UAE licence 
JordanCan you drive in Jordan with a UAE license?
Short answer: to drive in Jordan with a UAE license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva format, carried together with your UAE license.
Yes — to drive in Jordan on a UAE licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your UAE licence. Jordan expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.
UAE drivers should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their licence when driving abroad. Your International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing licence, prepared in the 1949 Geneva format and carried alongside your national licence.
What driving in Jordan is like
The King's Highway from Madaba through Wadi Mujib to Petra is Jordan's classic scenic drive. For most visitors the real draw is the freedom to reach places trains and tours don't, on your own schedule, with the open road generally capped around 120 km/h on the Desert Highway. Getting behind the wheel is the easy part: your International Driving Permit is a certified translation of your UAE licence, carried alongside it, so rental staff and officials in Jordan can read your credentials at a glance.
What applies to UAE licence holders in Jordan
| UAE licence in Jordan | |
|---|---|
| Do you need an IDP? | Yes — carry one alongside your licence |
| IDP format required | 1949 Geneva |
| Your UAE licence script | Roman (Latin) alphabet |
| United Arab Emirates is party to | 1968 Vienna |
| Drives on the | Right-hand side |
| Minimum driving age | 18 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Top speed limit | 120 km/h on the Desert Highway |
| Currency | JOD |
Driving rules in Jordan you should know
- Drive on the right.
- Seatbelts mandatory.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol for driving.
- Desert Highway speed cameras are common.
Local driving facts in Jordan
Emergency number: 911 (112 also connects from most mobiles). Typical maximum for cars on the fastest road class: 120 km/h on the Desert Highway. Posted limits always take precedence.
Tolls & road charges in Jordan
Jordan currently has no toll roads, so no vignette or e-toll is needed; the Desert Highway, Dead Sea Highway and King's Highway are all free to use.
Parking in Jordan
Street parking is generally easy outside central Amman and Aqaba; in Amman's busy districts attendants and metered/blue-marked bays apply, and a small cash fee is common, so avoid kerbs marked for no-parking.
Penalties & enforcement in Jordan
Speed and AI cameras on dual carriageways catch speeding and phone use; the minimum fine is about 20 JOD rising with severity, and on a rental the camera fine is forwarded to the agency, which bills the renter (often months later).
If you have an accident in Jordan
Call police on 911 and remain at the scene; a police report is mandatory for any insurance claim and for the rental company, and vehicles should not be moved until police authorise it.
City driving in Jordan
Amman's hilly, circle-based layout (the numbered 'Dawwars'/roundabouts like 1st through 8th Circle) is confusing and congested, with aggressive lane use; plan extra time and watch for sudden lane changes.
Winter driving in Jordan
No mandatory winter-tyre law, but Amman and the highlands can see snow and ice in Dec-Feb that closes roads; carry caution rather than chains, which are rarely required.
Fuel in Jordan
Stations sell unleaded 90- and 95-octane petrol plus diesel, are attendant-served, and 90-octane is the standard grade; expect roughly 0.90-1.00 JOD/litre for 90 and more for 95 (about USD 1.60-1.90/litre), with cards widely accepted in cities.
Sources: remitly.com, europcar.com, saltinourhair.com, globalpetrolprices.com