Jordan · Safety report last updated
As of July 2026, Aqaba scores 44/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: caution advised. No — Aqaba is not currently safe for non-essential travel due to active military escalation and recent Iranian missile strikes near the city. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (moderate risk).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Jordan · Assessed 29 July 2026
44
/ 100
Safer than ~32% of countries
Score capped at 44 — Level 3 advisory — reconsider travel. No other indicator can raise the score above this.
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against travel Jordan-Syria border FCDO advises against all travel to within 3km of the border with Syria.”
Updated 2026-07-22T12:47:55Z
Full advisory →Avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Jordan: avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Mugging & robbery risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
ModerateViolent crime is normally uncommon in tourist areas, but active military escalation and Iranian missile threats near the city significantly elevate baseline risk.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing occurs in markets, busy beaches, shopping streets, transport points, and tourist sites; standard bag security and awareness reduce risk.
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Highly negative — military escalation dominates
51/100
Travel guides from March 2026 described Aqaba as welcoming and generally safe for tourists. As of July 2026, travellers are urgently questioning whether to go at all, citing the US-Iran military escalation, Iranian missile strikes, and official evacuation orders at critical transit points.
No — Aqaba is not currently safe for non-essential travel due to active military escalation and recent Iranian missile strikes near the city.
Aqaba normally has low violent crime and established tourism infrastructure, but July 2026 has brought acute regional dangers. Iranian missiles were intercepted near Aqaba on July 19; two US military personnel were killed at a Jordanian air base on July 17; and the US Embassy has issued a security alert ordering Americans to avoid the airport and seaport due to a credible threat. Every major Western government advises against non-essential travel.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Bottom line: Aqaba is not safe for non-essential travel. While the city normally has low violent crime and strong tourism infrastructure, July 2026 has brought acute military danger. On July 17, an Iranian missile strike killed two US service members at a Jordanian air base. On July 19, Jordanian air defenses intercepted three Iranian missiles near Aqaba, and the US Embassy issued a security alert ordering evacuation of the airport and seaport due to a credible threat. Canada, the UK, and the US all advise against non-essential travel to Jordan.
What the database reveals—and what it cannot predict: Aqaba's baseline safety metrics are favourable: homicide rate 1.0 per 100,000 (lower than Canada), violent crime targeting tourists is uncommon, and the Red Sea resort and commercial zones are normally well-patrolled. However, these statistics freeze at 2021–2023 and cannot capture the military escalation now unfolding. As of July 20, 2026, Wego Travel Blog reports directly: "No — Jordan is not safe for leisure travel right now. The US-Iran ceasefire has collapsed for a second time." The airport and seaport remain under active evacuation orders. This is not a theoretical advisory—missiles were intercepted near the city in the last ten days.
The real situation on the ground: Petty theft—pickpocketing in markets and taxi overcharging—remains a concern in normal times, but is now secondary to military risk. The resort areas along the Red Sea coast are historically well-protected, but tourists should not travel to the airport or seaport under any circumstances. The industrial port zone has always been restricted; it remains so. Extreme July heat (highs near 44°C) is a separate hazard that dehydrates visitors quickly. If you are in Aqaba, check your embassy's alerts daily and have an evacuation plan ready.
Practical action: Do not visit. If you hold non-refundable bookings, contact your embassy—they can advise whether your nationality qualifies for any exemptions or evacuation assistance. If you are already there, avoid airport and seaport zones, monitor official communications hourly, and keep bags secure in public areas. This is a fast-moving military situation; travel guides dated March or earlier July are dangerously out of date. Trust your government's advisory and real-time embassy alerts, not tourism websites.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 7 Aqaba districts for visitors, 4 needing caution and 3 best avoided. See them plotted on the Aqaba safety map.
Aqaba Airport & SeaportavoidUS Embassy security alert (19 July): evacuated due to credible threat; Iranian missiles intercepted nearby
Al-RashidiyaavoidDocumented at-risk residential area; avoid unnecessary visits
Port & Industrial ZoneavoidMilitary infrastructure; heightened security presence; civilians should not linger
Aqaba Beach & Resort StripcautionWell-patrolled tourist zone but heightened alert for regional military activity; avoid after dark
Downtown AqabacautionCommercial district, shops, restaurants, markets; busy daytime; watch for petty theft and taxi scams
Aqaba CornichecautionPopular waterfront promenade, safe during daytime; avoid isolated stretches after dark
Old CitycautionHistoric quarter with narrow streets and local markets; standard precautions apply; pickpocketing risk in crowds
07 · After Dark
Violent crime is normally uncommon in tourist areas, but active military escalation and Iranian missile threats near the city significantly elevate baseline risk.
After dark, be most careful around Aqaba Airport & Seaport, Al-Rashidiya, Port & Industrial Zone, Aqaba Beach & Resort Strip. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Trip Profiles
Who's travelling changes which risks matter. These re-weight Aqaba's category data for common trip types — same data, different emphasis. Run your own profile from the interactive checker.
09 · Questions
No — Aqaba is not currently safe for non-essential travel due to active military escalation and recent Iranian missile strikes near the city. Aqaba normally has low violent crime and established tourism infrastructure, but July 2026 has brought acute regional dangers. Iranian missiles were intercepted near Aqaba on July 19; two US military personnel were killed at a Jordanian air base on July 17; and the US Embassy has issued a security alert ordering Americans to avoid the airport and seaport due to a credible threat. Every major Western government advises against non-essential travel. (Assessed 29 July 2026.)
Field research flags Aqaba Airport & Seaport, Al-Rashidiya, Port & Industrial Zone as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
Aqaba ranks #1 of 5 Jordan destinations we've assessed, scoring 44/100. See the Jordan safety overview for the full list.
The score blends 12+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry 82% of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries 18%. Full methodology.
Browse the Jordan safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: aqaba.json (CC BY 4.0).