Royal Automobile Museum

The first open-air motor museum in the Jordan world is the Royal Automobile Museum. It was opened in 2003 by His Majesty King Abdullah II and honored the late King Hussein while exhibiting a slice of Jordanian history. Eighty of the late King's automobiles and motorcycles, some of which date back to 1909, are on show in the museum.

Each vehicle comes with a thorough history report. They are all exquisitely polished, tastefully lighted, and totally drool-worthy, preserved in excellent condition, and depicting a different event in the late King's life. Together, they highlight King Hussein's 47-year rule and the history of the Kingdom from His Majesty King Abdullah I's early 1920s through His Majesty King Abdullah II's current era.

Even if you have little interest in driving, this superbly organised museum offers an intriguing viewpoint on the evolution of contemporary Jordan despite the fact that a room devoted to royal automobiles may not be an apparent sell to international visitors. It's a real treasure and a fantastic method to tell the tale of contemporary Jordan. Along the way, the narrative is brought to life by accounts of presidential visits, Hollywood stars, and defunct Middle Eastern monarchies. The vehicles range from pre-1950s glories to contemporary sports cars. While outside, Matt Damon's ruggedly cool Martian rover from The Martian (filmed in Wadi Rum) offers a glimpse of potential future road journeys, the concluding exhibition of suitably dirty race cars is a nice counterpoint to the sheen and chrome of the other vehicles.