Desert Dwellers

One of the best known groups from Jordan’s population is the Bedouin. As they are known in Arabic, the Bedu, or “desert dwellers”, endure the desert and have learned to survive its unforgiving climate.

Most of Jordan’s Bedouin live in the vast desert wasteland and their communities are identified by characteristic goat-hair tents. These are known as beit al-sha’ar, or “house of hair”. Bedouins are often stereotyped as constantly wandering the desert in search of water and food for their flocks. Only a small portion of Bedouins can still be regarded as true nomads, while many have settled down to cultivate crops rather than drive their animals across the desert.

Famous for their hospitality, many of the characteristics of the Arab society are found in their strongest form within Bedouin culture. Part of their creed, which is rooted in the harshness of desert life, is that no visitor is ever turned away.