Time and Measures
is two hours ahead in winter & Three hours ahead in Summer;

 Winter time: October-March GMT+2;  .....  Summer time: April-September GMT+3;

Sites to be visited :

Oldest Church (The Late Roman Church)
One of the most exciting discoveries in recent times that archaeologists in Aqaba have unearthed
is what they believe to be the world’s oldest church.The newly discovered church is slightly older
than the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, both
of which date back to the 4th century. The church is located on a plot of land east of Istiklal Street.
This monumental mud brick structure was built about 300 A.D. The eastern orientation, overall plan,
and associated artifacts suggest that the structure was an early Christian church, possibly the oldest
purpose-built church known in the world. The church partially collapsed in the late 4^th century,
probably in the earthquake of 363 A.D., then was filled with wind-blown sand. Its southeastern
corner was partially destroyed by construction of the Byzantine city wall just to the south.

The City of Islamic Ayla
built by the Rashedi Caliph Othman Ben Afan around 650 AD. It was inhabited during the Umayyad
period (650 – 750 AD) and the Abbasid period ( 750 – 970 AD) and then during the Fatimaied
period (970 – 1116 AD). The city was discovered in 1986 through the archaeological excavation
conducted by Department of Archaeology and the University of Chicago . Its buildings have a special
significant in the Islamic history as well as the following periods. The archaeological excavations
indicated people were living inside and outside the walls of the city. The markets, gates and the
commercial stores were revealed. The artifacts found in the site indicated a commercial contact with
Avicina as well as ports in the Indian Ocean and the Far East; however, most of that contact was
with the Arabian Peninsula.

The City Wall Of Byzantine Aila
Aila’s city wall was built in the Early Byzantine period, about 400 A.D.  Constructed of local stone,
the wall once stood over six meters high, with square towers projecting at intervals of about 30
meters. To the north of the city wall was a cemetery of the Early Byzantine period. In the late 6^th
century a segment of the city wall west of al-Istikhlal Street was reinforced on its inner south side
with three U-shaped mudbrick buttresses connected by narrow walls. In the Umayyad period the
 interval tower just west of al-Istkhlal Street was rebuilt as a gate. The city wall went out of use
in later in the Umayyad period, when domestic structures were built against its northern face.

The Arab Revolt Plaza
At the heart of the Great Arab Revolt Plaza stands the tallest flag in the world, which flies from
a 137 meter-high pole, measuring 20 by 40 meters with its base at 17 x 17 meters. The black,
red, white and green flag entered the Guinness Book of Records in 2003, a few years following
 Amman's successful capture of the title. The Plaza is named after the Great Arab Revolt of 1917
 when the late Sharif Hussein Ben Ali, great grandfather of His Majesty King Abdullah II, led
a campaign with the aim of securing independence from the ruling Ottoman Turks and creating
 a single unified Arab nation.

The Aqaba Archaeological Museum
The Aqaba Archaeological Museum lies adjacent to the Aqaba Castle and it is housed in the historical
residence of Sharif Hussein bin Ali, leader of the Great Arab Revolt, and the great grandfather of King
Abdullah II. The Hashemite Coat of Arms over the entrance was added after the Otomans were ousted
from Aqaba during World War 1. This was Sharif Hussein’s residence for six years following the war.
The museum houses an important collection from the Islamic site of Ayla, with items that date to the
Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid and Fatimid periods. The collection thus represents the Islamic periods
from the mid-seventh to the beginning of the twelfth century AD.
Among the exhibits is a Kufic inscription of “Ayat al-Kursi” from the Holy Quran, which surmounted
the Eastern (Egypt) gate of the city, and a hoard of gold Fatimid dinars minted at Sajilmasa in Morocco.

Artifacts displayed also include foreign pottery and coins left by ancient visitors.

The newly-constructed Visitor's Center at the Park is an essential tool for educating beach users and
the community. The center caters to all visitors and has many halls that can be used for educational
and outreach programs to generate awareness of the fragile nature of the marine environment and
the need to protect it. Activities include displays, lectures, workshops, slide shows,and a rich library,
in addition to focused marine activities such as the adopt-a-coral project.
The Park houses a collection of rare shells collected from all around the world and presented as a gift
from Princess Wijdan. There is also a gift shop which sells handmade traditional pieces made by the local
fishermen’s wives as well as other gift items.