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Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein
His Majesty King
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Al Hussein bin Abdullah II
His Royal Highness Crown Prince
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Government and Geography
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan or most commonly known as Jordan is an Arab country located in the east bank of Jordan River and sits strategically in the middle of Asia, Africa and Europe. It has an estimated population of 10 Million which mostly reside in its capital city, Amman. The country embraces modernity and diversity as it is composed of different languages, religions and ethnic groups. Despite this diverse composition, Jordan is a peace-loving country who contributes to the UN peacekeeping missions.
The government is under a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy with the king together with his cabinet have the executive authority. The king is the head of state, commander-in-chief and the one who signs, executes and vetoes all law; while his cabinet which is led by the prime minister is incharge of the general policy matters.
Jordan has a total land area of 88,884 square kilometres and the climate is a majority of summer season but also experiences short winter and a little rainfall. Summers lasts from May to September with an average of 32ËšC temperature. Winters, which includes frequent rainfall and occasional snowfall, normally starts on November and lasts until March with an average of 13ËšC temperature.
Economy
Jordan is considered to be one of the progressive countries in the MENA Region with the GDP of $12,494.00, in-fact they ranked 4th as the freest country in the region in terms of Economic Freedom based on the 2019 index by the Heritage Foundation. It is not really a surprise as the government is trying to balance the modernization, growth and employment rate. The main sector that drives the country’s GDP is the tourism sector which is also a large source of employment. This is due to a number of well-preserved archaeological and historical cities such as Jerash and Petra. The country also attracts pilgrimage activities as it is part of the Holy Land and has several biblical attractions like the Baptism site of Jesus and Mount Nebo.
Health and Education
The government led by the Ministry of Health has been working hard in improving the health services of the country as majority of Jordanians have medical insurances. They also have the support of international organizations such as WHO, UNCHR, UNICEF and UNFPA since they have been accommodating refugees from neighboring countries (Syria, Palestine, Iraq, etc) who needs medical treatment, food and shelter. With this case, they have given priority in improving their healthcare system. They have also given the same importance with their educational system which comprises of 12 years of primary education and 2 years of secondary or vocational education. In effect, the literacy rate is 98% and seen to be one of the highest not just in MENA region but also in the world as per UNESCO.
Work Environment
The country’s economy is stable and not just dependent on one sector. You can work in the various industries in Jordan, which are all considered fast growing, specifically mining, tourism, pharmaceuticals, textile and information technology. The work week is from Sunday until Thursday and holidays are based on the holy occasions such as Ramadan. It should be noted that the majority of the population are Muslim and they would normally pray five times daily. Since Jordan is part of the Holy Land, you can get the best of both worlds – the biblical times and modern era. You can explore across Amman and Jordan for the historical landmarks. With regards to safety, Jordan is one of the safest country in the Middle East and it is also notable to mention that it was the first Arab country to accept females in the police force, thus, you know that opportunities for both men and women exist.