Jordan celebrates New Year's Eve mostly indoors or under the stars, and packed public squares are rare. In Amman, hotel ballrooms and rooftop restaurants host gala dinners and countdowns. At the Dead Sea, resorts set up poolside parties at the lowest point on land. In the Wadi Rum desert, Bedouin-style camps light campfires and serve dinner cooked under the sand. For New Year's Eve 2026, the smartest plan is to pair one night of celebration with the country's sights: Petra, the desert and the Red Sea are all within a few hours' drive of each other.
This guide is part of our wider guide to the best places to celebrate New Year 2027 around the world.
This guide compares the four best places to spend the night, explains how celebrations work in a mainly Muslim country, and covers the weather, the Jordan Pass and the booking details that save you money in the busiest week of the winter season.
Jordan New Year 2027: essential facts
- Date: Thursday, 31 December 2026; 1 January is a public holiday
- Where parties happen: Hotels, resorts, restaurants and desert camps
- Amman weather: Cool days around 15°C and cold nights near 6°C
- Aqaba weather: Mild, with December highs in the low 20s °C
- Jordan Pass: From 70 JD; waives the visa fee if you stay at least three nights
- Main airport: Queen Alia International, south of Amman
- Visa: Rules depend on your passport; many nationalities get a visa on arrival
- Currency: Jordanian dinar (JD)
How New Year's Eve is celebrated in Jordan
Jordan is mostly Muslim with a significant Christian community, and the international New Year is a recognised, non-religious celebration. Public street parties are rare, and the night is organised by hotels, restaurants and event companies that sell tickets or set menus with live music, DJs and a midnight countdown. Alcohol is served in licensed hotels and restaurants, especially in Amman, the Dead Sea resorts and Aqaba.
The mood also follows regional events. In some recent years, celebrations across the Arab world were scaled back in solidarity with Gaza, and some venues cancelled fireworks or large parties. Programmes for 2026 are usually announced from November, so check the hotel or venue's current plans before you pay a deposit.
Jordan's weekend falls on Friday and Saturday, and 1 January is a public holiday, so expect a quiet morning and normal shop hours to resume on 2 January.
Pack for cold weather. In January, Amman averages highs of about 11 to 13°C and lows of 3 to 4°C, and the west of the city gets noticeably more rain than the east. Snow falls once or twice in a typical year, mostly on the higher western and northern areas, so a warm layer for the walk between venue and taxi is worth bringing.
Best places to spend New Year 2027 in Jordan
The four best places for New Year's Eve in Jordan are Amman for hotel galas and rooftop countdowns, the Dead Sea resorts for a milder evening at the lowest point on land, a Wadi Rum desert camp for a campfire night under the stars, and Aqaba on the Red Sea for the warmest weather, with December highs in the low 20s °C.
Amman: rooftop countdowns and hotel galas
Amman has the widest choice for New Year's Eve. Five-star hotels in Abdoun, Shmeisani and around the Abdali boulevard run gala dinners with live bands and countdowns, while rooftop bars and restaurants in Jabal Amman and around Rainbow Street offer smaller, more relaxed parties with views over the city's hills. The best venues sell out weeks in advance, and many require a pre-paid ticket covering dinner and drinks.
During the day, the Amman Citadel on Jabal al-Qal'a and the Roman Theatre downtown make good sightseeing stops, and the souks around the downtown area are lively before the holiday. Bring a warm coat: Amman sits at roughly 700 to 1,100 metres above sea level, and December nights are cold.
Two or three days is enough, based in Abdoun, Jabal Amman or Abdali.
Dead Sea: a resort countdown at the lowest point on Earth
The Dead Sea resorts on the Jordanian shore, about an hour's drive from Amman, are a popular escape for the New Year. Hotels run festive programmes with themed gala dinners, live entertainment and countdowns, and the setting below sea level means noticeably milder evenings than Amman.
Floating in the extremely salty water is the experience everyone comes for. Swim only at hotel or public beaches with facilities, keep the water away from your eyes, and do not shave on the day you swim. Mud treatments and spa packages fill up fast over the holiday, so book them with your room.
Two days on the resort strip at the northern end of the shore suits couples and families looking for a rest.
Wadi Rum: New Year's Eve in a desert camp
Wadi Rum is the protected desert of red sand and sandstone mountains in southern Jordan, and on 31 December many camps organise a special evening with a campfire, music and zarb, the traditional Bedouin dish of meat and vegetables cooked in a pit under the sand. Away from city lights, the sky fills with stars on a clear night.
Desert nights in winter are very cold, often near freezing, even when days are pleasant. Choose a camp with heated tents or extra blankets, bring a warm hat and layers, and confirm what the New Year's Eve programme includes. Alcohol is not available at many camps, so check the policy in advance.
Add a jeep tour of the desert on 1 January, then continue to Aqaba or Petra.
One or two nights is the usual stay. Pick a licensed camp inside the protected area.
Aqaba: Red Sea warmth for the New Year
Aqaba, Jordan's only coastal city, sits on the Gulf of Aqaba at the far south of the country. December highs in the low 20s °C make it the most comfortable place to be outdoors on New Year's Eve, and the beach hotels and resorts in the Tala Bay and Ayla areas host dinners and parties. Aqaba is a special economic zone, so prices for some goods are lower than in Amman.
Snorkelling and diving on the coral reefs south of the city are possible all year. Combining a New Year's Eve in Aqaba with a night in Wadi Rum, about an hour away, is one of the easiest itineraries in the country.
Two or three days in Tala Bay, Ayla or on the city beachfront works for divers and families alike.
Visiting Petra over the New Year
Petra is about three hours by road from Amman and two from Aqaba, and the holiday week is one of the busiest times to visit. Start at opening time to walk the Siq, the narrow gorge leading to the Treasury, before tour groups arrive. The Monastery, reached by a long climb of steps, is quieter in the afternoon. The town of Wadi Musa, beside the site, has hotels at every price level, and some offer their own New Year's Eve dinners for guests who want to celebrate close to the ruins.
Tickets for visitors staying overnight in Jordan cost 50 JD for one day, 55 JD for two and 60 JD for three consecutive days as of 2026, and the Jordan Pass covers entry. Winter opening is from about 06:00 or 06:30, with the site closing in late afternoon, so check the official Visit Petra page for exact times. Wear sturdy shoes and layers, because mornings in December are cold and the climb to the Monastery is around 800 steps.
Amman, the Dead Sea, Wadi Rum or Aqaba: which suits you?
Amman has the most choice of hotel galas and rooftop bars and is the base for day trips to Jerash and the Citadel. The Dead Sea, about an hour from Amman, sits at the lowest point on land, so evenings are noticeably milder; resort galas there suit couples who want a spa stay. Wadi Rum offers a night under clear desert skies around a campfire, but temperatures fall close to freezing and many camps do not serve alcohol. Aqaba, on the Red Sea, has the mildest weather and works well combined with Wadi Rum and Petra on the same trip.
Is the Jordan Pass worth it for a New Year trip?
The Jordan Pass is a combined ticket starting at 70 JD that includes entry to Petra (one, two or three days depending on the version) and many other sites, including Wadi Rum and Jerash. If you buy it before arrival and stay in Jordan for at least three nights, it also waives the 40 JD tourist visa fee for nationalities eligible for a visa on arrival. If you leave before completing three nights, the visa fee is charged on departure. For a New Year trip that includes Petra, the pass usually pays for itself. Check current prices and terms on the official Jordan Pass website before buying.
Check the sums for your plan: Petra alone costs 50 JD for a day, and the visa on arrival 40 JD, so a pass from 70 JD saves money for nearly every visitor who stays three nights and sees Petra. Buy the version that matches the number of days you will spend at Petra.
Where to stay for New Year's Eve in Jordan
In Amman, the parties happen in hotels and rooftop venues, so choose your hotel around where you want to be at midnight. Abdoun and Shmeisani have most of the large international hotels with galas. Jabal Amman and the Rainbow Street area suit travellers who want independent rooftop bars and restaurants within walking distance.
At the Dead Sea, the resorts form a strip on the eastern shore, each running its own gala; staying at the resort hosting your party is the only practical option, since there is no town to walk to. In Wadi Rum, the camp is your bed: choose one with heating for the cold desert night. In Aqaba, the hotels along the beach and near the city centre are close to restaurants and the waterfront.
In Petra, staying in Wadi Musa lets you start at opening time on 1 January. Hotels there range from simple guesthouses to large resorts beside the visitor centre.
What New Year's Eve in Jordan costs
Typical spending, as of October 2026
| Item | What to expect | How to keep it down |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel gala dinner | The main event in Amman and at the Dead Sea | Book early; compare packages with and without drinks |
| Hotel nights | Dead Sea resorts and Aqaba hotels fill for the holiday | Book by November |
| Wadi Rum camp | New Year packages with dinner and music | Choose a heated tent |
| Jordan Pass | From 70 JD; covers Petra and the visa fee for stays of three nights or more | Buy it before arrival |
| Taxis and transfers | Higher demand on the night | Arrange transfers with the hotel |
Day-to-day costs vary widely: falafel and hummus breakfasts in Amman are cheap, while resort meals and drinks are priced close to European levels. The Jordanian dinar is a strong currency, so check conversions carefully. Cards are accepted in hotels and larger restaurants, but taxis, small shops and Wadi Rum camps often need cash. Tipping drivers and guides is customary.
Tips for New Year's Eve in Jordan
- Pre-book your party. Most celebrations are ticketed hotel or restaurant events. Reserve and pay the deposit once the 2026 programme is published.
- Pack for cold nights. Amman and Wadi Rum are cold after dark in December. Bring a warm jacket even if you plan to spend time in Aqaba.
- Plan road transfers. Distances are manageable, but driving at night on desert highways is tiring. Hire a driver or schedule long drives for daylight.
- Dress respectfully. Outside hotels and resorts, modest clothing is the norm. Cover shoulders and knees in towns and religious sites.
- Mind Friday schedules. Friday is the main weekend day in Jordan. Some shops and offices close or open late, and traffic patterns change.
- Book flights early. Fares to Amman rise for the holiday week. Compare routes via major Gulf and European hubs on our flight search.
If you are weighing other Middle Eastern options, our guides to New Year's Eve in Doha and New Year's Eve in Abu Dhabi cover two cities with big public fireworks.
Amman hotels, Dead Sea resorts and Petra stays all fill fast for 31 December. Compare options now. See hotels
Our guide to New Year travel prices explains minimum stays, compulsory gala dinners and when to book.
Planning a trip to Jordan? Read our Jordan travel guide or search flights.
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