A stone’s throw from the holy city of Jerusalem, Jordan is a land steeped in history, religious or otherwise. Periods of Greek and Roman conquest preceded the Byzantine period and Crusades; castles and carvings from all eras litter this wondrous Arabian landscape.
Perhaps the most famous is Petra, a rock-carved metropolis described as “rose-red city half as old as time”; the artistic detail of the well-preserved facades are as impressive as the scale and engineering of the winding caverns that tunnel deep into the canyon wall. The Mabada Mosaic shows a sixth century map of the holy land and there are sacred sites everywhere, from the mountain where Moses first viewed the promised land to ruins of Umm Qais, from which Jesus cast out the demons and sent them running into the sea.
Beyond biblical historicism, there’s plenty to do in the surprisingly diverse Amman, possessed of a strangely split personality as eastern and western halves that seem to draw culturally from opposite ends of Eurasia. Or try a few nights on the Bedouin trail and explore the spectacular desert moonscape of Wadi Rum or the other-worldly beauty of the Dead Sea.
Like the city of Amman itself, the business culture is in a state of flux. Many younger associates will try to strive to appear European in their outlook while older personnel are likely to foster traditional Arab values. They are a complex people and time invested mutual trust and understanding to begin with will pay great dividends in the long run.
Getting there
International flights go to Amman, but there are few long distance flights and none to Canada, Australia or New Zealand. Overland crossings from Syria or Israel and trouble free and straightforward. There is also a regular ferry to Egypt.
Getting around
Buses and minibuses are the staple form of transport. There is no train service and the small size of the country makes domestic air travel unnecessary.
Local information
Language: Arabic
Time: UTC+2
Climate: Semi-arid. Hot, dry summers and cool, damp winters. Temperature: Max 33°C (August), Min 4°C (January). Rainfall: Max 65mm (February), Min 0mm (June-August).
Currency: Jordanian dollar (JOD)
Business etiquette: Dress conservatively; suits are the norm. This is a relationship-driven culture so expect initial deals to take time. Jordanians will rarely say no directly; polite stalling during negotiations often indicates a lack of interest.
Tipping: 10 percent in hotels and restaurants.
Duty free: 200 cigarettes; 1l alcohol ; 2 opened bottles of perfume; gifts to US$150.
Safety: Be particularly vigilant when using ATMS.
Laws: Adultery is punishable by three years imprisonment. It is illegal to photograph military installations.
Healthcare: Vaccinations required for diphtheria, hepatitis A and tetanus. There are hospitals in large cities and clinic in many villages, but health insurance is essential.
Socket type: Type C, Type G, Type J
