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Aqaba is Jordan's only coastal city, a warm, easygoing Red Sea resort with coral reefs offshore and the deserts of Wadi Rum behind. This guide to Aqaba's Red Sea resorts covers the best hotels, diving, golf and the easy links to Petra.
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At a glance
From the United States
The essentials for American travelers, at a glance.
Checked October 18, 2026. Rules and schedules change, so confirm on the official portal before you book. Connecting on a Gulf or Turkish carrier? See stopover programs, and plan with your first trip.
Why go
Aqaba sits at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, an arm of the Red Sea, with Eilat and the Sinai mountains across the water. It has been a port since biblical times and holds a 16th-century Mamluk fort, but today it is a fast-growing resort and a special economic zone, with new marinas, a championship golf course and a string of five-star resorts.
Its reefs are among the healthiest in the northern Red Sea, and the winter climate is warm and sunny, which makes it an ideal final stop after Petra and Wadi Rum. Our Jordan travel guide has the full country overview.
October to May is high season, with days in the 70s and 80s °F. Summer is very hot but the sea is warm and inviting.
Royal Jordanian flies nonstop to Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) from New York JFK, Chicago, Detroit, Washington Dulles and, since May 2026, Dallas Fort Worth, in roughly 11 to 13 hours. Gulf and European carriers add one-stop options from almost every US city. Royal Jordanian connects Amman to King Hussein International Airport (AQJ) in about an hour, and seasonal flights arrive from Europe. The drive from Amman takes about four hours. Business jets use AQJ; see private jet charter.
Best hotels
Resorts are found in three areas: the city beachfront, the Ayla lagoon development, and Tala Bay to the south near the best reefs.
A sleek modern hotel on the beach with a long infinity pool, sea views from every room and a full spa.
Official site ↗An elegant hotel with its own beach and lagoon pools, next to the Saraya Aqaba waterpark.
Official site ↗A contemporary resort on the Ayla marina, close to the Ayla golf course and beach club.
Official site ↗A large resort with one of the longest private beaches in the city, extensive pools and good family facilities.
Official site ↗A resort with low-rise buildings either side of the road, linked by a bridge to its beach and pools.
Official site ↗A relaxed beach resort in the Tala Bay marina area, close to the reefs of the south coast.
Official site ↗The Aqaba Marine Park protects the southern coast, with excellent shore diving on sites such as the Japanese Garden and the Cedar Pride wreck. A retired Lockheed TriStar and a decommissioned tank have been sunk as artificial reefs, and an underwater military museum lies just offshore. Glass-bottom boats and snorkel trips make the reefs accessible to all.
On land, the 18-hole Ayla Golf Club, designed by Greg Norman, is one of the finest courses in the Middle East. Visit the Aqaba Fort and archaeological museum, wander the old souk and watch the sun set over the Sinai. See our pages on diving and the outdoors, golf and marinas.
Fresh fish, sayadieh (spiced fish with rice) and seafood grills are local specialties, served in simple restaurants in town and at the resorts. Ayla's waterfront and the resort beach clubs offer polished all-day dining.
Property
As a special economic zone, Aqaba offers incentives for investors, and developments such as Ayla Oasis and Saraya Aqaba include villas and apartments on lagoons and golf courses. For context on residency routes and the country's plans, see residency and golden visas and Jordan's Vision 2033.
Questions travelers ask
Excellent. The reefs start close to shore, the visibility is good year-round, and there are many established dive centers.
Yes. Petra is about two hours by road, and many travelers combine a Petra day trip with Wadi Rum.
As part of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone, many goods carry lower taxes than elsewhere in Jordan.
Yes, but it is simple: US passport holders can get a visa on arrival or apply online in advance. The Jordan Pass, bought online before you travel, combines the visa fee with entry to Petra, Wadi Rum and dozens of other sites for visitors staying at least three days (two nights), and is usually the better value.
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Weather
Average day highs, night lows, sea temperature and rainy days for each month, in Fahrenheit and Celsius side by side. The months in gold are the most comfortable for visiting.
| Month | Day high | Night low | Sea | Rainy days | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| °F | °C | °F | °C | °F | °C | ||
| Jan | 69° | 20° | 51° | 10° | 73° | 23° | 1 |
| Feb | 72° | 22° | 53° | 11° | 71° | 22° | 2 |
| Mar | 78° | 26° | 58° | 14° | 71° | 22° | 1 |
| Apr | 88° | 31° | 65° | 18° | 72° | 22° | 0 |
| May | 96° | 35° | 72° | 22° | 75° | 24° | 0 |
| Jun | 101° | 38° | 76° | 25° | 79° | 26° | 0 |
| Jul | 104° | 40° | 80° | 26° | 83° | 29° | 0 |
| Aug | 103° | 40° | 80° | 26° | 85° | 29° | 0 |
| Sep | 99° | 37° | 77° | 25° | 82° | 28° | 0 |
| Oct | 90° | 32° | 70° | 21° | 79° | 26° | 0 |
| Nov | 81° | 27° | 62° | 17° | 77° | 25° | 1 |
| Dec | 72° | 22° | 54° | 12° | 74° | 24° | 1 |
Averages for 2015–2024, Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5). Sea temperatures: 2023–2024. Rainy days: days with at least 1 mm (0.04 in) of rain. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.
Checked October 2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.
Luxury Real Estate
See the homes, the communities and how buyers from abroad can own in Aqaba, on its Luxury Real Estate page, where its Founding Partners, chosen by TheMiddleEast.com, are presented.
Places for Aqaba’s Founding Partners are open. For agencies and developers ›