Essentials
- City
- Ajloun, Ajloun Governorate, Jordan
- Population
- Approximately 10,000 in the town center; 180,000 in the Governorate
- Internet Speed
- Fiber available in central areas (up to 100 Mbps); 4G/LTE coverage is reliable (approx. 25-40 Mbps)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 JOD ≈ 1.41 USD. Fixed peg. Arab Bank and Jordan Kuwait Bank have branches in the center.
- Tap Water
- Not recommended for drinking; use bottled water like Sharab or Ghadan (0.35 JOD for 1.5L)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C, D, F, G, and J sockets (Type G British-style is most common)
- SIM Card
- Zain, Orange, and Umniah. Zain E-SIM prepay approx. 12 JOD for 30GB
- Banking for Expats
- Arab Bank, Cairo Amman Bank; CliQ system for instant local transfers, Revolut/Wise for international
- Accommodation
- Limited conventional hotels; focus on eco-lodges and guesthouses like Ajloun Cabins
- Cashless Friendly
- Partially. High-end lodges and supermarkets take card; local souks and taxis are cash-only
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb options available (approx. $40-70/night), mostly private villa or farm stays
- Budget Accommodation
- Ajloun Hotel (approx. 25 JOD/night) or Al-Maysam Guesthouse
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Near Ajloun Castle (Qal'at Ar-Rabad) or within the Ajloun Forest Reserve
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Anjara or the vicinity of the Ajloun Forest Reserve for better tranquility and 4G signal
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- None dedicated. Most nomads work from Ajloun Reserve Conference Room or Ajloun Cultural Center
- Best Cafe for Work
- The Biscuit (Al-Biskit) Cafe – quiet environment with decent Wi-Fi and coffee
- Networking Events
- Social innovation meetups via the Jordan River Foundation (JRF) Ajloun branch
- Social Events for Expats
- Hiking groups organized by 'Experience Jordan' or weekend meetups at Ajloun Forest Reserve
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Careem (works occasionally, but mostly local yellow taxis; 2-3 JOD within town)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Not available commercially; some eco-lodges provide mountain bikes for guided trails
- Best Beach Nearby
- Dead Sea (approx. 75 km away / 1.5-hour drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- Royal Jordanian (operates from Amman Queen Alia International Airport)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair (low-cost flights to Europe from Amman), Turkish Airlines
- Highway Access
- Highway 35 (King's Highway) and Route 20 connect to Amman and Irbid
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Ajloun Bus Terminal (Main Complex) for coasters to Amman (Tabarbour) and Irbid
- Public Transport Passes
- No digital passes; pay-as-you-go cash to driver (Ajloun-Amman approx. 1.50 JOD)
- Regional Travel
- White Jervis/Coaster buses to Amman (90 mins) or Irbid (40 mins)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Al-Iman Government Hospital (New building) or Rashid Hospital in nearby Irbid
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Outdoor yoga sessions at Ajloun Forest Reserve (seasonal via Wild Jordan)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Oxygen Gym (Near the main circle) - approx. 20-30 JOD monthly
- Laundry Services
- Local dry cleaners in the town center near the Great Mosque (approx. 0.50 JOD per shirt)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Talabat (limited coverage; mostly local phone-in delivery)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Mansaf (lamb with jameed) or Ajloun's famous olive oil based dishes
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Summaga Restaurant (Ajloun Reserve) - excellent seasonal vegetarian mezze
- Best Dessert Spots
- Al-Sahel Al-Akhdar Sweets for Kunafa and traditional Baklava
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Ajloun Friday Market (Souq) for local produce and olives
- E-commerce/Online Store
- OpenSooq or Amazon.ae (via Aramex Shop & Ship)
- Grocery Delivery
- Local grocery shops offer WhatsApp delivery; no major apps
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- None. Ajloun is a conservative dry area. Alcohol available at some high-end eco-lodges only
- Local Brewery
- None (Try Carakale in Fuheis, 1 hour away)
- Wine Bars
- None (Zumot Winery has vineyards nearby but no public bar in Ajloun)
- Street Food Stalls
- Falafel stalls near the Ajloun Great Mosque (approx. 0.10 JOD per sandwich)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Pizza and burgers at 'The Castle Restaurant' overlooking the fortress
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Ajloun Castle (Qal'at Ar-Rabad) - admission 3 JOD for expats
- Museums & Art Venues
- Ajloun Archeological Museum (located inside the Castle)
- Historical Sites
- Tell Mar Elias (Birthplace of Prophet Elijah) and the Mosaic floor nearby
- Religious Sites
- Our Lady of the Mount Church (Anjara) and the Ajloun Great Mosque
- Annual Events
- Ajloun Olive Festival (October/November)
- Cultural Districts
- The Soap House (Orjan Village) - part of the RSCN Mediterranean network
- Theater Venues
- Ajloun Cultural Center (occasional community plays and poetry)
- Local Markets
- The Biscuit House - local women's cooperative selling traditional snacks
- Music Scene
- Traditional Dabke music at local weddings and summer festivals
- Street Art
- Small community murals in Anjara village
- Cooking Classes
- House of Calligraphy or local farm stays in Orjan village
- Art Galleries
- Lama Art Gallery (near the castle) for local handicrafts
- Historic Buildings
- The Ayyubid-era Great Mesjid (Ajloun Mosque)
- Local Heritage
- Strong focus on olive oil production and traditional agriculture
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Ajloun Forest Reserve - evergreen oak and pistachio forests
- National Parks Nearby
- Dibbeen Forest Reserve (approx. 30 mins drive south)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Jordan Trail (Ajloun segment) or the Soap House Trail
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The top towers of Ajloun Castle for a 360-degree view into Palestine/Syria
- Birdwatching Locations
- Ajloun Forest Reserve (Home to the Syrian Serin)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated areas in Ajloun Eco-lodges (strictly regulated to prevent forest fires)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Aramex Ajloun branch; Jordan Post in the city center
- Tech Repair Services
- Mobile shops in 'Sharea al-Qal'a' (Castle Street) for hardware fixes
- Table Tennis Spots
- Ajloun Youth Club (Nadi Shabab Al-Ajloun)
- Language Classes
- Informal Arabic tutoring through the local community centers
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Ajloun Public Library (near the municipality building)
- Community Centers
- Princess Basma Community Development Centre
- Gaming Lounges
- Local 'PlayStation' cafes in the city center catering to youth
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Not legal in Jordan
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 450 JOD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 18,000 JOD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 300 JOD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 12,000 JOD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 400 JOD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 24,000 JOD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 280 JOD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 16,800 JOD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 350 JOD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 28,000 JOD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 250 JOD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 20,000 JOD)
- Corporate Tax
- 20% standard rate (special rates for agriculture and SMEs)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- Generally 0% in Jordan for individuals
- Tax System
- Territorial/Residency based; income earned in Jordan is taxed
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 30% for income exceeding 1,000,000 JOD
- VAT
- 16% General Sales Tax (GST)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Minimal/No specific CFC rules for individuals
- Property Tax
- Yes, annual building and land tax (approx. 15% of rental value)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 9% registration fee (often reduced by government incentives to 4.5%)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa yet, but foreign-source income is largely untaxed