Just Landed in Jordan? Your First 7 Days

Mobile coverage and 4G/5G are strong across Amman and the main cities, and Jordan has decent, affordable data by regional standards. SIMs must be registered against your passport, so buy from an official Zain, Orange or Umniah shop rather than a street vendor, and keep the receipt. Prepaid is the norm for newcomers until you have a residency permit, at which point you can move to a cheaper postpaid contract or add home fibre.

Typical cost: Prepaid data bundles run about 10-25 JOD/month depending on the allowance; home fibre broadband (Orange, Zain, Umniah or a reseller) is roughly 20-35 JOD/month for a solid unlimited or high-cap plan, usually on a 12-month contract.

The dinar is pegged to the US dollar at about 0.71 JOD to 1 USD, making it one of the strongest and most stable currencies in the region and easy to budget against. Cards are accepted in malls, chains, hotels and larger restaurants, but everyday life outside those still runs heavily on cash, and post-dated cheques feature in rent and larger deals.

Opening an account: Foreigners generally need a residency permit (iqama) plus passport, and sometimes proof of employment or a salary letter, to open a full current account. Arab Bank, Bank al Etihad, Cairo Amman Bank and Housing Bank (HBTF) are common foreigner-friendly choices with English-speaking staff; before residency you will largely rely on cash and an international card, so bring a Wise or Revolut card and a fee-free ATM card to minimise withdrawal charges.

Cash: Carry cash daily: taxis, corner shops (dukkan), markets, many small restaurants and most landlords expect dinars, and smaller merchants often add a surcharge for cards or claim the machine is down. Keep small notes for taxi fares, which frequently come out to odd amounts.

Tipping: Tipping is customary but modest. Round up or leave about 10% in restaurants where no service charge is already added, tip a few small coins for petrol attendants (who always pump for you), porters and parking helpers, and it is normal to hand your building's caretaker (natour) a small monthly tip.

Jordan does not operate a municipal address-registration or resident-card step the way many European countries do, so there is no city hall to visit on arrival. However, anyone staying long term must obtain a residency permit (iqama) tied to work, study, investment or family, and this is initiated by your sponsor or employer rather than by you personally. Getting an iqama typically involves a work permit from the Ministry of Labour, a medical examination / blood test, and processing through the Ministry of Interior. Overstaying your entry visa incurs a daily fine (charged per day of overstay and payable on exit), so the residency process must be started well within your visa window.

Deadline: Before your entry visa expires (commonly 30 days from arrival); your sponsor initiates the residency/work permit within that window.

Where: Ministry of Interior and its residency offices for the iqama, and the Ministry of Labour for work permits, usually handled through your employer or a licensed agent (mu'aqqib).

Amman is hilly and spread out with limited formal public transport, so most expats rely on ride-hailing apps and taxis rather than buses, and many eventually buy a car. Yellow street taxis are metered by law, but confirm the meter is running before you set off; the newer Amman Bus network and the BRT lines are cheap and improving but slower and less intuitive for newcomers. Traffic and parking in West Amman are real daily frustrations, and driving here is assertive.

From the airport: Queen Alia International Airport is about 35 km south of Amman. The Airport Express bus (Sariyah) runs to Tabarbour (North Terminal) and 7th Circle for around 3.5 JOD and is the budget option; an official white airport taxi or an Uber/Careem into the city centre is roughly 20-30 JOD and takes 30-45 minutes depending on traffic and your neighbourhood.

Most newcomers rent unfurnished or semi-furnished flats in West Amman through samsar (agents) and Facebook groups such as the various Amman housing and expat rentals pages, rather than through big listing portals. Leases are typically annual and often quoted per year, so a monthly headline figure may need multiplying up; furnished short-term flats exist but cost a premium. Viewing in person is essential because photos flatter and the exact area, floor and building matter a lot.

Typical rent: A modern one-bedroom flat in a good Amman neighbourhood runs roughly 350-600 JOD/month; larger family flats in Abdoun or Deir Ghbar can exceed 800-1,200 JOD/month, while cheaper districts and the eastern side of the city cost considerably less.

Deposit norm: Expect one to two months' rent as a deposit, and agents typically charge a commission of about half a month's to one full month's rent. Landlords commonly ask for the year in post-dated cheques or several months up front, and the tenancy contract is often registered, so read it (and get it translated if needed) before signing.

Jordan is a well-regarded regional medical hub with high-quality private hospitals concentrated in Amman, including the Arab Medical Center, Jordan Hospital, Istishari Hospital, Abdali Hospital and the specialist King Hussein Cancer Center. Public care exists and is cheaper, but expats overwhelmingly use private clinics and hospitals, which are good value and shorter on waiting times than Western equivalents.

How to access it: For non-emergencies, book directly with a private clinic or a hospital outpatient department, often same-day, and you rarely need a GP referral to see a specialist. Pharmacies are widespread, many open late or 24 hours, and pharmacists can dispense a lot of common medicines without a prescription. For any emergency, dial the unified number 911 for an ambulance.

Insurance: There is no automatic public health cover for foreigners, so arrange private health insurance, either employer-provided or an international/expat plan, before you need it. Without insurance you pay cash up front, though private prices are moderate compared with Europe or the US and consultations are affordable.

• Dress modestly, especially away from Abdoun and Weibdeh: covered shoulders and knees are expected in most public settings, and women may prefer a headscarf when visiting mosques or more conservative towns.
• Greet and pass items with the right hand, and accept offered coffee or tea; hospitality is central to Jordanian life and refusing outright can seem cold or standoffish.
• Learn a few Arabic courtesies: 'marhaba' (hello), 'shukran' (thank you), 'insha'Allah' (God willing) and 'yalla' (let's go) are used constantly and earn genuine warmth.
• During Ramadan, do not eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours out of respect, even though you are not fasting; many cafes screen off daytime seating and life shifts to the evening.
• The weekend is Friday and Saturday, and Friday midday is the main prayer time, so many businesses open late or stay shut on Friday morning; plan errands and viewings accordingly.
• Accept invitations home if offered, bring a small gift such as sweets or good coffee, and expect to be fed generously; declining food repeatedly can disappoint a host.
• Bargaining is expected in souqs and with some services, but do it good-naturedly; in malls, supermarkets and formal shops, prices are fixed.

• Public displays of affection, public drunkenness and any criticism of the King or royal family are socially and legally sensitive; keep opinions on the monarchy private.
• Ask before photographing people, particularly women, and never photograph military sites, borders or checkpoints.
• The LGBT+ community keeps a low profile; same-sex relationships are not criminalised but social attitudes are conservative, so discretion in public is advisable.
• Be measured discussing regional politics (Israel, Palestine, Syria, refugees); these are deeply felt topics, so listen more than you lecture.
• Avoid pointing the sole of your foot at someone or using your left hand for eating or handing things over, both of which read as rude.