Located between Israel and Iran, Jordan is beginning to suffer the collateral consequences of the war between Israel and Hamas and the conflict between Israel and Iran.
From April 13, the The Jordanian government closed the airspace because of Israel’s impending retaliation against Iran. As a result, local and international airlines have had to cancel and reschedule flights at short notice.
Jordan itself is a beautiful travel destination that is considered largely safe by several countries around the world. Entering the territory is still safe via land crossings from Saudi Arabia.
The government said it is closely monitoring the situation to determine when it can safely reopen its airspace, but it is uncertain when this will happen.
LATEST NEWS from Jordan:
Official travel advisories from multiple governments recommend avoiding visits to Jordan’s borders with Syria, Iraq and Zarqa and Rusayfah due to terrorism concerns.
Except that, the vast majority of the country’s territory is considered relatively safe to visit.
Have authorities insured that they are committed to ensuring the well-being of all visitors with whom they are willing to share their unique culture and history.
“We understand that tensions around the world can cause concern, but we believe in the power of travel to promote understanding and build bridges between countries,” officials said.
With Jordan’s airspace closed for the time being, an alternative to entering the territory by land from Saudi Arabia is via private car or taxi services.
Areas to avoid
Jordan is classified as a relatively safe country, but has regional advisories. This means that a number of areas are considered high-risk, including – as previously mentioned – the borders between Jordan and Syria and Jordan and Iraq, together with Zarqa and Rusayfah due to possible terrorist attacks.
Syrian refugee camps are not particularly dangerous, but access to these areas is restricted by local authorities.
Amman, the country’s capital, is generally considered safe day and night, even for solo female travelers. However, due to political demonstrations that have taken place in recent months, there are almost the Israeli and American embassies, it is recommended to avoid these areas.
Official travel advice
US travel advice
Although the US government ranks Jordan at “Level 2: Be extra careful”, meaning that it is quite safe, it informs citizens that terrorist organizations have the potential to attack tourist locations, transportation centers, shopping centers and similar facilities.
To minimize risks, monitor local news channels to learn about important events; be aware of your surroundings; and do not participate in or be near large demonstrations.
Not all Jordanian territory is safe. So check out our ‘Areas to Avoid’ section to see which places you shouldn’t visit.
Travel advice for Canada
“Be extremely careful” when visiting Jordan. The opening hours of land border crossings may be affected by the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. So check the status of the border you want to cross before departure.
Large gatherings and demonstrations are mostly peaceful and typically take place on Fridays near places of worship, some refugee camps and the US and Israeli embassies in Amman. But avoid participating in it.
Domestic or international terrorists could attack Jordan at any time. So make sure you register or update your personal information on the Registration of Canadians abroad to obtain information about “departure options.
Safety tips for Jordan
These recommendations will help you stay safe.
- Keep an eye on national news to always be aware of Israel’s and Iran’s military decisions that could harm Jordan.
- Do not participate in political demonstrations.
- Dress modestly, especially in religious places.
- Watch out for traffic; it can be dangerous when crossing roads.
- Be vigilant in tourist areas to avoid pickpockets.
- Vaccinations against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid are recommended.
- Do not drink tap water.
- Keep the local emergency numbers and the numbers of your embassy or consulate at hand.
- There are reports of Bedouin men in Petra and Wadi courting single women and later asking them for money.
- Before you travel, ask your taxi driver if the meter is in fils or dinars so you know how much to pay. Some drivers are taking advantage of the confusion.
