Mafraq - capital of Mafraq governate, Jordan

Mafraq is in the Eastern Desert of Jordan.

Understand

Mafraq was originally settled in the 4th century BC. After being called Fudian from the Arabic word for fortress for a while, it was renamed Mafraq meaning crossroads by the Turks after the Hejaz Railway connecting Istanbul to Medina passed through. It also served as a military base for Allied forces during World War II and Arab Legion forces during the Arab-Israel War. In 2012, the Zaatari refugee camp opened up for Syrian refugees just east of Mafraq. By 2018, there was an estimate by World Bank of a whopping 593,900 people living in that camp.

Get in

Mafraq is just 70 km from Amman on a good 4-lane highway. The Hejaz Railway became defunct by the time of the Six-Day War in 1967, and while there is a train station in town, there is no service.

Get around

See

• Umm el-Jimal, 32.3261°, 36.3692°. Ruins of a Nabataean and Byzantine settlement from the 1st century BC, and also a later Roman settlement to the northwest. 2020-08-28

Do

There's a chance you may be able to volunteer at the Zaatari Refugee Camp through an NGO. Might have to be prearranged though.

Buy

Eat

• Qayed Hadramout Restaurant (مطعم قايد حضر موت), Army Street, 32.34573°, 36.21516°, +962 7 7794 8636. Yemeni food. 2020-08-28

Drink

Sleep

• Azraq Desert Hotel, Azraq Alshamali Behind Health Center, 32.34851°, 36.21615°, +962 7 9125 7381. Kind of sleepy, but it has a pool and buffet/restaurant and clean tiles. $65 2020-08-28

Connect

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