🇯🇴 Aqaba,
Jordan
#827
Nomad Score
5.9
Coords
29.5266483, 35.0075433
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👍 1 👎 0
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NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints | View from the top of the Ayla Development hills |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations | Aqaba Bird Observatory (Wetland area near Eilat border) |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots | South Beach Bedouin Camps |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths | King Hussein Street Corniche |
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes | Wadi Rum Desert (1 hour away) - UNESCO World Heritage site |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby | Aqaba Marine Park (South Beach) |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service | Aramex (Ash-Sharif Shakir Bin Zayd St) |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services | Computer Care (City Center) |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots | Various luxury resorts like Hyatt Regency Ayla |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes | Lughati Arabic Center (Online/Hybrid) |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots | Princess Basma Center Library |
| 🏘️ Community Centers | Yarmouk Cultural Center |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges | Cyber Net Cafe (Near Al-Hammad St) |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls | Not available (Gambling is illegal in Jordan) |
BUSINESS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. JOD 1,100 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = JOD 44,000) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. JOD 800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = JOD 32,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. JOD 1,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = JOD 60,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. JOD 750 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = JOD 45,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. JOD 950 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = JOD 76,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. JOD 700 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = JOD 56,000) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax | 5% (Aqaba Special Economic Zone favored rate) |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax | 0% for ASEZA registered companies |
| 🏦 Tax System | Territorial/Resident basis; ASEZA has special status |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket | 30% (Personal income) |
| 🧾 VAT | 7% Sales Tax (Specific to Aqaba Zone; lower than Jordan's 16%) |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules | No strict CFC rules currently |
| 🏠 Property Tax | Yes, but often exempted for first-time buyers or in ASEZA |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax | 9% (Usually split between buyer and seller) |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads | Tax-free zone benefits; no income tax on foreign-sourced income if structured via ASEZA |
ESSENTIALS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏙️ City | Aqaba, Aqaba Governorate, Jordan |
| 👥 Population | 150,000 |
| 💻 Internet Speed | Average 40-60 Mbps on Fiber; 4G/5G widely available via Zain |
| 💸 Currency & Banking | 1 JOD ≈ 1.41 USD / 1 USD ≈ 0.71 JOD (Pegged) |
| 🚰 Tap Water | Not recommended for drinking; buy 18L bottles for ~2 JOD |
| 🔌 Power | 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (British) and Type C/D/F |
| 📶 SIM Card | Zain, Orange, or Umniah. Zain E-SIM 50GB for ~15 JOD |
| 💳 Banking for Expats | Arab Bank, Jordan Kuwait Bank; Revolut works for withdrawals |
| 🛌 Accommodation | Modern apartments in Tala Bay or serviced studios in the City Center |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly | Moderate; major hotels and supermarkets accept cards, local souks need cash |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals | Airbnb, Booking.com; prices range $40-$120/night |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation | Hakaia Community Hostel (~12 JOD/night), Al-Amana Hotel |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists | South Beach for diving; Tala Bay for luxury resorts |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads | Aqaba Gateway/City Center for proximity to cafes and fiber internet |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space | Seven Wonders Coworking (Near Al-Sharif Hussein Bin Ali Mosque) - ~10 JOD/day |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work | Gloria Jean's Coffees (Aqaba Gateway) - Reliable Wi-Fi and power outlets |
| 💼 Networking Events | USAID Jordan Economic Reform gatherings; occasional tech meetups at Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZA) |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats | Daily sunset meetups at Berenice Beach Club; 'Expats in Jordan' Facebook Group |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App | Careem (Uber is less reliable here); typical city ride 1.5 - 3 JOD |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental | Aqaba Cycling (Near Corniche) - ~5 JOD per hour |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby | South Beach (15 mins south) - Free public access, world-class snorkeling |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline | Royal Jordanian (Connects to Amman) |
| ✈️ Top International Airline | Ryanair, EasyJet, Turkish Airlines (King Hussein Intl Airport - AQJ) |
| 🛣️ Highway Access | Desert Highway (Route 15) to Amman; Dead Sea Highway (Route 65) |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub | JETT Bus Station (King Hussein St) for intercity travel |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes | No formal digital pass; pay-as-you-go white 'Service' taxis (0.50 JOD) |
| ✈️ Regional Travel | JETT Bus to Amman (2-3 hours, 10 JOD); Ferry to Nuweiba, Egypt |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏥 Best Hospital | Modern Medical Center or Prince Hashem Military Hospital |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers | Mövenpick Resort Wellness Center; private sessions at Talabay |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers | Oxygen Gym (An-Nahda St) - ~40 JOD/month |
| 🧺 Laundry Services | Cloud 9 Laundry (City Center) - ~5 JOD per load |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App | Talabat (Widely used in Aqaba) |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try | Sayadieh (Fisherman's spiced rice and fish) - Try it at Al-Shami |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options | Hashem Son's (Hummus/Falafel); Papaya Restaurant |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots | Anabtawi Sweets (For Kunafa) - ~2 JOD per portion |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots | Aqaba Vegetable & Fruit Market (Souk area) |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store | OpenSooq, Amazon.ae (International shipping) |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery | Carrefour Jordan App |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area | Ayla Marina Village or Royal Yacht Club (Alcohol is tax-free in Aqaba) |
| 🍻 Local Brewery | Carakale (Amman-based, but served at Rover's Return Aqaba) |
| 🍷 Wine Bars | The Black Pearl (Tala Bay) |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls | Falafel Al-Ekhlass - 0.50 JOD sandwiches |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine | Casalingo (Italian) at Mövenpick Resort |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks | Aqaba Fort (Mamluk Castle) and the Giant Flagpole |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues | Aqaba Archaeological Museum |
| 🏰 Historical Sites | Ayla Old City (Early Islamic ruins) |
| 🕍 Religious Sites | Sharif Hussein bin Ali Mosque |
| 🎉 Annual Events | Aqaba Traditional Arts Festival (February/March) |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts | The Old Town (Souk area) |
| 🎭 Theater Venues | Great Arab Revolt Plaza (Outdoor performances) |
| 🛍️ Local Markets | Friday Market (Souk Al-Juma'a) |
| 🎼 Music Scene | Live Bedouin music at Wadi Rum camps (nearby) |
| 🎨 Street Art | Murals near the Downtown arts initiative |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes | Aqaba Kitchen (Local home-cooking experiences) |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries | Arts of Jordan Gallery |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings | House of Sharif Hussein bin Ali |
| 🏴 Local Heritage | Maritime heritage and coral reef conservation |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING AQABA