Year round, fun-in-the-sun resort
at the foot of majestic purple mountains, on the palm-lined shores
of the Red Sea, it is famous for its climate especially in winter,
warm and nice and don't forget the spring and autumn seasons.
Aqaba has long beaches, coral reef, and delicious fish, it has
very good facilities such as hotels, restaurants, clubs, water
surfing, diving centers and fishing possibility. Recently it has
become a Free Duty Zone where it is treated as a special trade
zone area. Its calm waters make it an ideal spot for water-skiing,
windsurfing and scuba diving. There are a number of diving centers
in Aqaba, where the novice may take lessons and other diving centers
for experienced diver, it is possible to rent gear and dive with
local guides.
Take time off from the fun in the sun and learn about the resort's
history, which dates back to the fourth millennium BC. Tell Al-Khalifeh,
inside the Jordanian-Ei-lat border, was initially identified with
Ezion-geber, mentioned in the Holy Scriptures, where King Solomon
built a fleet that sailed to Ophir (Somalia) and returned with
420 talents of gold. But recent excavations indicate that the
site was found after the 8th century BC and served commercial
and industrial purposes for smelting copper and as a halting place
for caravans. During the 1st century BC, the Nabataens, who raised
livestock and pirated merchant ships in the Red Sea, inhabited
Ayla (Aqaba now). During the same time, merchants from Ailana
were found in South Arabia (Yemen) buying frankincense and myrrh.
From 106 AD, rulers and civilizations came and went, starting
from the Romans, to the Sultans and Islamic rule. Just prior to
Islam, the Ghassanid Phylarchs (a tribe from western Arabia) controlled
Ayla on behalf of Byzantium, and its bishop at Ayla attended the
Council of Nicaea in 352. Excavations initiated in 1994 by a team
from North Carolina State University located the Nabataean-Ro-man
town of Ayla two kilometers from Tell al-khalifeh, in the circular
area of modern Aqaba. In one of the most exciting discoveries
in recent time, archaeologists in Aqaba have unearthed what they
believe to be the world's oldest church, with four protection
walls, from the late AD 3rd century. It is slightly older than
the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the Church of
Nativity in Bethlehem, both of which date back to the 4th century
with four protection walls.
Coral formations on the reef are said to be
among the most spectacular in the world and many are close enough
to the surface for an amateur snorkel to view with ease. Trips
in glass-bottomed boats can also be arranged.
climate especially in winter,
warm and nice and don't forget the spring and autumn seasons.
Aqaba has long beaches, coral reef, and delicious fish, it has
very good facilities such as hotels, restaurants, clubs, water
surfing, diving centers and fishing possibility. Recently it has
become a Free Duty Zone where it is treated as a special trade
zone area. Its calm waters make it an ideal spot for water-skiing,
windsurfing and scuba diving. There are a number of diving centers
in Aqaba, where the novice may take lessons and other diving centers
for experienced diver, it is possible to rent gear and dive with
local guides.
inside the Jordanian-Ei-lat border, was initially identified with
Ezion-geber, mentioned in the Holy Scriptures, where King Solomon
built a fleet that sailed to Ophir (Somalia) and returned with
420 talents of gold. But recent excavations indicate that the
site was found after the 8th century BC and served commercial
and industrial purposes for smelting copper and as a halting place
for caravans. During the 1st century BC, the Nabataens, who raised
livestock and pirated merchant ships in the Red Sea, inhabited
Ayla (Aqaba now). During the same time, merchants from Ailana
were found in South Arabia (Yemen) buying frankincense and myrrh.
From 106 AD, rulers and civilizations came and went, starting
from the Romans, to the Sultans and Islamic rule. Just prior to
Islam, the Ghassanid Phylarchs (a tribe from western Arabia) controlled
Ayla on behalf of Byzantium, and its bishop at Ayla attended the
Council of Nicaea in 352. Excavations initiated in 1994 by a team
from North Carolina State University located the Nabataean-Ro-man
town of Ayla two kilometers from Tell al-khalifeh, in the circular
area of modern Aqaba. In one of the most exciting discoveries
in recent time, archaeologists in Aqaba have unearthed what they
believe to be the world's oldest church, with four protection
walls, from the late AD 3rd century. It is slightly older than
the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the Church of
Nativity in Bethlehem, both of which date back to the 4th century
with four protection walls.
