Essentials
- City
- Swaymeh, Dead Sea, Balqa Governorate, Jordan
- Population
- Approximately 10,000 (Swaymeh district)
- Internet Speed
- 40-60 Mbps on 4G/5G; High-end resorts offer 20 Mbps via Wi-Fi
- Currency & Banking
- 1 JOD ≈ 1.41 USD / 1.30 EUR (Fixed peg to USD)
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; Nestlé Pure Life 1.5L approx. 0.50 JOD
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (British) and Type C/D sockets
- SIM Card
- Zain or Orange; 40GB data pack for approx. 12 JOD ($17)
- Banking for Expats
- Arab Bank or Bank of Jordan; Revolut works for POS and ATMs
- Accommodation
- Luxury resorts (Hilton, Marriott) or serviced apartments in Samarah Resort
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes in resorts and malls; cash needed for local stalls in Swaymeh
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb at Samarah Resort (approx. 70-120 JOD per night)
- Budget Accommodation
- Dead Sea Spa Hotel (often the most affordable resort option, ~65 JOD/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Sweimeh Resort Area (Hotel Zone)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Samarah Resort (Residential complex with private apartments and high-speed fiber)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- No dedicated coworking; Business Centers at Hilton Dead Sea or Kempinski Ishtar
- Best Cafe for Work
- V- Lounge & Restaurant (Quiet morning environment, reliable Wi-Fi)
- Networking Events
- MENA ICT Forum (held biennially at King Hussein bin Talal Convention Centre)
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Amman Facebook Group (Dead Sea day-trips often organized)
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber or Careem (Amman to Dead Sea is roughly 25-30 JOD)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- N/A; terrain is steep and lacks infrastructure outside resorts
- Best Beach Nearby
- Amman Beach (Public/Private hybrid, entry ~20 JOD for tourists)
- Top Regional Airline
- Royal Jordanian (RU)
- Top International Airline
- Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa (via Queen Alia International, 45 mins away)
- Highway Access
- Route 65 (Dead Sea Highway) connects North to South
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Amman North Bus Station (Muhajireen) for JETT buses
- Public Transport Passes
- JETT Bus (Dead Sea Day Tour ticket: 15 JOD return)
- Regional Travel
- JETT Bus to Petra (3 hours, ~15 JOD) or Wadi Rum
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Al-Bashir Hospital (Amman, 50 mins) or specialist clinics within resorts
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Ishtar Spa by Resense (Massive facility, yoga decks available)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Hilton Dead Sea Fitness Center (Access usually included for guests/members)
- Laundry Services
- In-house resort services or local shops in Swaymeh village for 10% of resort cost
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Talabat (Delivery to resort lobbies is standard)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Mansaf (Lamb cooked in fermented dried yogurt, served with rice)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Ocean Restaurant (Mediterannean salads and mezze options)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Lebnani Snack (Kunafa and traditional sweets)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Samarah Mall (Convenience stores and small boutiques)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.ae (shipping to Jordan) or OpenSooq
- Grocery Delivery
- Talabat Mart or local minimarkets in Swaymeh
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Akka Pool Bar (Kempinski) or Rovers Return (British style pub in Marriott)
- Local Brewery
- Carakale Brewery (Products sold in resort bars; brewery is in Fuheis)
- Wine Bars
- Obelisk Restaurant (Offers selection of Jordan River and Saint George wines)
- Street Food Stalls
- Local Falafel and Shawarma stands along the road in Swaymeh village
- Popular International Cuisine
- Ashur Pizza & Grill (High-end Italian at Kempinski Ishtar)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Dead Sea Floating Experience at the lowest point on Earth (-430m)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Dead Sea Museum (Located within the Panorama Lookout complex)
- Historical Sites
- Baptism Site of Jesus Christ (Al-Maghtas), 15 mins drive north
- Religious Sites
- Mount Nebo (25 mins drive east) with ancient mosaics
- Annual Events
- Dead Sea Ultra Marathon (Usually held in April/May)
- Cultural Districts
- Madaba City (30 mins away, famous for Byzantine mosaics)
- Theater Venues
- N/A locally; Royal Cultural Center in Amman (1 hour drive)
- Local Markets
- Friday Market in Swaymeh (Seasonal local produce and snacks)
- Music Scene
- DJ sets at 'O Beach' or 'Dead Sea Beach Club' during weekends
- Street Art
- Limited; better found in Al-Balad district of Amman
- Cooking Classes
- Baraka Destinations (Offer nearby local cooking experiences in Umm Qais/Pella areas)
- Art Galleries
- Small exhibitions seasonally at the King Hussein Convention Centre
- Historic Buildings
- Qasr el Yahud nearby historical structures
- Local Heritage
- Bedouin hospitality and Dead Sea mud therapeutic traditions
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Wadi Mujib Biosphere Reserve (Canyoning and hiking, 20 mins south)
- National Parks Nearby
- Dibbeen Forest Reserve (approx. 1.5 hours north)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Dead Sea Corniche (paved path along the resort strip)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Dead Sea Panorama Lookout (stunning sunset views across to Israel/Palestine)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Mujib Reserve trails (Specialized for Raptors and Sinai Rosefinch)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated desert camping areas south of the main resort strip
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Aramex (Point-to-point delivery available for resort guests)
- Tech Repair Services
- Requires travel to Amman (Sweifieh district for major Apple/Samsung hubs)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Mövenpick Resort Dead Sea (Games room available for guests)
- Language Classes
- Sijal Institute (In Amman, offers intensive Arabic for digital nomads)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- The library lounge at the Marriott Dead Sea Resort
- Community Centers
- N/A; most social life revolves around the Dead Sea Yacht Club or resorts
- Gaming Lounges
- N/A in Dead Sea; head to Amman's 'Que Club'
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- N/A (Gambling is illegal in Jordan)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 1,600 JOD/m² at Samarah Resort (45 m² = 72,000 JOD / $101,500)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 800 JOD/m² in Swaymeh village outskirts (45 m² = 36,000 JOD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 1,500 JOD/m² at Samarah Resort (70 m² = 105,000 JOD / $148,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 750 JOD/m² (70 m² = 52,500 JOD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 1,400 JOD/m² (100 m² = 140,000 JOD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 700 JOD/m² (100 m² = 70,000 JOD)
- Corporate Tax
- 20% (Standard rate; can vary for specialized industries)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% for individuals in most cases; check specific treaties
- Tax System
- Territorial (Income sourced inside Jordan is taxed; foreign income generally exempt)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 30% (For income exceeding 1,000,000 JOD)
- VAT
- 16% (Sales Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC rules currently in place
- Property Tax
- Yes, annual tax based on clear rental value (approx. 15%)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 9% (Registration fees and transfer taxes)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- High (Foreign sourced income is not taxed for non-resident nomads)