Amman, the capital and largest city of Jordan, serves as the nation's economic, political, and cultural center. As of 2021, it has a population of approximately four million residents, making it the largest city in the Levant region and the fifth-largest in the Arab world.

The city's history spans several millennia, with evidence of settlement dating back to the Neolithic period. Notably, the archaeological site of 'Ain Ghazal, located on Amman's outskirts, was once a thriving village around 7000 BC and is renowned for some of the world's oldest human statues.

Throughout its history, Amman has undergone various transformations. During the Iron Age, it was known as Rabbath Ammon, serving as the capital of the Ammonite Kingdom. In the 3rd century BC, under Ptolemaic rule, it was renamed Philadelphia and became part of the Decapolis, a group of ten cities with strong Greco-Roman influence. The city received its current name, Amman, during the Islamic era in the 7th century AD.

Modern Amman is characterized by its unique blend of ancient heritage and contemporary development. The city was originally built on seven hills but has expanded to encompass over 19 hills, comprising 22 administrative areas managed by the Greater Amman Municipality. East Amman is home to historic sites and cultural activities, while West Amman features modern infrastructure and serves as the city's economic center.

The city's economy is diverse, with key industries including finance, manufacturing, and tourism. Amman is a major regional center for medical tourism, attracting numerous international patients annually. The banking sector is robust, with institutions like the Arab Bank headquartered in the city.

Culturally, Amman is known for its vibrant arts scene, culinary diversity, and active nightlife. The city hosts various cultural festivals and events, reflecting its position as a liberal and progressive capital in the Arab world. Historical landmarks such as the Roman Theatre and the Amman Citadel coexist alongside modern malls, restaurants, and entertainment venues, offering residents and visitors a rich and varied experience.

• Population: As of 2021, Amman has approximately four million residents, making it the largest city in Jordan and the Levant region.
• Historical Names: Originally known as Rabbath Ammon during the Iron Age, it was later called Philadelphia in the 3rd century BC under Ptolemaic rule.
• Geography: The city was initially built on seven hills but has expanded to cover over 19 hills.
• Economy: Amman serves as Jordan's economic centre, with key industries including finance, manufacturing, and tourism.
• Cultural Diversity: The city is a cultural melting pot, home to a mix of different nationalities and ethnic groups, including Palestinians, Circassians, Armenians, and a recent influx of refugees from neighbouring countries.
• Historical Significance: Amman is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities, with evidence of settlements dating back to 7250 BC at 'Ain Ghazal, one of the world's largest Neolithic sites.
• Modern Development: Today, Amman is a blend of ancient heritage and modern infrastructure, featuring historical sites like the Roman Theatre alongside contemporary buildings and amenities.
• Climate: The city experiences a semi-arid climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
• Language: Arabic is the official language, with English widely understood and used in business and education.
• Transportation: Amman is a major transportation hub, with a comprehensive road network and the Queen Alia International Airport serving as the main gateway to the country.

Amman, the capital city of Jordan, serves as the nation's political and administrative center. It is part of the Amman Governorate, one of Jordan's twelve governorates, which is divided into nine districts. These districts are further subdivided into sub-districts and municipalities, facilitating local governance and administrative functions.

The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) administers the city itself, encompassing 22 administrative regions to effectively manage services and development projects. GAM operates under a mayor-council system, with a 41-member city council elected for four-year terms. While council members are elected by residents, the mayor is appointed by the central government, reflecting a blend of local representation and national oversight.

In 2015, Jordan implemented a decentralisation law to enhance local governance. This law established governorate councils, including the Amman Governorate Council, aiming to delegate certain administrative and financial responsibilities from the central government to local authorities. These councils focus on development projects and budget approvals within their regions, promoting citizen participation in decision-making processes.

Despite these decentralisation efforts, significant authority remains centralised. Governors, appointed by the king, hold substantial power over local affairs, including security and implementation of national policies. Municipalities like GAM are tasked with urban planning, infrastructure maintenance, and public services, operating within the frameworks set by national legislation and oversight.

Amman is Jordan’s chief commercial, financial, and international trade centre. The royal palaces are to the east; the Parliament is in the western section. Chief industries include food and tobacco processing, cement production, and the manufacture of textiles, paper products, plastics, and aluminum utensils.

The banking sector is one of the principal foundations of Jordan's economy. Despite the unrest and economic difficulties in the Arab world resulting from the Arab Spring uprisings, Jordan's banking sector maintained its growth in 2014. The sector currently consists of 25 banks, 15 of which are listed on the Amman Stock Exchange. Amman is the base city for the international Arab Bank, one of the largest financial institutions in the Middle East, serving clients in more than 600 branches in 30 countries on five continents. Arab Bank represents 28% of the Amman Stock Exchange and is the highest-ranked institution by market capitalization on the exchange.Amman is the 4th most visited Arab city and the ninth highest recipient of international visitor spending. Roughly 1.8 million tourists visited Amman in 2011 and spent over $1.3 billion in the city. The expansion of Queen Alia International Airport is an example of the Greater Amman Municipality's heavy investment in the city's infrastructure. The recent construction of a public transportation system and a national railway, and the expansion of roads, are intended to ease the traffic generated by the millions of annual visitors to the city. Amman, and Jordan in general, is the Middle East's hub for medical tourism. Jordan receives the most medical tourists in the region and the fifth highest in the world. Amman receives 250,000 foreign patients a year and over $1 billion annually.Amman is introducing itself as a business hub. The city's skyline is being continuously transformed through the emergence of new projects. A significant portion of business flowed into Amman following the 2003 Iraq War. Jordan's main airport, Queen Alia International Airport, is located south of Amman and is the hub for the country's national carrier Royal Jordanian, a major airline in the region. The airline is headquartered in Zahran district. Rubicon Group Holding and Maktoob, two major regional information technology companies, are based in Amman, along with major international corporations such as Hikma Pharmaceuticals, one of the Middle East's largest pharmaceutical companies, and Aramex, the Middle East's largest logistics and transportation company.In a report by Dunia Frontier Consultants, Amman, along with Doha, Qatar and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, are the favored hubs for multinational corporations operating in the Middle East and North Africa region. In FDI magazine, Amman was chosen as the Middle Eastern city with the most potential to be a leader in foreign direct investment in the region. Furthermore, several of the world's largest investment banks have offices in Amman including Standard Chartered, Société Générale, and Citibank.

With the exception of a functioning railway system, Amman has a railway station as part of the Hejaz Railway. Amman has a developed public and private transportation system. There are two international airports in Amman. The main airport serving Amman is Queen Alia International Airport, situated about 30 km south of Amman. Much smaller is Amman Civil Airport, a one-terminal airport that serves primarily domestic and nearby international routes and the army. Queen Alia International Airport is the major international airport in Jordan and the hub for Royal Jordanian, the flag carrier. Its expansion was recently done and modified, including the decommissioning of the old terminals and the commissioning of new terminals costing $700M, to handle over 16 million passengers annually.[ It is now considered a state-of-the-art airport and was named 'the best airport in the Middle East' for 2014 and 2015 and 'the best improvement in the Middle East' for 2014 by Airport Service Quality Survey, the world's leading airport passenger satisfaction benchmark program.Amman has an extensive road network, although the mountainous terrain of the area has prevented the connection of some main roads, which are instead connected by bridges and tunnels. The Abdoun Bridge spans Wadi Abdoun and connects the 4th Circle to Abdoun Circle. It is considered one of Amman's many landmarks and is the first curved suspended bridge to be built in the country.There are eight circles, or roundabouts, that span and connect west Amman. Successive waves of immigrants to the city has led to the rapid construction of new neighborhoods, but Amman's capacity for new or widened roads remains limited despite the influx. This has resulted in increasing traffic jams, particularly during summer when there are large numbers of tourists and Jordanian expatriates visiting. The municipality began construction on a bus rapid transit system as a solution in 2015. In 2015, a ring road encompassing the city was constructed, which aims to connect the northern and southern parts of the city in order for traffic to be diverted outside Amman and to improve the environmental conditions in the city.The city has frequent bus connections to other cities in Jordan, as well as to major cities in neighboring countries; the latter are also served by service taxis. Service taxis, which most often operate on fixed routes, are readily available and inexpensive. The two main bus and taxi stations are Abdali and the Raghadan Central Bus Station near the Roman theatre in the city centre. Popular Jordanian bus company services include JETT and Al-Mahatta. Taxis are the most common way to get around in Amman due their high availability and inexpensiveness.Currently under construction are dedicated lanes for bus services which will operate as part of the new urban rapid transit network . The system includes high-quality stations and stops; express buses that can carry more than 120 passengers and will run on a three-minute frequency during peak hours along Amman's busiest corridors; terminals and park-n-ride facilities; and an integrated fare collection system allowing passengers to pay the fare at stations before embarking on the bus.[ The BRT is planned to run along three major corridors.