Culture, Customs and Etiquette for Jordan: Traveler Guide

Hospitality na the heart of Jordan

Jordanians dey famous for generosity, and the Bedouin tradition of welcoming stranger dey run deep. If you visit house, expect say dem go offer you tea, qahwa (cardamom coffee) or food almost immediately. If you refuse outright e fit feel like say you no respect person, so make you accept small at least. The phrase wey you go hear anyhow na ahlan wa sahlan (welcome).

Greetings and social etiquette

• The standard greeting na as-salaamu alaykum (peace dey with you); reply wa alaykum as-salaam.
• Shake hand with right hand. Men suppose wait see whether woman go extend her hand first; some women prefer hand for chest instead.
• Friends wey be same gender dey often greet with cheek kiss, usually starting for right side.
• Use right hand for chop, giving and receiving; left hand no clean.

The coffee ritual

To serve small cups of bitter qahwa sada na sign of honor, especially among Bedouin host for Wadi Rum or Petra. Hold the cup with right hand. When you don chop belleful, gently shake the cup small small as you dey return am, or the host go keep dey refill am.

Dress and behavior

• Jordan dey relax compared to the Gulf, but modest dress still dey appreciated. Cover shoulder and knee, especially for religious sites and conservative towns.
• Women suppose carry scarf make dem cover head when dem dey enter mosque like King Abdullah I Mosque for Amman.
• Public affection no good make you show am too much.
• During Ramadan, no chop, drink or smoke for public during daylight hours.

Dos and don'ts

• Do ask before you snap people, especially women and Bedouin elders.
• Do remove your shoe before you enter house or mosque.
• Don't point the sole of your foot toward person or step over food.
• Don't discuss regional politics of Israel or refugees unless your host bring am up.
• Do accept invitation warmly; shared meal of mansaf (lamb with jameed yogurt over rice) na big honor, wey dem traditionally chop with right hand.

Tipping norms

Tipping, wey dem dey call baksheesh for local, na custom and dem go appreciate am.

• Restaurants: sometimes dem go add service charge; if not, leave around 10 percent.
• Taxis: round up the fare to nearest dinar.
• Hotel porters and housekeeping: 1 JOD dey generous.
• Petra and Wadi Rum guides or Bedouin drivers: few dinars per person if the experience good.
• Public restroom attendants: small small coins.

The currency na Jordanian dinar (JOD), and small notes dey handy for tip.

Stay connected for Jordan

HelloSIM eSIM go keep you online the moment wey you land, so map, translation apps and last-minute Petra or Wadi Rum booking go just work, no roaming bill.