Jordan Tourism Guide

 

Hashemites

The history of modern Jordan is synonymous with that of its founding dynasty, the Hashemites. The Hashemites are so called after the great-grandfather of the Prophet Mohammed, who belonged to the noblest Arab tribe, the Quraish of Mecca. They are descended from Mohammed's daughter Fatima through his grandson AL-Hassan. They ruled Mecca and often the whole Hejaz for the millennium from the time of Al-Hassan to the time of Sharif Hussein Ibn Ali. The Grand Sharif Hussein Ibn Ali (1852-1933), lead the Arab Revolt against Turkish occupation in 1916. In 1921 Abdullah established the Emirate of Jordan. He was succeeded in 1951 by his eldest son, Talal (1909-1972), but illness tragically cut short the latter's reign. Thus on the 11 Aug. 1952 the crown of Jordan devolved upon his seventeen year old son, Emir Hussein. And on 2 May 1953, when according to the Muslim Lunar Calendar, the young King attained authority on his 18th birthday.

 

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King Hussein

In a reign of over forty years, King Hussein has been an outstanding and courageous leader. This period has witnessed enormous changes not only in Jordan, but also in the Middle East at large. King Hussein, who has gripped the reins of leadership ever since his accession, has steered Jordan on a positive course towards development and stability. The path through many of the Middle East's most trying ordeals, has put the king at considerable risk. Yet even in the most difficult circumstances his leadership has been firm and fair. Jordan's relatively small population look on their king as a father-figure; a man striving to follow his chosen path, serving the best interests of the nation.
His Majesty King Hussein bin Talal was born in Amman 14 November 1935 to the crown Prince Talal bin Abdullah and Princess Zein Al-Sharaf bint Jamil. King Hussein completed his elementary education in Amman, and received his secondary education at Victoria College in Alexandria-Egypt and at Harrow School in England. He was proclaimed King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on 11 August 1952. A Regency Council was appointed until King Hussein's formal accession to the throne on 2 May 1953, when he came of age. During that interim period King Hussein attended the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, England, where he received his military education. Over his 40 plus year reign, King Hussein has successfully guided Jordan through several regional crises, the most important of which was the June 1967 War, which left Israel in occupation of the West Bank of Jordan and East Jerusalem including the Old City. (The East and West Banks of Jordan had been united together by mutual consent after the 1948-1949 Arab Israeli War, pending the final resolution of the Palestinian Problem). King Hussein continued to defend the integrity and sovereignty of Jordan when an Israeli attempt to invade the East Bank of the Jordan River was repulsed at the Battle of Karameh on 21 March 1968. Two years later, in September 1970, King Hussein succeeded in ending the subversive and destabilizing activities of various guerrilla factions based in Jordan. King Hussein was subsequently instrumental in drafting UN Security Council Resolution 242, which calls for an Israeli withdrawal from all lands captured in the June 1967 war in exchange for peace. This resolution serves as the basis for all the current peace negotiations. King Hussein has always been committed to peace through diplomatic resolution of conflicts rather than the use of armed force. Recently, during the Gulf Crisis of 1990-1991, King Hussein repeatedly attempted to mediate a peaceful solution to the conflict. Since the June 1967 War, King Hussein has worked incessantly to convene an international peace conference in order to implement a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region based on UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. King Hussein played a pivotal role in the convening of the Madrid Peace Conference in October 1991 not only by committing Jordan to the peace process but also by providing an umbrella for the Palestinian people to negotiate their future as part of a joint Jordanian -Palestinian delegation. King Hussein has also presided over the transformation of his country from a tribal and nomadic society still under British Colonial influence, to a fully modern state with a complete internal infrastructure and literacy and education levels that are among the highest in the developing world. King Hussein is committed to popular consultation and participation in government as well as respect for human rights throughout the Arab small world. Jordan today is internationally recognized as having the most exemplary human rights conditions in the region. In 1989, Jordan held its first full and free parliamentary elections since 1967. Soon thereafter, King Hussein appointed a Royal Commission representing the entire spectrum of Jordanian political thought to draft a national charter that would establish the framework for democracy and political pluralism in the country. The National Charter was ratified by King Hussein in June 1991. King Hussein married Her Majesty Queen Noor Al-Hussein on 15 June 1978. They have four children: Prince Hamzah (Born 29 March 1980), Prince Hashem (Born 10 June 1981), Princess Iman (Born 24 April 1982) and Princess Rayah (Born 9 February 1986). King Hussein has also seven children from previous marriages: Princess Alia (Born 13 February 1956); Prince Abdullah (Born 30 January 1962); Prince Faisal (Born 11 October 1963); Twins Princess Zein and Princess Aisha (Born 23 April 1968); Princess Haya (Born 3 May 1974); Prince Ali (Born 23 December 1975). In addition King Hussein has an adopted daughter, Abir Muhaisen and a number of grandchildren. King Hussein is an accomplished sportsman in the fields of water sports, karate, fencing, skiing and tennis. His other hobbies include flying, motorcycling, race-car driving, and amateur ham radio. He reads extensively on political affairs, history, international law, military science and aviation. King Hussein holds a large number of decorations from Arab and other countries. Many books have been written about King Hussein and his policies. He himself, has written three books : Uneasy lies the Head (1962) about his childhood and early years as King, My War with Israel (1962) and Mon Metier de Roi (1975). King Hussein died on the 7th of February 1999.

 

 
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Constitution

The Constitution of Jordan was promulgated in 1952, and later amended on several occasions. It maintains that Jordan is a hereditary monarchy with a parliamentary system. The constitution stipulates that the Monarch should be a direct descendant of King Abdullah Ibn Hussein, founder of the Kingdom. The King ratifies and issues laws and regulations, he appoints the Prime Minister and other ministers upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The constitution of Jordan incorporates a Bill of Rights guaranteeing the personal equality of all Jordanians and their equal right to equal opportunities in matters of religion and freedom of speech.
The Constitution of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was promulgated on 8 January 1952 and has since been amended to meet changing requirements of the Kingdom. Executive authority resides in the Monarch. The Monarchy is hereditary, the crown being passed by the King to his eldest son, although the king may, at his discretion, nominate one of his brothers as Heir Apparent. The constitution stipulates that the Monarch should be a direct descendant of King Abdullah Bin Hussein, founder of the Kingdom. Prince Hassan, the younger brother of King Hussein's two brothers, was proclaimed Crown Prince of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on 1 April 1965. The King attains his majority at the age of eighteen, calculated according to the Lunar Calendar. If the heir Apparent accedes to the throne before he is eighteen, a Regent or a Regency Council exercises power on his behalf until he comes to age. If the King is incapacitated or is absent from the Kingdom, he appoints a Regent or a Regency Council to exercises power as prescribed in the Royal Decree of Appointment. If the King is absent for more than four months, Parliament must be convened to consider the situation.

Constitutional Oath:
Upon accession to throne, the King takes the constitutional oath before Parliament. As Head of State, he is immune from all liability and responsibility. He receives foreign envoys, confers honors and medals for meritorious service, grants special pardons and remits sentences. Money is printed or minted in his name. On the recommendation of the Cabinet, or sometimes of the Prime Minister, he appoints all senior government civil servants and high officials. The King ratifies and issues laws and regulations. He is the Supreme Commander of the armed, Naval and air forces; he declares war, concludes peace and signs treaties. He appoints the President and members of the Senate (the Upper House of Parliament) and accepts their resignations. He orders the holding of elections for House of Representatives (the lower House of Parliament) and inaugurates, adjourns, prorogues and dissolves the House. The King appoints the Prime Minister. Election: All Jordanians have the right to assume public office. Work is a right for all Jordanians, and the State guarantees work for all Jordanians within capacity. The State protects labor by legislation. The employment of women and minors is regulated. The Constitution further provides for prohibition of compulsory labor except in certain public or by a judicial decision.

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Legislative Authority

Jordan's present parliamentary system dates back to 1923 and consists of an eighty member elected Lower House and forty member Upper House. The Upper House must not exceed half the size of the Lower House. The Lower House initiates, debates and votes on legislation in conjunction with the government. When a Bill has been approved by the Lower House it is passed to the senate for debate and a vote. If it is approved, it is passed forward to the King, who either grants consent by Royal Decree or returns it unapproved with justification for his refusal. A Bill becomes an act of Parliament on being passed in both houses with a majority of two thirds or more.
The Parliament of Jordan is the National Assembly, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The supreme legislative authority in the Kingdom is vested in ' The King-in-the-National-Assembly'; that is, the King and the two Houses. The Senate is composed of forty members appointed by the King for meritorious service or other special qualifications. The minimum age for Senate membership is forty years. The House of Representatives is composed of eighty deputies, freely elected by adult male and female suffrage. They are elected either in general election, which takes place after the House has been dissolved , or in a by-election when a vacancy occurs in the House. The minimum age for the House member is thirty years. House of Representatives alone is empowered to pass a vote of confidence or no confidence in a Government. The chief officer of the Senate is the President, who is appointed by the King. The chief official of the House of Representatives is the Speaker ( President of the House of Representatives ) who is elected by the deputies at the beginning of each new session. The term of each House is four years. The term of the House of Representatives can be prolonged one year or more at the King's discretion. During each year of their Parliamentary term, the two Houses hold one ordinary session of four months, and as many extraordinary session as may be necessary when invited to do by Royal Decree. At the beginning of each ordinary session, each House elects two standing committees and as many other committees as necessary for the discharge of its duties. The standing committees are the financial and the judicial, and the other committees usually include foreign affairs, education, agriculture, refugees, tourism, and public guidance. Each committee elects its own chairman and rapporteur, and holds as many meetings as the situation requires. A Bill is initiated in the House of representatives. If there is no urgent reason for its immediate discussion, it is referred to the appropriate committee for study and report. After passing through the committee stage, the bill is presented to the House for debate and voting. After the approval of the House, the Speaker forwards the Bill to the Senate, where it passes through the same process as in the Lower House. When approved by both Houses, the Bill is submitted to the King who gives consent in a Royal Decree. The King may return the Bill unapproved in which case it is debated again by both Houses. Should the two Houses pass the Bill a second time by a two thirds majority, it becomes an Act of Parliament. A Bill also becomes an Act of Parliament if it is neither returned to Parliament nor approved by Royal Decree within a period of six months. Disagreement between the two Houses on any provisions in the Bill is decided by two thirds majority vote in a joint session of both Houses. The members of either House may initiate Bills, ask questions and demand a general debate on any subject if a minister's reply is seemed unsatisfactory. No member of either House may be detained or tried during its session, except with the express approval of the House to which he belongs. In the event of a member's arrest while committing a crime, the House to which he belongs must be notified immediately. Each member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives enjoys complete freedom of speech within the bounds of the Constitution and the Rules of Order of his/her House. No legal proceedings can be taken against any member because of any vote or opinion expressed or speech made during debates. No member can be impeached except by a vote of a two thirds majority of his/her House.

 

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Executive Authority

The Prime Minister, nominated by the King, forms the Cabinet, and he and the ministers take an oath before the King upon assuming office. The Cabinet should submit a statement of its program for the approval of the House of Representatives within the month of its formation. Neither the Prime Minister nor the ministers need to be members of either House of Parliament. Whether they are members or not, they have the right to address both Houses of Parliament. The Prime Minister and the ministers are collectively responsible to the House of Representatives for the initiation and direction of National policy. A Vote of Confidence in the Cabinet or in any minister can be taken by the House of Representatives at the Request of the Prime Minister or any ten or more members of the House. The king's orders, written or oral, do not absolve the ministers from liability.
The Prime Minister, nominated by the King, forms the Cabinet, where he and the ministers take oath before the King upon assuming office. The Cabinet should submit a statement of its program for the approval of the House of Representatives within one month of its formation. If the House is dissolved or is not in session, the Speech from the Throne can be considered a statement of the Cabinet program. Neither the Prime Minister nor the ministers need to be members of either House of Parliament. If any of them is a member, he does not draw the emoluments of his membership. Whether they are members or not they have the right to address both Houses of Parliament. If they are members they can vote like other members. The Prime Minister and the ministers are collectively responsible to the House of Representatives for the initiation and direction of nation policy. They are each responsible for the conduct of their own respective ministries and departments. They must attend sessions of the two Houses of Parliament to answer questions and defend and seek approval for Government policy and legislation. A vote of confidence in the Cabinet or in any minister can be taken by the House of Representatives at the request of the Prime Minister or any ten or more members of the House. Failure to obtain the vote of confidence by absolute majority entails the resignation of the Cabinet or the ministers as the case may be. The King's orders, written or oral, do not absolve the ministers from liability. Ministers can be tried for crimes committed in the performance of their ministerial duties before a Parliamentary High Council composed of the President of the Senate, three members of the Senate and the five judges of the Supreme Court of Appeal. During trial, the minister is suspended from office. The Cabinet meets regularly twice or three times a week, and is sometimes presided over by the King in his capacity as Head of State. The Prime Minister and the ministers sign the resolutions of the Cabinet and submit them to the King for ratification in certain cases as prescribed by law. The proceedings and resolutions of the Cabinet are strictly confidential, except where they are authorized by the Prime Minister to be disclosed or to be made public in an official communiqués. The Cabinet is the supreme executive body which presides over and controls the Government. It does so through ministers, vice-presidents of statutory bodies attached to the Prime Minister and local government councils. The Cabinet has power to form, from time to time as the need arises, departmental committees and public or semi-public commissions, to undertake specific inquiries or studies and make recommendations. Committees and commissions are granted inter-ministerial and inter-departmental powers, to enable them to carry out their duties. The Prime Minister's Office is the meeting place of the Cabinet. It has a permanent secretary and staff of civil servants and advisors.

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Judicial Authority

Judges are appointed by Royal Decree in accordance with the provisions of the law. They are independent of both the legislature and the Executive, and their powers are defined by law. The Courts, including the Supreme Court of Appeal, are divided into three categories: Civil courts, Religious Courts and Special Courts. The Civil Courts include Courts of First Instance, Magistrates' Courts, courts of Cessation, and courts of Appeal, and deal with civil and criminal cases. The High Court of Justice is also one of the Civil Courts. This is the only Court in Jordan which deals with administrative law. The Religious Courts include the Muslim Shari'a Courts, which deal with all manners of personal law for Muslims, and the Religious community councils. The Special Courts are formed in accordance with the provisions of the law, for the trial of certain cases. They are mainly the Military Court and the State Security Court.
Judges are appointed by Royal Decree in accordance with the provisions of the law. They are independent of both the Legislative and the Executive, and exercise their powers as defined by law. The Courts including the Supreme Court of Appeal, are divided into three categories: Civil Courts, Religious Courts and Special Courts.

The Civil Courts:
The Civil Courts include Courts for first instance, Magistrates' Courts, Courts of Cassation, and Courts of Appeal, and deal with civil and criminal cases. They are open to, and have jurisdiction over all persons in the Kingdom, including the Government. There is no need to seek permission before involving the Government. The High Court of Justice is also one of the Civil Courts. This is the only Court in Jordan which deals with administrative decisions.

The Religious Courts:
The Religious Courts include the Muslim Shari'a Courts, which deal with all matters of personal law for Muslims, and the Religious Community Councils, which deal with similar matters for non-Muslims.

The Special Courts:
The Special Courts are formed in accordance with the provisions of the law, for the trial of certain cases. They are mainly the Military Court and the State Security Court. A principal feature of the legal system of Jordan is the distinction made between criminal and civil laws. The criminal law is concerned with wrongs against the community as a whole; criminal proceedings are initiated and conducted by the Attorney General or Public Prosecutors. The civil law is concerned with the rights and obligations of individual members of the community and proceedings are instituted by the aggrieved person. Civil cases are frequently settled privately before or during the actual hearing. The jury system is not used in Jordan, and actions are tried, according to the seriousness of the case, by one judge as in the Magistrates' Court, by two or three judges as in the Court of Cassation, or by five judges as in the Supreme Court of Appeal.

 

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Language

Arabic is the official language and is spoken by all Jordanian people. English is widely spoken particularly at government and business levels. French and German are spoken to some extent. The Circassian community has managed to retain its Circassian language as well as speaking Arabic.
Non Arabic speakers are generally daunted above all by the script and the right-to-left flow of text. Yet the script is in fact the easiest thing about Arabic. The alphabet contains 28 characters and there are strict rules to determine which characters join on to which, and unlike most European languages, there are no exceptions to these rules. The characters change their shape according to their position within the word but always within the same rules. Arabic is a Semitic language with a root system. The root of an idea or concept is represented by a simple verb, usually consisting of three consonants. These verbs are the very basis of the Arabic Language and all variations of meaning around the root idea are expressed by imposing different patterns on the basic verb root, Beyond this, there is the complication that each verb root has up to ten additional forms, all of which change the basic meaning. Arabic, by the very nature of its structure is an extremely rich language capable of expressing fine shades of meaning, and this is reflected in the wealth of Arabic Literature, especially poetry. The Average English tabloid reader is said to have a working vocabulary of 3000 words, whereas the Arabic equivalent is said to have about 10,000. There are also many interesting features of the language which hint at the nature and attitude of the Arab mind, notably the existence of only two tenses, perfect and imperfect :there is no future tense. The written Arabic Language together with Islam is one of the many unifying factors in the Arab World.

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Tradition

Of all the people of the Middle East, none has a reputation as the Bedu, or Bedouin. Largely a nomadic people they cling to ancient ways living by fabled codes of hospitality and kinship. There is a sense of honour and pride in the Bedouin's hospitality. Although village life has in recent years changed more radically than that of the nomad, it remains in essence the same. The older women of the village, and sometimes the younger ones too, still make and wear the traditional dress... a long black Thobe, with hems, yokes and sleeves decorated with tiny embroidered stitches that form intricate and colourful patterns. Even in the cities traditional values have not been lost. From an early age Jordanians are taught to be generous, warm, open and friendly, and at the core of Jordanian society remain the ideals of tribal unity and respect for the family. The legendary Arab hospitality is no myth and has to be experienced to be fully appreciated.
The word "Bedu" comes from the Arabic word "Badawi", meaning "A dweller of the desert". The Bedouin endure the desert and have learnt to survive its unforgiving climate. They treat it with due reverence, knowing that the wilderness has no respect for fools. Today most of Jordan's Bedouin reside in the vast wasteland that extends eastwards from the great Desert Highway. The traditional Bedouin way of life has come about by adopting measures that ensure survival. There are a few societies whose existence is as harmonious as that of the Bedouin. They walk a tight line between life and death, balancing with tenacity and skill. They understand their flocks of goats and camels. Forging a synoptic relationship with them so that each depends on the other for survival. The herds rely on their masters for protection, the masters depend on their herds for milk, meat and skins. The constant wandering is no aimless venture; it is a carefully planned expedition for new pastures.

Bedouin Culture:
The clan is the centre of Bedouin Society. Each family has its own tent, a collection of which (known as Hayy) constitutes a gown of clan. A number of these clans make up a tribe (Qabilah). People living in the same clan are considered to be of the same blood. Leadership of the clan is the responsibility of the "Sheikh", an elder to whom matters of strife or decision are brought for adjudication. In the Bedouin society, all men are seen equal, with elders commanding extra respect gained through experience. The values of Bedouin society are vested in an ancient code of honor. This calls for total loyalty for the tribe, and to one's position of work, in upholding the survival of the group. There is a sense of honor and pride in Bedouin hospitality. A powerful symbol of the Bedouin people is the distinctive square head-cloth (Kaffiyeh), with its head-ropes (A'gal) to hold it in place. The wealthier Bedouin, would and still do wear A'gals woven with gold thread.

Costume:
The costume of Jordanian woman has tended to be more elaborated than that of their counterparts possibly because women have traditionally attended to the embroidery and the making of clothes. Costume has always been an important expression of identity in Jordan - a way of showing a sense of belonging to village, tribe or group. The costumes are a symbol of group identification and a strong reason for every village woman to keep a high standard of work and to stay true to her traditional patterns and designs.

Circasians:
Circasians are a non-Arab Islamic people, who originate from the Caucasusin Russia, fled during the 19th Century following persecution to live in other Islamic lands. Many Circasians now live in Jordan, their groups are spread through Amman, Jerash, Wadi-ElSeer, Sweileh, Zarqa, Azraq and other parts of the north. Circasians brought with them traditions from the Caucasus; weaving, basket - making and carpentry. Many of the older Circasians in Jordan worry about the preservation of traditional beliefs and customs that they brought from the Caucasus. Teaching through proverbs and stories sought to give new generations a grounding in behavior.

 

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Climate

The climate depends on which part of the country you are in, as altitude ranges from 400 meters (1,312 feet) below mean sea level at the dead sea, to 1850 meter above sea level at the Al Shirah mountains. The climate tends to be dry during Summer, while Winter and Spring are cooler, and during these seasons most of the country's rainfall occurs. June to September are the hottest months of the year where temperature rises to about 32 deg. C. The period between December and February is coolest. Snowfall often occurs and temperatures stay around 15 deg. C during the day. Jordan tends to be hot and dry in Summer and cooler and wetter in Winter- January and February are the wettest months. The most popular times to visit are Spring, specifically March, April and May; Autumn, specifically September, October and the first half of November: Christmas and New Year. The monthly average temperatures in Fahrenheit and Celsius are as follows:

Month Amman Aqaba
  F C F C
JAN 46 8 60 16
FEB 48 9 62 17
MAR 53 12 68 20
APR 60 16 75 24
MAY 69 21 82 28
JUN 74 23 89 32
JUL 77 25 89 32
AUG 78 26 91 33
SEP 74 23 86 30
OCT 69 21 80 27
NOV 59 15 71 22
DEC 50 10 62 17

 

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Currency

The currency of Jordan is Jordanian Dinar (JD). One JD is 1000 Fils. Coins and paper denominations are both used. The Coin denominations are: 5 fils, 10 fils, 25 fils, 50 fils, 100 fils, 250 fils and 500 fils. The Paper denominations are: JD 1/2, JD 1, JD 5, JD 10, JD 20. The daily exchange rate is published in the local newspapers ( at current Exchange Rate 1 JD approximately equals 1.4 US Dollars). Money can be exchanged not only at banks, but also at hotels and currency exchange offices. Credit cards and Travelers Checks are accepted at most hotels, car rental companies, shops and restaurants. Major cards accepted are : Master Card, Visa, Eurocard, American Express and Diners Club.

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Visa and Immigration

Visitors to Jordan, whether entering on business or as tourists, require a visa. This is easily obtained, upon entry into the country, or at Jordanian diplomatic missions abroad. The fee for the visa, depends on the visitor's nationality.

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Time and Measures

Jordan is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Daylight saving time occurs between April and October. Jordan operates almost entirely on the metric system, where the gram, the meter, and the liter are the basic units. You may come across the measurement for land : the dunum. One dunum is equal to 1000 square meters (10,760 square feet).

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Business Hours

Government offices are open from 8 AM to 2 PM every day except Fridays and National and Religious holidays. During the month of Ramadan working hours are usually reduced. Most of the shops open their doors between 9 and 10 AM and close before 8:30 PM. Working hours for the private sector are usually between 9 AM and 6 PM, with one or two hours lunch break. As for banks, they open to the public from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Some banks resume business for an extra 2 hours in the afternoon. ATM services are available.

 
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