Jordan operates a unified emergency number system covering the entire country. The national emergency number is 911, which routes calls to police, ambulance, and fire services. This replaced the previous separate numbers in 2006. The Civil Defense Directorate, established in 1964 under the Ministry of Interior, manages fire and rescue operations across all governorates. Ambulance response times in Amman average 8 to 12 minutes within the city center, extending to 20 to 30 minutes in peripheral neighborhoods. Outside major urban centers, response times increase substantially due to geographic dispersion and terrain.
The police emergency line operates in Arabic primarily, with English-speaking operators available in Amman, Aqaba, and Petra during standard business hours. Rural areas and smaller cities require Arabic or coordination through hotel staff. The Tourist Police, established in 1998, maintain stations at Petra, Jerash, Wadi Rum, and central Amman with officers trained in English, French, and German. Their direct line in Amman is +962 6 460 3360. This unit handles disputes involving foreign nationals, lost documents, and tourist-specific crimes.
Jordan Civil Defense operates 158 fire stations nationwide as of 2024, with concentrations in Amman (34 stations), Irbid (18 stations), and Zarqa (12 stations). The Dead Sea region maintains three specialized stations equipped for chemical incidents due to industrial facilities near the shoreline. Response capacity in remote areas such as the eastern desert remains limited. Wadi Rum has one fire unit stationed at the visitor center, with backup from Ma'an 65 kilometers north, typically requiring 45 to 60 minutes arrival time.
Jordan contains 109 hospitals: 37 public facilities operated by the Ministry of Health, 62 private hospitals, and 10 teaching hospitals affiliated with universities. The King Hussein Medical Center in Amman, established in 1973, is the largest public facility with 1,200 beds and serves as the primary trauma center for the capital region. The hospital maintains the only Level 1 trauma unit in Jordan, staffed continuously with specialists in emergency medicine, orthopedic surgery, and neurosurgery. Private facilities including the Arab Medical Center, Jordan Hospital, and Specialty Hospital concentrate in western Amman and cater to medical tourists from neighboring countries.
Aqaba contains three hospitals: Prince Hashem Military Hospital (320 beds), Aqaba New Hospital (150 beds public), and Aqaba Private Hospital (80 beds). Petra has one small clinic with basic stabilization capacity only; serious cases transfer to Queen Rania Hospital in Ma'an, 35 kilometers north, which operates 180 beds. The Madaba governmental hospital provides 120 beds. Jerash and Ajloun each maintain small public hospitals under 100 beds. Areas including Wadi Rum, Azraq, and the Dead Sea hotel zone lack hospitals entirely, relying on ambulance transport to Amman or Ma'an.
Emergency departments in Jordan operate on a cash-or-guarantee system. Public hospital emergency departments legally cannot refuse emergency treatment, but administrative staff request payment commitments before non-emergency procedures. Private hospitals require credit card pre-authorization or embassy guarantees for foreign nationals. The King Hussein Medical Center emergency department treats approximately 800 patients daily, with wait times for non-critical cases ranging from two to six hours. Private hospital emergency departments in Amman typically process patients within 30 to 90 minutes for moderate urgency cases.
Jordan requires medical evacuation for complex cardiac procedures, advanced neurosurgery beyond basic interventions, and extensive burn treatment exceeding 30 percent body surface area. The Royal Medical Services operates the national air ambulance program with two helicopters based at Marka Airport in Amman, primarily serving military personnel but available for civilian critical transfers on a space-available basis. International air ambulance services operate from Queen Alia International Airport without restriction. Common evacuation destinations include Tel Aviv (210 kilometers), Beirut (380 kilometers when border open), and Dubai (2,020 kilometers).
Pharmacies in Jordan carry antibiotics, pain medications, and most common prescription drugs without prescription requirements. The Jordan Pharmacists Association regulates approximately 3,800 pharmacies nationwide. Major chains including Dawacom and Abdali Pharmacy operate extended hours in Amman, with select locations open 24 hours. Pharmacists typically speak English in tourist areas and Amman's western neighborhoods. Rural pharmacies close by 7:00 PM and maintain limited stock compared to urban locations. Insulin, asthma inhalers, and blood pressure medications remain widely available. Specialty medications for rare conditions or biologics may require sourcing from hospital pharmacies or importation.
The Jordanian healthcare system does not recognize foreign prescriptions directly. Travelers requiring ongoing medication should carry original prescription documentation and sufficient supply for their entire stay. For prescription refills, consultation with a Jordanian physician is required, typically costing 15 to 30 Jordanian dinars (21 to 42 US dollars) at private clinics in Amman. Walk-in clinics along Mecca Street and near the Fifth Circle in Amman accept patients without appointments during weekday business hours.
The United States Embassy in Jordan operates from the Abdoun neighborhood of Amman at Al-Umawyeen Street. The consular section provides passport replacement, notarial services, and emergency assistance to American citizens. Routine appointments require online scheduling through the embassy website, with current wait times averaging 10 to 14 days for non-emergency services. Emergency passport replacement for lost or stolen documents processes within 24 to 48 hours when travelers provide police reports and proof of citizenship such as photocopies or digital scans. The emergency after-hours line (+962 6 590 6000) operates for situations involving arrest, hospitalization, or death of American citizens.
The British Embassy Jordan maintains offices in the Abdoun area at PO Box 87, Amman 11118. The consular section processes emergency travel documents for British nationals, typically requiring one to three business days. Canadian citizens access consular services through the Embassy of Canada at 133 Hazza' Al Majali Street in the Abdoun district. Australian citizens coordinate through the Australian Embassy at 41 Deir Ghbar, North Abdoun. All major European nations maintain embassies in Amman's diplomatic quarter, concentrated between the Fourth and Sixth Circles in western Amman.
Jordan requires all foreign nationals to carry identification at all times. Police and security checkpoints, particularly near border regions and in the Jordan Valley, routinely request identification documents. Photocopies of passport data pages suffice for most situations, but original passports are required at formal checkpoints entering Aqaba Special Economic Zone, areas near the Israeli and Syrian borders, and when checking into hotels.
Lost passport procedures begin with filing a police report at the nearest Public Security Directorate station. Tourist Police stations at major sites can initiate reports but often redirect to main police stations for formal documentation. The police report (mahdar in Arabic) typically processes within one to two hours and costs no fee. This document is mandatory for embassy processing of replacement passports. Travelers should request multiple certified copies of the police report, as hotels, airlines, and immigration officials may request copies.
The Jordan Tourism Board operates a visitor hotline at 0096265678444, staffed with English and Arabic speakers from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Sunday through Thursday. This service provides general guidance but does not replace official emergency services or consular assistance. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities maintains a complaints office that addresses disputes with licensed tour operators, hotels, and transportation providers. Formal complaints require written submission in English or Arabic with supporting documentation.
Jordan's official currency is the Jordanian dinar (JOD), subdivided into 1,000 fils. The Central Bank of Jordan maintains a fixed exchange rate pegged to the US dollar since October 1995 at 0.709 dinars per dollar, or 1.41 dollars per dinar. This peg has remained unchanged for 29 years as of 2024. Currency exchange services operate at Queen Alia International Airport, with rates typically 2 to 3 percent below official rates. Airport exchange counters open continuously during flight operations.