With famously highly qualified crews and ease of bureaucracy, Jordan has long been a key destination for Hollywood productions, with such big-budget pics as “Dune” and “The Martian” using the country’s locations. The kingdom’s newly revamped cash rebate system — which can grant productions a return of up to 45% of local spend plus tax benefits that can add to combined savings of up to 56% — has made the country even more competitive as a fast-growing player in the Middle East and North Africa region.
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The Royal Film Commission’s head of production services and communications, Bashar Abu-Nuwar, tells Variety that the country is experiencing an all-time surge of interest. This is not only thanks to the rebate, but also to the commission’s strong efforts to make permits for shooting in Jordan more flexible. Moreover, crews from the U.S., the U.K. and other major European countries don’t need a work visa to shoot in the kingdom, with only a quickly issued entry visa needed.
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“It’s on the national agenda to promote archeological sites for filming,” says Abu-Nuwar. “Usually, it is quite complicated to obtain permits to shoot on archeological sites, but in Jordan, we are actively promoting them.
“We have made the process much more flexible and straightforward,” he adds. “You only have to go through the film commission to shoot in public locations, streets and open areas. It takes three days maximum. In rare cases, we might even be able to issue permits on the same day.” For ancient sites, local governance takes five days to issue a permit for full closure, while locations dependent on military support take up to 10 days.
Also key to the film commission’s strategy is making clear “there are no red lines” for foreign productions. “We don’t ask for a script. This is why we are so efficient in issuing permits quickly,” he says. “We only review synopses, so we don’t have the [threat] of censorship. We have wide guidelines available, which mainly focus on not promoting violence or hatred between religions, but no matter what, we don’t ask for scripts to shoot in Jordan.”
With the kingdom offering so many incentives to foreign productions, Variety gathered a list of the 10 best locations to shoot in Jordan:
Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum is the country’s key film postcard and the backdrop for major Hollywood productions such as “Dune,” “The Martian” and “Star Wars.” The protected area offers red sand dunes, towering sandstone cliffs and natural rock bridges. It includes a dedicated 28,745-acre Film Zone exclusively preserved for cinematic productions, providing filmmakers with controlled access, logistical support and environmental protection. Its Mars-like terrain has doubled for alien and ancient worlds in major international films, and shooting permits are easily obtained with no location fees. Luxury desert camps provide accommodation within the reserve, or crews can stay in Aqaba, just a 45-minute drive away.
Downtown Amman
Also known as Al-Balad, the center of Amman is the historical and cultural heart of Jordan’s capital. With a dynamic mix of heritage buildings, Roman ruins and bustling markets, the area offers an authentic Middle Eastern urban backdrop, with the Citadel and Roman Theater — both rising above the city’s layered streets — also ideal for both period and contemporary shoots. Although accessibility is moderate and requires controlled traffic management, the district’s distinct texture, with its aged limestone facades, narrow alleyways and vibrant street life, is rarely matched anywhere else in the region.
As-Salt
An official UNESCO World Heritage site, the hillside town near Amman captures 20th century Jordanian life. The narrow streets and ornate façades of this former Ottoman Empire trading hub make it ideal for productions exploring historical stories, with key locations including the Historic Old Salt Museum and an imposing Ottoman mosque overlooking a large food market. The municipality actively supports film crews, offering strong logistical coordination. The site has doubled for Baghdad, Jerusalem and Cairo, among others, and has hosted productions including “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.”
Umm Al-Jimāl Archaeological Site
Located in northeast Jordan, Umm Al-Jimāl is a remarkably preserved Byzantine and Nabataean site built in black basalt stone, dating back to the 5th century. Often called the “Black Oasis,” it offers a stark, otherworldly visual identity perfect for historical epics or post-apocalyptic genre projects. The ancient multi-story structures, churches and water systems remain intact, providing natural set design value. The terrain is accessible by paved roads with wide open spaces suitable for crew base camps and equipment staging.
Little Petra (Siq al-Barid)
Located in Petra’s northern suburb, this distinctive Nabataean site carved into rose-red sandstone with a dramatic canyon lends itself to adventure, sci-fi or historical projects. Less crowded than Petra, it offers greater flexibility while preserving the same geological impact. The site’s lighting conditions — soft diffusion during golden hours — are particularly suited for high-end, atmospheric cinematography that might also attract upscale advertising projects.
Aqaba
Jordan’s coastal gateway by the Red Sea, Aqaba blends the country’s historical sites with model luxury. The coastline offers crystal-clear waters, coral reefs and rugged mountains, while Aqaba Castle and the old seaport offer authentic historical textures. The city’s high-end developments — Ayla, Saraya and Tala Bay — provide contemporary architecture, sprawling marinas and resorts ideal for lifestyle, tourism or luxury brand projects. The area’s infrastructure supports large-scale productions, with hotels, transport links and tax-free zones as key incentives, making it one of Jordan’s most visually diverse and production-ready coastal destinations.
Azraq Wetland Reserve
Once a vast desert oasis, the Azraq Wetland Reserve offers a contrast to Jordan’s arid landscape. Managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), it features reed-filled marshes, migratory birds and reflective lagoons — creating serene, atmospheric visuals. Ideal for nature documentaries or ecological films, the reserve offers boardwalk access, eco-lodges and nearby desert plains that allow diverse visual transitions within short distances. Filming requires coordination with the RSCN to ensure environmental compliance and sustainability.
Ajloun
Set amid northern Jordan’s pine-covered highlands, Ajloun blends medieval heritage with lush Mediterranean scenery. The iconic 12th century Ajloun Castle overlooks rolling hills and olive groves, with dramatic panoramas and drone-friendly views. The region’s seasonal mist and green valleys contrast strongly with Jordan’s desert palette, key for productions seeking natural diversity. Road infrastructure and proximity to Amman (approximately 75 minutes by car) make it an even more practical location.
Umm Qais Archaeological Site
Overlooking the Golan Heights and the Sea of Galilee, the ruins of ancient Gadara offer cinematic vistas layered with Greco-Roman architecture, with basalt and limestone structures, colonnaded streets and a restored theater available in the small northern town. The site’s elevation delivers grand views perfect for epic storytelling or contemplative scenes. With established access roads and local cooperation from the country’s Department of Antiquities, it remains one of Jordan’s most accessible and production-friendly ancient sites.
Jordan Valley
The Jordan Valley offers a diverse landscape with a variety of topographies that have been used in several international productions, like Matthew Heineman’s biographical war drama “A Private War,” to double for other global settings. The production team transformed an abandoned construction site in Jordan into a convincing stand-in for the city of Homs, Syria, showcasing Jordan’s extraordinary adaptability and production versatility.
