Jordan is a country in the Middle East, which borders Saudi Arabia and Israel, its capital city is Amman. Officially called the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, it lies on the East Bank of the River Jordan and much of it is covered by the Arabian Desert. The modern country of today was founded in 1921 and joined the United Nations in 1946. The official currency is the Jordanian dinar and the country is two hours ahead of GMT. The official language is Arabic, whilst English is also widely spoken throughout the country.
After it became fully independent of British Mandate in 1946 the Jordanian Army joined other Arab nations in attacking the new state of Israel and throughout its brief history Jordan has always been hostile to Israel. Despite this Jordan is one of only three Arab nations to have diplomatic relations with Israel. It’s also seen as a pro-Western country in the Middle East and is a major ally of the United States and the United Kingdom.
Despite being a relatively small country Jordan has a booming economy that’s grown year on year for more than a decade. It’s considered the business capital of the Middle East, due to the instability in the surrounding areas.
Tourism also contributes a significant proportion of the country’s Gross National Product, with sights like Petra in Wadi Musa. This is a complete city carved in a mountain in ancient times and part of it has been designated as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. As well as this you can also visit the Wadi Rum, which is a desert full of mountains and hills and located in South Jordan. It’s known for its association with Lawrence of Arabia.
Car hire in Jordan is advised if you want to travel out of Amman and to other cities like Irbid and Fuheis, as the public transport can often be unreliable. AnyCarHire.com makes car hire easy for you, by finding the cheapest prices available in Jordan before you’ve arrived. This allows you to choose your car and have it ready to drive as soon as you’re in the country.