Queen Alia International Airport, International airport in Zizya, Jordan.
Queen Alia International Airport is Jordan's main aviation gateway in Zizya, situated roughly 30 kilometers south of the capital Amman in Amman Governorate. The terminal design follows a repeating pattern of concrete dome modules that extend across the building's northern and southern wings, giving structure to the space.
Construction began in 1983 when the former Amman Civil Airport could no longer handle the growing number of passengers. The facility underwent several expansions to accommodate increasing air traffic in the Middle East.
The terminal carries the name of Queen Alia, the third wife of King Hussein, who died in a helicopter crash in 1977. The building combines modern functionality with design references to the desert architecture of the region, without resorting to folkloric motifs.
The airport lies roughly an hour's drive from downtown Amman and is accessible by express buses, fixed-rate taxis, and rental cars. Travelers coming from the Jordan Valley or the Dead Sea should expect longer travel times, as routes pass through hilly terrain.
Each of the dome structures weighs roughly as much as 100 mid-size cars and rests on massive concrete foundations. The geometry of the domes allows daylight to reach deep into the terminal without direct sunlight falling on passengers.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
