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General
Information |
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Location |
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Jordan is located in the heart of the Middle
East, Northwest of Saudi Arabia, South of Syria,
Southwest of Iraq, and East of Israel and the
Palestenian National Authority. Jordan has
access to the Red Sea via the port city of Aqaba,
located at the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba.
Geographic co-ordinates: 29 - 34 00 N, 35 - 39 E
Area
total: 89,213 sq. km (34, 445 sq. miles)
land: 88,884 sq. km (34, 318 sq. miles)
water: 329 sq. km (127 sq. miles)
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Population:
4.9
million |
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Climate and Geography |
Jordan has a combination of Mediterranean and
arid desert climates, with Mediterranean
prevailing in the North and West of the country,
while the majority of the country is desert.
Generally, the country has warm, dry summers and
mild, wet winters, with annual average
temperatures ranging from 12 to 25 C (54 to 77
F) and summertime highs reaching the 40
C (105-115 F) in the desert regions. Rainfall
averages vary from 50 mm (1.97 inches) annually
in the desert to 800 mm (31.5 inches) in the
northern hills, some of which falls as snow in
some years.
Jordan enjoys a range of geographical features,
starting from the Jordan Rift Valley in the West
ending at the desert plateau of the East, with a
range of small hills running the length of the
country in between.
Lowest Point: Dead Sea, -408 meters (-1338.6
feet)
Highest Point: Jebel Rum, 1734 meters (5689
feet)
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Currency and Exchange Rates |
Jordan's currency is the Jordanian Dinar, or JD.
It is subdivided into 1000 fils, or 100 qirsh or
piastres. It appears in paper notes of 50, 20,
10, 5, 1, and 0.5 JD denominations. Coins come
in denominations of 1 JD, 0.5 JD, 0.25 JD, and
100, 50, 25, 10 and 5 fils. The daily exchange
rate is published in local newspapers.
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Currency |
Lowest buying price
(Fils) |
Highest selling price
(Fils) |
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United States Dollar |
708/00 |
710/00 |
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Great Britain Pound |
998/14 |
1007/85 |
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France Franc |
091/85 |
093/23 |
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Germany Mark |
308/06 |
312/67 |
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Italy Lira |
311/17 |
315/82 |
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Japan Yen |
567/17 |
571/43 |
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Euro |
602/51 |
611/52 |
(As from June 28, 2001)
You can change foreign cash or travellers’
checks at any bank in Jordan. Only travellers’
checks will be charged a commission. Also, there
are authorized money-changers in Amman, Aqaba
and Irbid, and you will usually get a slightly
better rate of exchange at money-changers than
at banks. Hotels of three stars or above will
also change money but at a less favourable rate.
Foreigners are permitted to open accounts at
Jordanian banks in either Jordanian Dinar or in
foreign currencies. Currency exchange operates
under the guidelines and regulations of the
Central Bank of Jordan. The Central Bank also
sets the minimum and maximum interest rates for
financial institutions to follow.
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Entry and Visa Requirements |
Any non-Arab visitor to Jordan, whether for
business or tourism, needs an entry visa.
Therequired fee for a visa in addition to the
granted stay duration depends on the visitor’s
nationality.
Although entrance visas are obtainable at the
airport for 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 be received. Visas cannot be
obtained at Jordan's land border crossings.
Visas obtained in Jordanian consulates are valid
for 3-4 months from the date of issue, and can
be issued for multiple entries. Tourist visas
allow a stay of up to one month initially.
However, this period can easily be extended for
up to another two months. After that date you
must exit and re-enter the country, or undergo
immigration procedures. If your visa has not
been renewed properly by the time you leave
Jordan you will have to pay a fine at the
border. If you plan to stay for more than two
weeks in Jordan, you will need to register at
the nearest police station.
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Health Requirements and Recommendations |
Inoculations are not required unless you are
travelling from an infected location. If you
come from a country where diseases such as
cholera and yellow fever are prevalent, you will
have to show a certificate of inoculation at
your point of entry into Jordan. Although not
required, it is preferable to have preventative
shots against polio, tetanus and typhoid.
Jordan is one of the cleanest and safest
countries, but it is nonetheless advisable to
take some precautions until your digestive
system adjusts. Hotels rated four-star and up
have their own filtering systems, and their tap
water is safe to drink. In other places, bottled
water is recommended. All fruit and vegetables
should be washed thoroughly, and salads and cold
meats which have been sitting out for a long
time should be avoided, especially during summer
months. All Jordanian dairy products are
pasteurised and safe.
Medical services are well developed throughout
Jordan, with a medical centre or clinic in every
town and village. There are hospitals in Amman,
Aqaba, Ma'an, Karak, Madaba, Zarqa, Irbid and
Ramtha. In the larger towns and cities many of
the doctors have been trained overseas and speak
English. Antibiotics and other drugs normally
sold on prescription in the West are often
available over-the-counter in Jordan. You should
carry prescriptions of any medicaments you may
need, making sure you have the generic name as
your specific brand may not be available. If you
wear glasses, bring a spare pair and a copy of
the prescription as well.
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Departure Tax |
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For Non Jordanian
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For Jordanian |
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By Land |
5 JD |
8 JD |
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By Air |
5 JD |
25 JD |
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By Sea and Aqaba |
5 JD |
6 JD |
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