The United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan have maintained diplomatic relations since the Emirates' foundation in 1971. Jordan was among the first states to recognise the new federation, and the two countries have since built a relationship that spans development assistance, investment, labour migration and tourism.
Diplomatic and political ties
Both states are members of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and both have supported a two-state resolution of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Jordanian and Emirati positions have frequently coincided in regional diplomacy, and the two countries exchange regular high-level visits. Jordan maintains an embassy in Abu Dhabi and a consulate-general in Dubai; the Emirates maintains an embassy in Amman.
Development assistance and investment
Jordan has been a significant recipient of Emirati development finance, delivered through the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and other federal institutions, with projects in energy, water, transport, housing and education. Emirati investment in Jordan includes industrial, real-estate and tourism ventures, and the two countries have signed a series of bilateral agreements on investment protection and the avoidance of double taxation. The Aqaba Special Economic Zone has attracted Emirati logistics and tourism investment, and there are joint ventures in phosphate and potash-related industry and in renewable energy.
Jordanians in the Emirates
Jordanian professionals form one of the largest Arab expatriate communities in the United Arab Emirates, and are prominent in engineering, banking, healthcare, education, media and information technology. This migration is economically significant in both directions: remittances from Jordanians working in the Emirates are a substantial component of Jordan's foreign exchange receipts, and Jordanian institutions supply trained graduates to the Emirati labour market.
Travel
Direct flights connect Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah with Amman and Aqaba, and Jordan is a well-established destination for residents of the Emirates, whether for tourism or to visit family. The principal destinations are Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, Jerash and Aqaba, and the journey is short enough for a long weekend.
Jordan's own tourism sector serves visitors from the Emirates with a developed hospitality and guiding industry, and the two countries cooperate on heritage conservation, museum development and archaeological fieldwork, including at sites where Emirati and Jordanian institutions have conducted joint research.
Important practical points for travellers from the Emirates: most visitors obtain a visa on arrival in Jordan, either free or against a modest fee depending on the channel used; travel insurance and the existence of a return ticket are standard requirements; and the Jordan Pass, which bundles the entry visa with admission to Petra and other sites, is a common and economical option. Travellers should verify current requirements with the Jordanian embassy or the airline before departure, as rules change.