Is Amman (in Jordan) safe for a Canadian tourist?

Question

I will be in Amman at the beginning of March for work. Is the city generally safe for tourists these days?

Any tips?

I heard Jordanians are particularly warm and welcoming people but was it the state of security in the city right now?

Answer 1

Yes, it's generally a safe city. The Jordanian security are actually quite good despite stereotypes people have. There's been an Israeli embassy in Amman for years that has never had an attack despite years of intifada and other Mideast violence. In Amman and other major tourist sites, there are more police and you may have to go through a search to enter the hotel. I felt safer in Amman than most places I have lived.

As for Jordanians being friendly, that is very true. They are proud of their country and most are glad to have tourists since so much of their economy relies on it. I was in Amman as the war in Iraq broke out -- the region suffered seriously due to few tourists...I was able to visit some amazing historical sites with very few people (i.e. 25 people in Petra the day I was there).

Answer 2

I was in Jordan Sept/Oct. everyone is very friendly and very welcoming! I felt safe and comfortable with my surroundings. The only thing I was worried about, was not speaking Arabic very well. The majority of the people I met were thrilled to have met an American. I can't wait to go back to Jordan!

Answer 3

Jordan is considered a safer middle eastern country than most. But it is still the Middle East. It is also one of the most welcoming to westerners.
It is so sad that that whole area is such a hot bed of war and hatred. Mankind began in that area and it is rich in history. What a shame most of us will never be able to visit. My daughter served a tour in Iraq and saw the area considered to be the Garden of Eden but she was so sad that these are places most can never enjoy.

Answer 4

I'm travelling to both Israel & Jordan over the next few weeks. I'm American. I guess it's in my favor that I look Arabic!!

Answer 5

yes it is safe, u r welcome to come.
its very rare something bad to be happened in Jordan. as 1%

u can visit a lot of religious and historical places like perta.
u will enjoy it

www.visitjordan.com

Answer 6

In my opinion anywhere in the middle east right now I would be extra careful. It might be pretty safe if they are sending you there for work but I would just be cautious just in case.

Answer 7

If somebody is hateful and racist, no place is safe.

If somebody is accepting and friendly, anyplace on Earth is home.

Answer 8

As a Canadian or American or any other nationality, you don't have to worry at all. Last time I was in Jordan, I met many foreigners working there. Some of them lived there for 15-20 years.
Jordanians are very warm and hospitable people.
We were walking around, people use to smile to us and they will say: (welcome.... welcome)
Many people offered us the Arabic tea & coffee - free of charge-
I have a lot of information about Jordan & Amman - the capital-
I will share this with you:

AMMAN:
Amman is where the new world meets the old, gracefully, without conflict. The latest architectures innovation exists side by side with culture of an ancient civilization, and this paradox extends to the people with exquisite manners.

Today, it has grown and extends to become one of the most hospitable cities one can visit.
Initially built on seven main hills, Amman was a small village since the beginning of this century only counting 2000 inhabitants.

Amman is also considered as one of the oldest city on earth, as excavation have shown that people were living there 3500 years before Christ. At this period it was called Rabbat Ammon and has permanently been inhabited since then.

Civilizations followed one another as Amman has always at the crossing of important commercial roads leading to Greece, Syria, Cyprus and Mesopotamia.

Among those civilizations we can mention Ammonites, Babylonians, Seleucides, Nabateans, Romans and Circassians.

Amman became capital of Transjodania in 1920 and capital of Hashemite Kingdom in 1950, today it's a busy town with 2 millions inhabitants.
http://www.ammancity.gov.jo/english/project/p8.asp


PETRA:
Petra is an ancient city of Arabia, in what is now south-western Jordan, immediately east of the village of Wadi Musa. The stronghold and treasure city of the Nabataeans, an Arab people, Petra is referred to as Sela in the Bible.

It was situated in the land of Edom, between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, near the points of intersection of great caravan routes from Gaza on the Mediterranean Sea, from Damascus, from Elath (now Al 'Aqabah, Jordan) on the Red Sea, and from the Persian Gulf. From the 4th century BC until the 2nd century AD, Petra was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom. The Romans conquered it in 106 AD and made it part of the Roman province of Arabia Petraea. The city continued to flourish in the 2nd and 3rd centuries, but later, when the rival city of Palmyra took away most of Petra's trade, the importance of Petra declined.

It was conquered by the Muslims in the 7th century and captured by the Crusaders in the 12th century; gradually it fell into ruins.

The site of the ancient city was rediscovered in 1812. An impregnable fortress, conspicuous both for its great natural beauty and for the magnificence of its monuments, it is approached by a chasm, or ravine, which in some places is only 3.7 m (12 ft) wide and has towering rocky walls.

Along this ravine are the ancient structures carved out of the walls of solid rock, the most famous of which include the Khaznet Firaoun, a temple also known as the Treasury of the Pharaohs, and a semicircular theatre capable of seating about 3000 spectators

All along the face of the pink rocks that overlook the valleys are rows of tombs hewn out of the solid stone. The remains of Petra bear eloquent testimony to its former power, wealth, and culture.
http://www.bibleplaces.com/petra.htm

AQABA:
Ideally located on the border of the Aqaba' gulf, this city enjoys a wonderful weather all year long. Indeed, while one's can be shivering in Amman , mercury can reach 25 degrees C in Aqaba.

It is the only country's opening towards the Red Sea, and the even if the major part of imports and exports arrives in Aqaba' port, the beaches represent an important attraction.
Scuba diving lovers will appreciate the transparency of the waters and the flora and fauna's richness. Especially in Yamanieh, north of the border with Saudi Arabia, known to rank among the most beautiful in the world.
http://www.jordanjubilee.com/outdoors/diving.htm

DEAD SEA:
The Dead Sea is 75 kilometres long and 6 to 16 km wide, it is also the lowest point on earth with approximately 400 meters under the sea level. Its salt concentration gave it its name, indeed no animal or vegetal life is possible with such a salinity rate reaching 33 percent
http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/wsrp/educational_site/dead_sea_scrolls/discovery.shtml

JERASH & AJLUN:
Located 51 kilometers north of Amman, Jerash is one of the most famous tourist places in Jordan. Built on Galaad's hills along the road that leads to Ramtha and Syria, it is the most beautiful example of roman city in Middle East.

Because of its late discovery in 1806, the ruins are perfectly preserved and the restoration works only began in 1925. Until that time the monuments were under the sand and excavation works made this fantastic site come to light. Two theatres, a forum, several temples and churches are the witness of the cultural wealth of those civilizations. Triumph arch, Artemis temple, the forum south theatres are one of the jewels of this unforgettable visit.
The main monument in Ajlun is Qala'at ar Rabad fortress which was erected by the Arabs as a protection against crusaders. From the top you can enjoy the magnificent point of view on the Jordan Valley.
The fortress has been built on a hill two kilometers west of the new town that is 22 km west of Jerash. In the city itself, the mosque and its minaret is the principal attraction.
http://www.atlastours.net/jordan/jerash.html
http://www.world66.com/asia/middleeast/jordan/ajlun


DESERT CASTLES:
East of Amman, a desert, rocky plain extends to Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The two most important cities in that plain are Azraq and as-Safawi and the main attraction in this area are the desert castles.
Most of those castles have been built or transformed by omeyyades sovereigns from Damascus at the end of the VII century, or beginning of the VIII.

The castles of Azraq and Hallabat originate from the Roman epoch and traces of the Nabatean occupation have been found there.
The firsts Arab sovereigns where Bedouins and the reasons why they decided to built castles are still difficult to understand. The best answer to this question is that it is probably for love of the desert, as around those places were usually found artificial oasis with fruits, vegetables and birds.

From Amman only one day is needed to make this instructive excursion that will include Qasr al-Hallabat, Hammam as-Sarakh, Qusayr' Amra, Qasr al-Kharaneh and Qasr al-Mushatta.
South-west of the oasis city of Azraq, lays the nature reserve of Shaumari where some animal species are protected, number of those animals were to be found in this area as it is the only water point in this part of Jordan.
http://www.atlastours.net/jordan/desertcastles.html

WADI RUM:
Tectonics accidents have broken the stones of this desert to make it an unforgettable place in Jordan. This occurred during the primary era, and since then, erosion has shaped the mountains.
Today Wadi Rum offers one the strangest and most breathtaking landscape on earth.

The Jebel Rum culminates 1754 meters above the sea level which is the highest point in Jordan. Some important spot have made of the Wadi Rum a famous place for movies. Laurence's well is a spring from which you have a beautiful point of view on the Jebel Khazali.
Another spring can be seen only 500 meters from the village of Rum. It is the biggest in the Wadi Rum with few small trees around. There numerous nabateans inscriptions near Lawrence's well and others that have been left by the Saudi Arabian thamud's tribe.
A natural arch suspended over the Wadi and a narrow canyon is other attractions. Bedouin, nabatean, thamudean and pre-Islamic inscriptions are carved in the stone in many different points. But the most interesting of a visit is still the desert and in order to enjoy it entirely, you have to leave the village. There sleeping in the open is a wonderful experience because the desert is so quiet that it can resound and the only sound that can be heard is the singing of bedouins. On top of that sunset and sunrise, with a very pure air can allow to see the green light, and is almost beautiful.
http://www.wadirum.net/

Answer 9

make it clear that you are canadian...you don't want anyone to mistake you for a u.s. citizen...that would be very unsafe (which is why so many u.s. citizens put canadian flag patches on their backpacks these days)...

Answer 10

no