Shopping in Jordan

Every town will have a souk (market), and there are also many good craft and jewelry shops. There is a particularly good gold and jewelry market in Amman. Special items include: Hebron glass; mother-of-pearl boxes; pottery; backgammon sets; embroidered tablecloths; jewelled rosaries and worry beads; nativity sets made of olive wood; leather hassocks; old and new brass and copper items; and caftans hand-embroidered with silver and gold thread. Jordan is famous for its gold and silver; the center of Amman has a gold souk with over 50 shops. Necklaces with a small golden coffee pot (dalleh) - a national symbol - are popular and widely available.

Shopping hours
Sat-Thurs 0900-1300 and 1500-2000 (closed Friday).

Currency Information:

Currency
Dinar (JD) = 1000 fils. Notes are in denominations of JD50, 20, 10, 5 and 1, and 500 fils. Coins are in denominations of 1000, 500, 250, 100, 50, 25, 10 and 5 fils.

Currency exchange
Foreign currencies can be exchanged easily in banks and bureaux de change. Most hotels also provide exchange facilities. The daily exchange rates are published in local newspapers.

Credit and debit cards
American Express and Visa are widely accepted, whilst Diners Club and MasterCard have more limited use. Check with your credit and debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travelers cheques
Those issued by UK banks are accepted by licensed banks and bureaux de change. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take travelers cheques in US Dollars.

Currency restrictions
The import of local currency is unlimited. The export of local currency is restricted to JD300. The import of foreign currency is unrestricted provided declared on arrival. Export of foreign currency is up to the amount imported and declared.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Dinar against Sterling and the US Dollar

Banking hours
Sat-Thurs 0830-1500. Hours during Ramadan are 0830-1000, although some banks open in the afternoon.