Shopping in Amman Jordan - Malls, Crafts, Gold and Antiques
Best things to do in Amman - Mall Shopping
![Picture](/uploads/6/4/1/4/6414558/246958.jpg)
Buying Antiques in Amman/ Copyright © Visit Jordan.
One of our favorite things to do in Amman, Jordan is shopping at
some of the larger malls. There are two malls that are very americanized
and they are Mecca Mall and Carrefour. They are in the same area of town
also. Carrefour does have many outlets, but none of them are as large and
wonderful as their main branch near Medina Hospital. Mall shopping is only the
first step on your journey. Some of the larger shops will offer you the
ability to avoid paying the sales tax, which is 16%. Look for the shops that
offer you Premier Tax Free Refund. You simply pay the full price including the tax and then Premier Tax
Free will give you the tax back. Shopping in Amman, Jordan is very easy and a lot of fun.
Mecca Mall
Mecca Mall was opened in 2003. It is a huge 195,000 meter complex that started a revolution in this Western Amman area. The mall is on the exquisite level that emanates grandeur and sophistication. This is not your bargain hunter's paradise, but for the shopper who wants to find quality merchandise in a wonderful complex. You can go to Mecca Mall with a very cheap bus ride on the way to Medina Mall or by taxi. Make sure to ask the taxi how much the fare will be.
Mecca Mall has 490 shops, kid area, supermarket, cinema and a food court. There is enough parking for 1200 cars. Mecca Mall is up the hill from the ever popular Carrefour Mall.
Carrefour Mall
My favorite mall in Amman is Carrefour Mall. It is very beautiful and very americanized. I can shop there for hours and hours and hours. It is located next to Mecca Mall on King Abdullah II St., on the way to Wadi Seer and slightly pass Medina Mall. They offer valet parking, 10 screen cinema complex, supermarket, and large shopping center upstairs for everything you need, bakeries, restaurants and many specialty shops. They have an indoor bakery with the smells of home. This bread is so delicious and you will want to go again just for the bread. The only place that has better bread than Carrefour Mall is Safeway on the Garden Street area.
There are many outlets for Carrefour, but none are as large as the main location. They have the capacity for 2400 cars in an underground parking garage. There are hundreds of stores for every shopping need. When shopping in Amman, Jordan, go to Carrefour Mall or City Mall as it is also called.
Abdoun Mall
Abdoun Mall is a smaller mall with around 25,000 meters of space and they cater to locals with many goods. They have clothing, wedding apparel, baby clothes, children clothes, pharmacy ad travel center. The main complaint about this small mall is that they have no website to give any information about the hours, location or details. It is one of Amman's favorite malls for sure and is simply a smaller version of Mecca Mall. They are located at: Al Umawiyeen St, Zahran and their phone number is 592-0246.
Amman Mall
Amman Mall does have a website and gives information on their mall, which is much better than Abdoun Mall. The mall was opened in 1999. In Tla'a Al Ali. I use to live in this area and it is one of my favorite parts of time. In fact in 1999 I was living there, unusual coincidence. This mall cannot be compared with the larger more modern malls, but it is certainly a mall to see. You can go to their huge supermarket or shop in their multiple floors with many shops. They have a huge play area for the kids to have fun in and a large food court downstairs with McDonald's, Arabian, Sweets, Chicken and Pizza shops. You may want to stop in and taste some of their very nice chocolates there.
Mecca Mall
Mecca Mall was opened in 2003. It is a huge 195,000 meter complex that started a revolution in this Western Amman area. The mall is on the exquisite level that emanates grandeur and sophistication. This is not your bargain hunter's paradise, but for the shopper who wants to find quality merchandise in a wonderful complex. You can go to Mecca Mall with a very cheap bus ride on the way to Medina Mall or by taxi. Make sure to ask the taxi how much the fare will be.
Mecca Mall has 490 shops, kid area, supermarket, cinema and a food court. There is enough parking for 1200 cars. Mecca Mall is up the hill from the ever popular Carrefour Mall.
Carrefour Mall
My favorite mall in Amman is Carrefour Mall. It is very beautiful and very americanized. I can shop there for hours and hours and hours. It is located next to Mecca Mall on King Abdullah II St., on the way to Wadi Seer and slightly pass Medina Mall. They offer valet parking, 10 screen cinema complex, supermarket, and large shopping center upstairs for everything you need, bakeries, restaurants and many specialty shops. They have an indoor bakery with the smells of home. This bread is so delicious and you will want to go again just for the bread. The only place that has better bread than Carrefour Mall is Safeway on the Garden Street area.
There are many outlets for Carrefour, but none are as large as the main location. They have the capacity for 2400 cars in an underground parking garage. There are hundreds of stores for every shopping need. When shopping in Amman, Jordan, go to Carrefour Mall or City Mall as it is also called.
Abdoun Mall
Abdoun Mall is a smaller mall with around 25,000 meters of space and they cater to locals with many goods. They have clothing, wedding apparel, baby clothes, children clothes, pharmacy ad travel center. The main complaint about this small mall is that they have no website to give any information about the hours, location or details. It is one of Amman's favorite malls for sure and is simply a smaller version of Mecca Mall. They are located at: Al Umawiyeen St, Zahran and their phone number is 592-0246.
Amman Mall
Amman Mall does have a website and gives information on their mall, which is much better than Abdoun Mall. The mall was opened in 1999. In Tla'a Al Ali. I use to live in this area and it is one of my favorite parts of time. In fact in 1999 I was living there, unusual coincidence. This mall cannot be compared with the larger more modern malls, but it is certainly a mall to see. You can go to their huge supermarket or shop in their multiple floors with many shops. They have a huge play area for the kids to have fun in and a large food court downstairs with McDonald's, Arabian, Sweets, Chicken and Pizza shops. You may want to stop in and taste some of their very nice chocolates there.
Other Places for Shopping
1. Souk Downtown - This is a main place for shopping. You will be able to find the Gold Souk there which is a mecca of many shops selling beautiful 24 karat gold necklaces, earrings, bracelets and more. You can also have some custom design work done. As for shopping, you can find many souvenir shops there with reasonable prices.
Many will go there to purchase clothes that are embroidered or specialty scarves to wear on their travels. If you are going to Petra and to any Bedouin areas, such as in Wadi Rum, you may want to protect yourself and dress modestly. You will find leather sandals, handbags and gifts to take back home when you return.
2. Visit some of the local malls and grocery stores that have souvenirs and local items, such as: Safeway, C-Town, Garden Street, Rainbow Street and Haboob Grand Stores.
3. Visit the antique shops and buy some of Jordan's history. Remember it is against the law to take anything out of Jordan that is more than 100 years old. So be careful when shopping for antiques.
4. Duty Free Shops - Buy from here and save the tax of 16%. There address is: Tunis St Shmeisani.
5. Some specialty Shops to consider:
1. Souk Downtown - This is a main place for shopping. You will be able to find the Gold Souk there which is a mecca of many shops selling beautiful 24 karat gold necklaces, earrings, bracelets and more. You can also have some custom design work done. As for shopping, you can find many souvenir shops there with reasonable prices.
Many will go there to purchase clothes that are embroidered or specialty scarves to wear on their travels. If you are going to Petra and to any Bedouin areas, such as in Wadi Rum, you may want to protect yourself and dress modestly. You will find leather sandals, handbags and gifts to take back home when you return.
2. Visit some of the local malls and grocery stores that have souvenirs and local items, such as: Safeway, C-Town, Garden Street, Rainbow Street and Haboob Grand Stores.
3. Visit the antique shops and buy some of Jordan's history. Remember it is against the law to take anything out of Jordan that is more than 100 years old. So be careful when shopping for antiques.
4. Duty Free Shops - Buy from here and save the tax of 16%. There address is: Tunis St Shmeisani.
5. Some specialty Shops to consider:
- Silsal Ceramics - Zahran and 5th Circle.
- Al Burgan - Behind the InterContinental Hotel.
- Wild Jordan - Nature Store - Othman bin Affan St downtown.
- Iraq Amir Handcraft Village - Wadi Seer.
- Al-Alaydi Jordan Craft Centre - off Al-Kulliyah al-Islamiyah St Jebel Amman.
- Artisana - Mansour Kraishan St. Jebel Amman.
Shopping in Amman Jordan
Shopping in Amman, Jordan is different than shopping in America. First some of the stores will negotiate on the prices, unless their policy is not to sell, but for the price quoted. The hours of most shops is 10am in the morning until 2pm in the afternoon. They then take a break for lunch till 4pm or 5pm. They will close late at night and some will stay open till midnight if they are in a high traffic area.
If you see the store owner praying, do not walk in front of his prayer rug disturbing his prayers and do not bother him with questions until after his prayer is over. Many owners will be the only one in the shop and he must pray 5 times a day. Muslims are very strict with their prayers and so they will observe prayer wherever they can.
Women should never be overly friendly, as this would be a bad sign in Islam and they may be subject to undo flirting. Do not give too much information about where you are staying or your plans. Although Jordan is an extremely safe country, it is best to be on the safe side. As in any town or country there will always be people who take advantage of foreigners or strangers. Do not wear too much gold attracting attention from possible thieves in the area. It is best to dress modestly when shopping also. A rich tourist will get little or no discount from the locals.
In the end have a wonderful day shopping and bring back some mementos of your wonderful time in Jordan.
Salam Aleikum (peace be upon you) until we meet again.
Copyright © Trips to Jordan 2011-2014