Jordan is a Muslim country where Islam is the major practiced religion, yet almost 10% of the population ( 7,200,000 ) practice Christianity.
The culture of Jordan follows Arab traditions as the Kingdom is in the heart of the Middle East. The official language is Arabic although English is widely used in commerce, government and taught at public and private schools.
Jordan has diverse communities with many different ethnic groups living in this small country, where 95% of Jordan's population are either Bedouin or from Palestinian origins. The remaining 5% come from different ethnic origins such as Circassia’s, Chechens, Armenians and Kurds.
Jordan is located in the heart of the Middle East. It is northwest of Saudi Arabia. Iraq is located to its east and Palestine to its west. Syria is located to its north. Jordan has access to the Red Sea via the port city of Aqaba, located at the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba.
Alongside traditional culture, Jordan's younger generation are producing new forms of music, arts and theatre. As such, new cultural hotspots are appearing with cafes, bookshops and galleries.
Geographic co-ordinates
29,11 - 33,22 N, 34,59 - 39,18 E
Weather
Jordan is a very sunny country, with over 310 days of sunshine a year. The weather is almost exclusively dry and sunny from May to October, where there is barely any rainfall. Summers are hot but relatively pleasant due to the low humidity in the mountain heights with daytime temperatures frequently exceeding 36°C and averaging about 32°C, while nights are almost exclusively cool and pleasant. In the Jordan valley (dead sea area), summers can be very hot with temperatures reaching into the low forties on occasions, while Aqaba's weather in the south is similar to the Jordan valley’s but with less rainfall.
Hot and dry summers with cool evenings. The Jordan Valley ( dead sea area ), below sea level is warm during winter and extremely hot in summer. Rain falls between November and March, while colder weather conditions occur in December/January.
Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens are advised between May and September. Warmer clothes are necessary for winter and cool summer evenings. Rainwear is needed from November to April.
Daytime temperatures during the summer months frequently exceed 36°C and average about 32°C. In contrast, the winter months--November to April-bring moderately cool and sometimes cold weather, averaging about 13°C. Except in the rift depression, frost is fairly common during the winter, and it rarely snows in Amman.
Shopping - Credit Cards
Credit cards are accepted at hotels, restaurants and larger shops, including American Express, Visa, and MasterCard. Please note that many smaller shops still prefer cash payment in the Jordanian currency, and it’s essential for shopping in the local souks.
Currency
Jordan's currency is the Jordanian Dinar, or JD. It is subdivided into 1000 fils,
