Aqaba

The Gulf of Aqaba is renowned worldwide as a tourist's paradise overflowing with wildlife and adventure. It hosts about 110 species of soft corals, 120 species of hard corals and over 1000 species of fish. The city of Aqaba itself is a natural haven for scuba diving, snorkelling or scientific exploration, and is bound to keep any visitor busy. Aqaba's average water temperature of 23 degrees Celsius allows the water-activity oriented tourist to enjoy the sea year round.  

Spectacular Coral Reefs

Besides being a main tourist attraction, the coral reef plays an important role in supporting the survival of various life forms. Thousands of marine creatures coexist in a complex ecosystem ranging form almost invisible species to huge fish and mammals.
The warm waters of Aqaba provide a perfect habitat for an array of unique and dazzlingly coloured fish. Due to Aqaba's clear waters, this rainbow of colours can be experienced without even having to enter the water.

The shores of the Gulf are also frequented with friendly sea turtles that spend their time swimming amongst the swirling schools of fish. Whales, dolphins, and sea cows are also often spotted visiting the gulf.

 Corals, coral fish, reptiles and mammals are only a few to be named of the countless marine creatures living in the waters of Aqaba. Nocturnal animals such as the crab, shrimp and lobster come alive in search of food in the dark hours of the night.

 It is the secrets these waters hold that makes Aqaba unique, for further down the coast are a dazzling undersea world of some of the most spectacular coral reefs to be found anywhere in the world. Often over many hundreds of meters wide, the reef is made up of many delicately hued corals among which live a myriad of brilliantly colored fish.

 For history enthusiast are sites reflecting human habitation for at least 5500 years, resulting from Aqaba's strategic location at the junction of land and sea routes from Asia, Africa and Europe.

Of special interest among the ancient and medieval archaeological sites are the early Islamic city called Ayla, the Aqaba Fort, built by the Mamluk Sultan Qansweh El-Ghuri at the beginning of the 16th century, which was originally a Crusader Castle, and a very fine museum at the historical residence of Sharif Hussein bin Ali, great grandfather of King Abdullah II, containing a collection of artifacts collected in the region, including fragments of lusterware from Samaria, Chinese ceramics, Umayyad Islamic archaeological finds, and pottery and coins.

 Other places of interest are the site of the oldest church in the world, the Aquarium and several diving centers across the shore line.

 The World's Oldest Church

In one of the most exciting discoveries in recent times, archaeologists in Aqaba have unearthed what they believe to be the world's oldest church, from the late 3rd century AD.

It is slightly older than the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, both of which date back to the 4th century. The church is found on a plot of land east of Istiklal Street and is now backfilled with earth for protection.

 Whatever the visitor's interest, a wide range of hotels provide excellent accommodations, facilities for all water sports, and restaurants that cater to the most selective tastes. A stroll around the modern town will reveal the presence of some excellent fish restaurants and craftsmen are to be found at work filling small bottles with colored sand in intricate geometric designs.