museums are generally open every day except Tuesday, but opening hours sometimes vary.
| Currency |
The Jordanian currency is the Dinar or JD. It is subdivided into 1000 fils or 100 qirsh or piasters. It appears in pater notes of 50, 20, 10, 2,and 1 denominations. Coins come in denominations of 1, ½, ¼ JD, and 100, 25, 10, 5, and 1fils.
The exchange rate has been pretty stable and is more or less $1 = 0.70JD.
Credit Cards are accepted in most commercial and hotel areas, but ATM's can usually only be used with a Jordanian credit card.
| Post and Communications |
Postal services are usually efficient, and communications are reliable and modern. Cellular communication is wide-spread, and it is easy to acquire a cellular account with the national provider Fastlink. Internet communications are also growing rapidly, and numerous internet cafés have opened downtown and around the Amman University. To obtain a pre-paid internet service card, contact Global One for a temporary account and e-mail service (see www.go.com.jo for more information).
| Artisans and antiques |
To sample the local craftsmanship, visit the Bedouin's Bazaar, a small and quaint store which sells and buys antiques, jewelery, pottery, hand made oriental rugs and carpets, and all kinds of gifts and souvenirs. The Bedouin Bazaar is located in Amman, between the 7th and 8th Circle, next to the American School and Royal Automobile Club, tel: 56-2-582-4485.
| Driving Services in and around Amman |
For the business person looking for a reliable driver who knows the city of Amman, contact Mr. Munir Aziz, tel: 582-7414, cellular: 07-473-3583. |
