Essentials
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- City Center / Historic District (District of Mosaics)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Ash-Shurafa or neighborhoods near King Abdullah II St for modern flats
- City
- Madaba, Madaba Governorate, Jordan
- Population
- Approx. 120,000
- Internet Speed
- 4G/LTE is reliable; Fiber available in city center (50-100 Mbps)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 JOD ≈ 1.41 USD. Fixed exchange rate.
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; filtered water (5-gallon jugs) costs 1 JOD
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C, D, F, G (British) and J
- SIM Card
- Zain, Orange, and Umniah. Zain E-SIM 20GB for ~15 JOD
- Banking for Expats
- Arab Bank or Bank of Jordan; Revolut works for withdrawals
- Accommodation
- Guesthouses and Airbnb; monthly rentals available via Facebook groups
- Cashless Friendly
- Partial. Cash is king for small shops; cards okay in hotels/restaurants
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Mariam Hotel (short-term), Tell Madaba Guesthouse
- Budget Accommodation
- Madaba Hotel (near St. George's Church) ~15-20 JOD/night
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Kawon (Bookshop/Cafe hybrids with work areas, King Talal St)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Carob House (Sustainable farm-to-table with great Wi-Fi and views)
- Networking Events
- Business networking usually happens in Amman (35 mins away) at Zain Innovation Campus
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Amman (frequent meetups involving Madaba residents)
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Careem (Service to Amman ~12-15 JOD)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Cycling Jordan (Amman-based, delivers to Madaba for tours)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Dead Sea Public Beach (30 km away, ~45 min drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- Royal Jordanian (Fly from Queen Alia International, 20 km away)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair (Budget flights to Europe), Turkish Airlines
- Highway Access
- Desert Highway (Route 15) and King's Highway (Route 35)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Madaba Bus Station (South of city center, buses to Amman's North Station)
- Public Transport Passes
- No formal pass; Coaster buses to Amman cost 0.55 JOD
- Regional Travel
- JETT Bus (Daily departures to Petra and Wadi Rum)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Al-Nadim Hospital (Public) or Al Mahaba Hospital (Private)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Ma'in Hot Springs Resort (25km away) for therapeutic baths
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Oxygen Gym (King Abdullah II Street) ~30 JOD/month
- Laundry Services
- Al-Nuzha Laundry (Near city center) ~5 JOD per load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Talabat (Covers broad range of local restaurants)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Mansaf (Lamb cooked in fermented dried yogurt juice)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Carob House (Creative vegetable dishes and mezze)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Aigust Knafeh (Traditional hot cheese pastry)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Madaba Fruit and Vegetable Market (near the Grand Mosque)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- OpenSooq (Local marketplace) and Amazon.ae (with shipping)
- Grocery Delivery
- Talabat Mart or local 'Dukkan' delivery via WhatsApp
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Haret Jdoudna (Restaurant with wine/beer in historic setting)
- Local Brewery
- Carakale Brewing Company (Amman-based, available at major Madaba hotels)
- Wine Bars
- Saint John House (Rooftop bar with local Jordanian wines)
- Street Food Stalls
- Abu Yusuf Falafel (King Talal St) - sandwich for 0.60 JOD
- Popular International Cuisine
- Jawharat Madaba (Italian and International fusion)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church (The Mosaic Map)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Madaba Archaeological Park and Museum
- Historical Sites
- Mount Nebo (Moses' viewpoint, 10 km from city center)
- Religious Sites
- Church of the Beheading of John the Baptist
- Annual Events
- Easter Celebrations (Huge local orthodox processions)
- Cultural Districts
- The King's Highway Heritage Corridor
- Theater Venues
- Madaba Cultural Center (Local performances/poetry)
- Local Markets
- Madaba Souq (Traditional textiles and spices)
- Music Scene
- Live Oud music at Haret Jdoudna on weekends
- Street Art
- Mosaic workshops lining the main tourist street
- Cooking Classes
- Beit Al Sadu (Traditional weaving and local food prep)
- Art Galleries
- Madaba Arts Council Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Bani Sakhr tribal houses and Byzantine villas
- Local Heritage
- UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art status
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Wadi Mujib Biosphere Reserve (Canyoning and hiking)
- National Parks Nearby
- Dana Biosphere Reserve (approx. 2 hours south)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Jordan Trail (Segment passes through nearby canyons)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Mount Nebo overlook (Views of Dead Sea and Jerusalem)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Wadi Bin Hammad (Nearby wetlands)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Wild camping spots near Panorama Dead Sea Road
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Aramex Madaba Branch (Al-Quds St)
- Tech Repair Services
- I-Tech Computers (Near the roundabout)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Madaba Youth Club
- Language Classes
- Sijal Institute (Amman - 45 min commute) for intensive Arabic
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Madaba Public Library (Khalid Bin Al-Walid St)
- Community Centers
- The Latin Convent Community Center
- Gaming Lounges
- Cyber Game Center (Al-Hashimi St)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (Gambling is illegal in Jordan)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 600 JOD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 24,000 JOD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 450 JOD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 18,000 JOD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 550 JOD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 33,000 JOD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 400 JOD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 24,000 JOD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 500 JOD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 40,000 JOD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 350 JOD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 28,000 JOD)
- Corporate Tax
- 20% (Standard rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% (Generally exempt for individuals)
- Tax System
- Territorial/Residency-based; income earned in Jordan is taxable
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 30% (For income above 1,000,000 JOD)
- VAT
- 16% General Sales Tax (GST)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, but enforcement focused on large corporations
- Property Tax
- Averaging 2% of the estimated rental value per year
- Property Transaction Tax
- 9% (Registration fees and transfer tax; currently subject to stimulus reductions)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Foreign sourced income is generally not taxed for non-citizens