A Stable Hashemite Kingdom in a Turbulent Neighbourhood
Jordan is one of the Middle East’s most consistently stable countries — a constitutional monarchy that has navigated successive regional wars (1948 Arab-Israeli War, 1967 Six-Day War, 1973 Yom Kippur War, the 1990 Gulf War, the 2003 Iraq War, the Syrian Civil War, and now the Israel-Hamas conflict) without ever falling into civil war or losing its political coherence. The country shares borders with Israel/Palestinian Territories, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and has been continuously governed by the Hashemite royal family (descendants of the Prophet Muhammad through the Sherifs of Mecca) since 1921 — currently under King Abdullah II (since 1999).
Jordan’s stability has come at significant cost — the country hosts approximately 2.7 million Palestinian refugees and over 1.3 million Syrian refugees, making it one of the world’s largest per-capita refugee hosts. The economy depends heavily on remittances, foreign aid, and tourism — the latter centred on Petra, the spectacular Nabataean rock-carved city that was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.
The country’s geography includes the Dead Sea (lowest point on land at 430 m below sea level), the Wadi Rum desert (the location for Lawrence of Arabia and many subsequent films set on Mars or other deserts), and the Jordan River which forms part of the border with Israel.
A Brief History
Ancient Jordan
The territory has been inhabited for over 12,000 years. The Nabataean Kingdom (4th century BC-106 AD) controlled trans-Saharan and trans-Asian trade routes from its capital at Petra, accumulating extraordinary wealth that funded the rock-cut city. The Romans annexed the territory; subsequent rulers included the Byzantines, Umayyads, Crusaders, Mamluks, and Ottomans.
Modern Jordan
The British Mandate of Transjordan was established after WWI. Emir Abdullah I, second son of the Sherif of Mecca, became Transjordan’s leader and then King when the country gained full independence in 1946. The country was renamed the Kingdom of Jordan in 1949 and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1950.
King Hussein ruled from 1953 to 1999, navigating multiple regional wars and internal challenges (notably Black September 1970 when the Jordanian military expelled the PLO from the country). His son King Abdullah II has ruled since 1999.
The 1994 peace treaty with Israel made Jordan one of only two Arab countries (with Egypt) to formally normalise relations with Israel.
Geography and Climate
Jordan covers 89,342 km² — about the size of Indiana — and is largely arid plateau, with the Jordan Rift Valley containing the lowest point on the earth’s surface (the Dead Sea, 430 m below sea level). The country has only 26 km of coastline at Aqaba on the Red Sea.
Climate
Mostly hot desert; mild Mediterranean conditions in the highlands.
Culture, Language and Religion
Arabic is the official language; English is widely used in business.
Religion: approximately 97% Muslim (predominantly Sunni), 3% Christian (one of the highest Christian percentages in any Middle Eastern country).
The Economy
Jordan has a lower-middle-income economy (~$50 billion GDP in 2024). Key sectors: services, tourism, phosphate mining (Jordan is one of the world’s top 5 phosphate producers), financial services (Amman is a regional banking centre).
The economy is heavily dependent on foreign aid (especially from the US and Gulf states) and remittances.
Cuisine
Jordanian cuisine is broadly Levantine:
- Mansaf — the Bedouin national dish: lamb cooked in fermented dried yogurt sauce served over rice with toasted nuts
- Maqluba — “upside-down” rice with chicken or lamb, eggplant, cauliflower
- Falafel and hummus — daily staples
- Kunafa — sweet pastry with cheese and syrup; Nablus and Amman both claim the best version
Nature and UNESCO Sites
Jordan has 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Petra, Quseir Amra (the early Islamic desert castle with frescoes), Um er-Rasas (Roman-Byzantine ruins), Wadi Rum Protected Area, the Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan”, and the Salt - Place of Tolerance and Urban Hospitality.
Travel Guide
Entry
Most Western nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival. The Jordan Pass ($70-$90) bundles visa fees and entry to over 40 attractions including Petra.
Best Seasons
March-May and September-November are optimal.
Budget
Mid-range $80-$140 per day. Petra entry is significant ($70 for one day).
Surprising Facts
- Petra had been “lost” to the Western world for 800 years before Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it in 1812.6
- The Dead Sea is shrinking rapidly — its surface has dropped by over 30 metres since 1970 due to upstream water diversion.1
- Lawrence of Arabia filmed extensively in Wadi Rum — and many subsequent films set on alien deserts (The Martian, Star Wars: Rogue One, Dune) have used Wadi Rum as a stand-in.3
- King Hussein survived approximately 18 assassination attempts during his 46-year reign.6
- Jordan’s flag is derived from the Arab Revolt flag of 1916 — the same colour scheme appears in the flags of Palestine, Sudan, Kuwait, the UAE, Iraq, Syria, and others.6
- Petra’s actual area — only about 30% explored — extends across roughly 264 km², making it potentially much larger than the famous central area visitors typically see.1
Sources and References
See the list of cited sources in the page frontmatter.