Zarqa

Zarqa is an industrial city in northeast Jordan that spreads across several districts and serves as a key manufacturing center for the country. Located approximately 20 kilometers from the capital, it sits at a crossroads of major transportation routes.

The city was founded in the early 1900s when Chechen refugees settled along the Zarqa River, driven by the conflict between Ottoman and Russian forces. From this initial settlement, it later developed into the nation's primary industrial and production hub.

The population of Zarqa brings together Bedouin, Chechen, and Druze communities, each maintaining distinct traditions within the city. This diversity shapes daily life and the social fabric you encounter in different neighborhoods.

The city offers direct bus connections to major destinations, and Amman-Marka International Airport sits less than 15 kilometers away. Visitors should note that the climate is continental, with hot summers and cooler winter months.

The city contains roughly half of all Jordan's factories and is often called the production heart of the country, though many visitors are unaware of this fact. This concentration of industry shapes the cityscape and economic structure in a way that makes the region distinctive in the Middle East.

Location: Zarqa Governorate

Inception: 1902

Elevation above the sea: 619 m

Website: https://zm.gov.jo/ar

GPS coordinates: 32.06684,36.08858

Latest update: December 6, 2025 21:29