Yes, Aqaba King Hussein International Airport (AQJ) has a designated smoking area for passengers. After security there is one smoking area at the end of the departure lounge by the café, and before security smoking is permitted in the outdoor areas only.
Aqaba King Hussein International Airport is Jordan’s Red Sea gateway, serving the Aqaba Special Economic Zone and onward travel to Wadi Rum, Petra and the Red Sea diving resorts. It is a compact single-terminal airport handling Royal Jordanian and seasonal international and charter traffic, far smaller than Amman’s Queen Alia hub.
Smoking Policy at Aqaba Airport
Jordan’s Public Health Law No. 47/2008 bans smoking in enclosed public spaces, including airports. In practice, enforcement varies and Jordan has a high adult smoking rate, estimated at over 30% of the population, with smoking a common part of social life. Aqaba’s terminal keeps one designated airside smoking area rather than the fully outdoor-only approach at Amman; smoking elsewhere indoors is prohibited.
Airport Layout
Aqaba operates a single passenger terminal with one departures lounge and arrivals hall, handling both domestic-regional and international flights. Because everything passes through one compact building, smoking provision is limited to the one airside area by the café and the outdoor areas before security.
Smoking Areas
Departures (Airside)
After security there is one designated smoking area, located at the end of the departure lounge adjacent to the café inside the terminal. This is the only documented airside option, so plan your smoke break around it; the area can carry noticeable smoke into the nearby café seating, so allow time before boarding.
Outside Terminals
Before security, smoking is permitted only outside the terminal building, at the marked entrance area, and on the arrivals forecourt. Aqaba has a hot, dry Red Sea desert climate; outdoor smoking is comfortable in winter but the summer heat is intense, when the single airside area by the café is the better choice.
E-Cigarettes and Vaping
E-cigarettes are legal in Jordan and commonly used. They may be used in the same designated smoking area as conventional cigarettes at Aqaba Airport, but not in the open terminal areas. Vape stock at this small airport is limited, so bring your own supplies.
Tips for Smokers at Aqaba Airport
- There is only one airside area — at the end of the departure lounge by the café; plan around it
- Smoke before security at the outdoor entrance area if you want more space
- The airside area sits next to café seating, so finish well before boarding calls
- This is a small terminal — a single smoke break covers most layovers here
- Aqaba summers are very hot; the indoor area by the café is more comfortable than the entrance then
- Cigarettes are widely sold landside; carry small change for café purchases by the smoking area
Summary
| Area | Smoking Allowed | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Departure lounge by café (post-security) | Yes | Indoor area | The only documented airside area |
| Terminal entrance / arrivals | Yes | Outdoor | Before security; marked area |
| General terminal areas | No | — | Indoor ban; fines possible |