King Hussein International Airport (AQJ), commonly called Aqaba Airport, is the main airport serving Aqaba and southern Jordan. It is an excellent arrival point for travelers planning to begin with the Red Sea, Wadi Rum or Petra. This guide explains airport facilities, visa considerations, Meet & Assist service, meeting your driver, private transfers and sample Jordan tours starting directly from Aqaba Airport.
Located in northern Aqaba, AQJ is especially convenient for travelers whose Jordan itinerary focuses on Aqaba, Wadi Rum, Petra and the south before continuing elsewhere in the Kingdom.
King Hussein International Airport is located in the northern part of Aqaba and serves as an important air gateway to Jordan's Red Sea region. Aqaba Airports Company, a subsidiary of Aqaba Development Corporation, manages and operates the airport.
The airport has served Aqaba since its opening in 1972. In 2003, Aqaba International Airport was renamed King Hussein International Airport in honor of the late King Hussein.
King Hussein International Airport has undergone rehabilitation, expansion and modernization, and further passenger-terminal improvements are continuing as Aqaba develops its role as a tourism, business and logistics destination.
Because published capacity figures differ between current official Jordanian sources during this development period, this guide does not rely on an older fixed annual passenger-capacity number.
Airport operations: Aqaba Airports Company currently lists King Hussein International Airport as open 24/7. Individual airline schedules, check-in counters and passenger services still operate according to flight schedules and service hours.
The airport provides the main passenger services needed for arrivals and departures, with current facilities listed by Aqaba Airports Company.
Food and beverage outlets, souvenirs and a duty-free store are among the airport's listed passenger facilities.
Banking and ATM services, telecom services and tourist car-rental options are available.
The airport lists passenger lounges and Meet & Assist services among its current facilities.
See the official Aqaba Airports Company facilities page for the latest airport services.
Most international visitors arriving at AQJ follow a straightforward arrival process before meeting their Jordan Horizons Tours representative or driver.
Follow airport signs toward passport control and complete the Jordan entry procedure applicable to your nationality and visa status.
Collect any checked luggage, complete required customs formalities and continue toward the arrivals exit unless your confirmed Meet & Assist instructions tell you otherwise.
With Meet & Assist, follow the meeting procedure in your confirmation. Without it, your driver will normally wait in the public arrivals area holding a sign with your name.
Send accurate flight details: provide the airline, flight number, arrival date and scheduled arrival time. If the flight details change before travel, send the new information so your airport arrangements can be coordinated correctly.
Visa requirements depend on nationality and on the entry arrangement used. Aqaba also has special visa rules connected with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone, so the correct procedure should be checked before travel.
Jordan's Ministry of Interior currently lists a three-month single-entry visa at 40 JOD. Many unrestricted nationalities can obtain an applicable Jordan visa without prior approval, while restricted nationalities may need approval or an electronic visa before travel.
Do not assume eligibility based only on the airport of arrival. Your nationality, residence status and current immigration rules determine the correct process.
The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority publishes special visa arrangements for visitors to the Aqaba zone, including circumstances in which a visit visa can be issued without a visa fee.
These Aqaba-specific rules are separate from the standard Jordan visa fee and can depend on how and where you enter Jordan and whether you satisfy the applicable Aqaba-zone conditions. For this reason, we recommend checking your exact nationality and itinerary before arrival rather than relying on the older simplified rule that a visa is automatically free after a particular number of nights.
Important: visa eligibility and fee exemptions can change. If your tour booking includes visa-related assistance, send your passport details early so the appropriate procedure can be checked before you fly.
The 10 JOD land-border departure tax does not apply when departing Jordan by air. Applicable airport and aviation charges are normally handled through the airline ticket rather than collected as the standard land-crossing departure tax.
If your airline or fare has a specific airport-charge condition, the airline's ticket rules remain the best source for that charge.
Your total arrival cost depends on nationality, visa eligibility, any Aqaba-zone exemption and the services included in your Jordan Horizons Tours package.
For that reason, this updated page avoids converting the visa into a fixed US-dollar amount or presenting one fee as applicable to every traveler.
If your Jordan Horizons Tours booking includes Meet & Assist, an airport representative will coordinate the arrival service according to the arrangements confirmed for your booking.
The airport representative will meet you according to the instructions provided before travel, normally using a sign bearing your name or the agreed identification details.
The representative assists with the applicable arrival and visa formalities and then helps connect you with your Jordan Horizons Tours driver.
If Meet & Assist is not included, complete immigration, baggage collection and customs independently. Your driver will normally wait in the public arrivals meeting area with a sign showing your name.
If you cannot locate the driver after exiting, use the operations contact details supplied in your final booking confirmation.
Follow your confirmation: airport procedures and access permissions can change. The final instructions sent with your booking take priority over general website guidance about the precise meeting point.
If your booking includes Meet & Assist, visa coordination or other pre-arrival airport arrangements, full passenger information may be required in advance.
For a simple airport pick-up without Meet & Assist or advance visa coordination, less information may be needed. Your original airport page states that a full name and nationality are normally sufficient for the driver-meeting arrangement.
Your booking confirmation will tell you exactly which details are required for your service.
Starting in Aqaba makes southern-Jordan itineraries especially efficient. A pre-arranged private transfer allows you to continue directly from AQJ to your hotel or first touring destination.
Continue directly to your Aqaba hotel or Red Sea resort for a relaxed first day.
Begin your desert itinerary soon after arrival, with private transportation toward Wadi Rum.
Travel onward to Petra or continue north through Jordan according to your private itinerary.
Flexible routing: your first night does not have to be in Aqaba. Depending on your flight arrival time, a private itinerary can begin with Aqaba, Wadi Rum, Petra or another suitable destination.
Rather than displaying a long list of individual tours inside this airport guide, use our dedicated Aqaba Airport collection to compare current day-by-day itineraries. Every sample can be adjusted around your flight schedule, preferred hotels, number of nights and the places you want to visit.
Use the sample tours for inspiration, then change the duration, hotel category, route, activities or departure point. Your itinerary can also finish at Queen Alia Airport, Amman, another Jordan border or back at Aqaba Airport.
Combine Red Sea leisure with a private Wadi Rum desert experience.
Use AQJ as a convenient arrival point for Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba-focused journeys.
Continue north to the Dead Sea, Madaba, Amman, Jerash and other destinations before departure.
Practical information for travelers beginning a private Jordan tour at AQJ.
The IATA airport code for King Hussein International Airport is AQJ.
Yes. King Hussein International Airport is Aqaba's principal passenger airport and is commonly referred to simply as Aqaba Airport.
The airport is in northern Aqaba and serves the Aqaba Special Economic Zone and southern Jordan.
Aqaba Airports Company currently lists the airport as open 24/7. Airline check-in, shops and individual services still operate according to their own schedules.
Visa eligibility depends on nationality and the current Jordan immigration procedure. Many unrestricted nationalities can obtain entry without prior approval, while others need advance approval or an e-visa.
The Jordanian Ministry of Interior currently lists the three-month single-entry visa fee at 40 JOD when the normal visa charge applies.
Yes. The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority publishes special visa arrangements and fee exemptions for certain visitors to the zone. Eligibility depends on the travel circumstances, so confirm the rule that applies to your passport and itinerary.
No. The standard 10 JOD land-border departure tax does not apply to airport departures. Applicable aviation and airport charges are normally handled through the airline ticket.
Follow the airport meeting instructions in your booking confirmation. The representative normally uses your name or the agreed identification details and assists with the arrival service included in your package.
Without Meet & Assist, your driver normally waits in the public arrivals area after immigration, baggage collection and customs, holding a sign with your name.
Passport details may be required for Meet & Assist, visa coordination and other airport arrangements. A simple driver pick-up may require less information.
Aqaba Airports Company currently lists telecom services, lounges, tourist car rental, food and beverage, souvenirs, banks and ATMs, Meet & Assist and duty-free shopping.
Yes. Jordan Horizons Tours can arrange a private airport pick-up and begin your itinerary directly from AQJ, subject to your arrival time.
Use the dedicated Jordan Horizons Tours Aqaba Airport collection linked on this page to browse current sample itineraries.
Important travel disclaimer: visa rules, Aqaba-zone exemptions, immigration requirements, airport procedures, airline schedules and government fees can change. Verify the latest official information before travel and follow the instructions supplied with your confirmed Jordan Horizons Tours booking.
Share your flight details, travel dates, number of travelers and preferred destinations. Jordan Horizons Tours can arrange your AQJ airport arrival, private transportation and a customized itinerary through Aqaba, Wadi Rum, Petra and the rest of Jordan.
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