JO
Aqaba digital nomad guide
AI estimate Updated Mar 22, 2026 About guide entries
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- 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)
- 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
Essentials
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Other Services and Amenities
- 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
- 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
About these guide entries
- Method
- AI estimate
- Last updated
- Mar 22, 2026
- Last changed
- None yet
Generated by an AI model without cited sources and not yet checked by research. A research pass replaces these values with sourced ones, compared with similar cities.