The Eilat–Aqaba land border connects southern Israel with southern Jordan. It is known as the Yitzhak Rabin Crossing on the Israeli side and the Wadi Araba / South Border Crossing on the Jordanian side. This guide explains the location, current published operating hours, visa requirements, departure fees, border procedures and how to continue into Jordan with a private tour.
This crossing links the Red Sea resort cities of Eilat and Aqaba and is especially useful for travelers continuing to Wadi Rum, Petra, Aqaba and other destinations in southern Jordan.
The border is situated in the far south of Jordan, beside Aqaba, and directly north of Eilat on the Israeli side. Aqaba and Eilat both sit on the Gulf of Aqaba at the northern end of the Red Sea.
For travelers beginning a Jordan tour here, the crossing provides convenient access to Aqaba, Wadi Rum and Petra before continuing farther north if required.
Do not arrive expecting a normal Jordan visa on arrival. The Jordan Tourism Board states that ordinary entry visas have not been issued at Wadi Araba since January 2016. Special arrangements exist for certain organized tour groups and travelers carrying the required prior entry documentation.
The Israeli and Jordanian authorities currently publish different terminal operating windows. Your usable crossing time is therefore limited by the side that closes or stops admitting passengers first.
Israeli Yitzhak Rabin terminal: 06:30–20:00.
Jordan Tourism Board listing: Wadi Araba 07:30–21:00.
Israeli Yitzhak Rabin terminal: 08:00–20:00.
Jordan Tourism Board listing: Wadi Araba 09:00–21:00.
The Israeli terminal states that it closes on Yom Kippur and the Hijra New Year. Travelers should arrive at least 30 minutes before the Israeli terminal closes.
Why are the hours different? Each country controls its own terminal and publishes its own schedule. For a practical journey, plan around the overlapping hours rather than assuming the later closing time applies to the complete crossing.
Official checks: review the Israel Airports Authority Yitzhak Rabin opening-hours page and the Jordan Tourism Board border-crossing page shortly before travel.
Visa on Arrival to be arranged : Available for many eligible nationalities, subject to nationality and current entry rules.
Visas to Jordan are generally issued on arrival at the Wadi Araba Border Crossing for travelers holding non-restricted nationalities, subject to the applicable Jordanian entry regulations and immigration requirements.
Travelers holding restricted nationalities are normally required to arrange their visa and obtain the necessary entry approval before arriving at the border crossing. This may be done through a Jordanian embassy or, where applicable, through a licensed and certified Jordanian travel agency, such as Jordan Horizons Tours, which can assist with arranging the required visa approval and entry documentation in advance.
Special procedures may also apply to eligible Israeli tour groups and other organized tourism groups traveling with pre-approved documentation. These arrangements must be completed before arrival at the border and should not be considered a standard visa-on-arrival procedure.
The former 105 NIS figure is outdated. The Israel Airports Authority's official 2026 fee schedule currently lists 120 NIS for a departing passenger at Yitzhak Rabin Border Crossing. Fees remain subject to later government revision.
For organized tourism groups using the special Wadi Araba entry procedure, the Jordan Tourism Board states that the travel manifest and relevant documents must be submitted to the Tourism and Marketing Directorate of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority at least 24 hours before arrival.
Local tour operators are also required to complete the applicable supporting procedures. This is why passport information and travel details may be needed well before your crossing date.
Send your information early. The official 24-hour minimum for organized group documentation should not be treated as a recommended booking deadline. Earlier submission gives more time to identify nationality, document or itinerary issues before travel.
Your exact procedure depends on nationality, travel documentation and current border instructions, but a typical Jordan Horizons Tours guest arriving from Eilat follows these stages.
At the Yitzhak Rabin terminal, complete security, passport and departure-fee procedures. Keep your passport and any entry documentation readily available.
The original Jordan Horizons guidance describes a short walk of roughly 200 metres between the passenger terminals. Follow the instructions given by border staff, as movement arrangements may change.
If a meet-and-assist service is included, follow the meeting instructions in your confirmation. Your Jordan-side representative can then guide you through the arranged entry procedure and connect you with your driver.
Meet-and-assist bookings: if your confirmation specifically instructs you to meet our representative before proceeding with a particular Jordanian immigration step, follow those instructions carefully rather than moving ahead independently.
For our normal private-tour arrangements, the Jordan service starts and/or finishes on the Jordanian side of Wadi Araba Border. Your Israeli transfer to the Yitzhak Rabin terminal and your Jordan vehicle are separate services unless specifically stated otherwise in your booking.
We can arrange the Jordan-side journey onward to Aqaba, Wadi Rum, Petra, the Dead Sea, Amman or other destinations according to your itinerary.
The old version of this article stated that private vehicles cannot cross. Current Israel Airports Authority information shows that vehicle passage is available at Yitzhak Rabin on operating days, currently until 19:00, subject to border, customs, insurance and entry requirements.
Since 1 March 2026, travelers departing Israel to Jordan with a private vehicle must also arrive with the vehicle registration licence translated into English in advance. Vehicle procedures are separate from our standard private-tour vehicle arrangements.
Use our Eilat Border tour collection to compare day trips and multi-day Jordan itineraries featuring Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba, the Dead Sea and routes continuing toward Amman.
Popular ideas include Petra, Wadi Rum or a combined Petra & Wadi Rum day trip for travelers with limited time.
Add an overnight in Petra or Wadi Rum and enjoy more time in the desert and archaeological sites.
Continue through southern and central Jordan with Aqaba, the Dead Sea, the King's Highway, Amman or Jerash.
Browse all current options: open Jordan Tours from Eilat Border in a new window to compare the available itineraries, durations and routes.
These answers replace the old accordion section with a clearer, mobile-friendly format and updated border guidance.
On the Israeli side it is officially the Yitzhak Rabin Border Crossing. On the Jordanian side it is generally called the Wadi Araba Crossing or South Border.
It is in southern Jordan beside Aqaba and just north of Eilat on the Israeli side. It is about 324 km from Amman and is the natural southern gateway for Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba tours.
The Israeli Yitzhak Rabin terminal currently publishes Sunday–Thursday 06:30–20:00 and Friday–Saturday 08:00–20:00. Jordan's tourism authority currently lists Wadi Araba as Sunday–Thursday 07:30–21:00 and Friday–Saturday 09:00–21:00. Verify both sides before travel.
The Israeli terminal states that it operates throughout the year except for Yom Kippur and the Hijra New Year. Additional operational changes can still be announced.
Yes. Travelers holding non-restricted nationalities can generally obtain a Jordan visa on arrival at the Wadi Araba Border Crossing, subject to the applicable entry and immigration requirements. Travelers holding restricted nationalities normally need to arrange their visa or obtain the required entry approval in advance. This may be arranged through a Jordanian embassy or, where applicable, through a licensed and certified Jordanian travel agency, such as Jordan Horizons Tours. Special procedures may also apply to eligible organized tour groups traveling with approved documentation arranged before arrival.
The Jordan Tourism Board states that qualifying tour groups must submit a travel manifest and relevant documents to the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority's tourism directorate at least 24 hours before arrival, together with the required local-operator arrangements.
The Israel Airports Authority's current fee schedule lists 120 NIS per departing passenger at Yitzhak Rabin for April 15–December 31, 2026. A 7 NIS counter commission applies when paying at the Milgam branch at the terminal.
After completing Israeli departure formalities, travelers continue through the controlled border area toward the Jordanian passenger terminal. Our previous operating guidance describes the distance as roughly 200 metres. Always follow the current instructions of border staff.
If meet-and-assist is included, your confirmation will explain the Jordan-side meeting procedure. Follow those instructions carefully, especially if you have been told to meet the representative before completing a particular entry step.
They may be required for advance visa/entry documentation, manifests, arrival coordination and the Jordan-side services included in your tour. Details must match the passport exactly.
Current Israeli terminal information allows vehicle passage on operating days, normally until 19:00, subject to all applicable procedures. Since March 1, 2026, an English translation of the vehicle registration licence must be arranged before arriving when departing Israel for Jordan by private vehicle.
Normally no. Our standard Jordan private-tour transport begins or ends on the Jordanian side. Transportation to or from the Israeli terminal should be arranged separately unless your booking expressly includes it.
Yes. We offer day tours and multi-day itineraries starting at Wadi Araba Border, including Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba and longer routes through Jordan. See the dedicated Eilat Border tour collection for current examples.
Travelers commonly reach Eilat by domestic flight, intercity bus or private transfer and then continue to the Yitzhak Rabin terminal by local transport. Check current Israeli transport schedules rather than relying on older fixed fares or journey times.
Important travel disclaimer: border hours, visa requirements, government fees, vehicle procedures, group rules and immigration decisions can change at short notice. Jordan Horizons Tours aims to provide practical and current guidance, but travelers should verify official information before departure and follow the instructions supplied with their confirmed booking.
Tell Jordan Horizons Tours your crossing date, available number of days and the places you want to visit. We can help you choose a suitable Eilat Border itinerary or prepare a private route around Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba, the Dead Sea and the rest of Jordan.
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