An Expat’s Guide to Living in Jordan

Moving to a new country is often overwhelming and can be very stressful. Leaving your old life behind along with your family and friends, only to find yourself in entirely new surroundings and have to make new friendships and become a part of the new environment will take some adjustment time, but you’ll make it. You’re not the first nor the last person to move to a new country for work, so if others made it, you will too. If you need a few pointers about how to start your new life as an expat in Jordan and blend into traditional Arab society, we’ve got you covered.

Dress modestly

One of the biggest concerns to have in mind when you move to Jordan is how to dress appropriately. The capital, Amman, is liberal when it comes to fashion but to a certain extent. While you can see a Jordanian woman dressed in fully covering attire in which only her eyes are uncovered, i.e. the niqab, you can also notice that many women wear stereotypical western clothing, but only those that cover arms and legs. Therefore, don’t plan on wearing miniskirts and revealing tops, because that will be frowned upon. It would be best for you to dress modestly, and always cover arms, legs and chest. As long as you don’t wear provocative clothing that attracts too much attention, you’ll be fine.

Don’t worry too much about safety

Being one of the most politically stable countries, Jordan is the safest country in the Middle East. With the crime rates staying low, year in and year out, you won't have to worry about experiencing any form of violence or unpleasantries. You will be able to go to work and do all of your daily duties in peace because you won’t have to look back and expect a threat coming your way. If you’re moving to Amman, you’ll be glad to know that the capital has a large military and police presence outside the city. These serve as a major deterrent to terrorist activities.

Good quality of life

If you’ve been worried about the quality of life in Jordan, you can relax. The quality of life in Jordan is actually one of the highest in the Arab world. You’ll have access to a high standard of living with world-class healthcare facilities. However, if you’d like to stay up to date with current events and connect with people, you’ll need to do it through the Internet and social media. Luckily, the quality of fiber optics in Jordan is amazing so you can have a good Internet connection and connect with people in Jordan, do your job as expected and also stay in touch with your family back home.

Plenty of delicious food choices

Food in Jordan isn’t much different than the food in Lebanon, Palestine and Syria. The national dish of Jordan is Mansaf – lamb cooked in a yogurt sauce (Jameed) and served with yellow rice. Going to a restaurant will always be a very satiating experience because there’s no way you’ll feel hungry afterwards due to so much food you’ll eat. Just one meal will concern ordering a collection of different plates such as Shankleesh, Tabbouleh, Fattoush or Hummus and trying to complete the meal with the grilled meat, be it a Shish Kebab, Shish Tawouk, or Tikka. Musakhan is a less-known dish but equally as delicious as other famous foods of Jordan. It is a Palestinian dish made of chicken on bread with lots of olive oil, onions and a spice called Sumac.

Be open-minded

Having an open mind is vital when moving to a new country. You'll have to be understanding and ready to adjust to the new surroundings, behaviors and follow certain etiquette. You should be prepared to encounter new people and culture that is different from your home country but also look forward to meeting new interesting people, learning about the country’s history and customs.

Final thoughts

Jordan is one of the safest countries in the Middle East, so if you’ve been transferred to work there for a while, you’ll have the time of your life. All you need to do is learn something about their way of life in advance, and go with an open mind. Make it a great experience by soaking up Jordanian culture, enjoying their food and respecting their etiquette in order to blend into Arab society.