The permanent collection
Artists from 59 countries.
Rami Tarawneh — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rami Tarawneh — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rami Tarawneh — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Freedom's Falcon — CC BY-SA 3.0
The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts is a major museum of contemporary art in Jabal al-Weibdeh, Amman, set in two buildings in a quiet historic district. It holds over 2,000 works by more than 800 artists from 59 countries, mainly in Asia and Africa, and is an important stop for lovers of modern Arab and Islamic art. The Royal Society of Fine Arts, a private non-profit body, founded it in 1980, with Wijdan Ali as founding director. In 1989 it organised the exhibition Contemporary Art from the Islamic World at the Barbican Centre in London. In 2009 it launched a Mobile Museum bringing shows to communities outside the capital. The renovation and expansion of its building by the architect Mohamed al-Asad won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2007. The collection ranges across paintings, prints, sculpture, photographs, installations, weaving and ceramics. Temporary exhibitions change through the year and sometimes feature foreign artists and joint projects. In the park opposite is the Wijdan Art Space, opened in 2023, with studios and room for courses and workshops. It lies 600 m in a straight line from central Amman, and Darat al Funun is also in Jabal al-Weibdeh, so pair them with a walk and a cafe. The climb into the district is steep, so wear comfortable shoes or take a short taxi ride. Exhibitions change, so check the programme before going, and confirm the opening times, as we found no firm hours.
Artists from 59 countries.
An award-winning renovation.
In the park since 2023.
Jabal al-Weibdeh, Amman
King Abdullah I MosqueThe blue-domed mosque that has become Amman's landmark on the skyline, and the o5 minutes walk4.5
Rainbow StreetA single street in Jabal Amman between the First Circle and downtown, and the pl19 minutes walk4.4
Darat al FununDarat al Funun, a home for the arts, is a centre for contemporary Arab art in re19 minutes walk
The Jordan MuseumJordan's national museum, holding two objects with no equal in any museum anywhe22 minutes walk4.3Paintings, prints, sculpture, photographs, weaving and ceramics, mainly from Asia and Africa.
On foot up to Jabal al-Weibdeh, or by a short taxi ride from the centre.