The Duke Diwan of Amman is one of the most surprising and interesting places to visit in the Jordanian capital. It can be said that it is a real journey back in time more than a century, specifically to the 1920s, when this building was built in the heart of the city. In the following lines we tell you what it is, why it is called that, what you can find in it and other practical information of interest.
The explanation of its name
In the name of the Duke’s Diwan of Amman, two different concepts are recognized. And understanding each of them helps us to understand its history and meaning. On the one hand, diwan is an Arabic word that means “council hall”, but adapted to daily life it could be translated as “meeting room” or “meeting hall”. In fact, that is the ultimate purpose it has today: a place for exchange and meeting between artists, writers, etc.
And on the other hand, duke means “duque” in English and is a reference to its current manager: Mamdouh Bisharat. This title was granted by the Hashemite King Hussein of Jordan when he learned of his philanthropic and conservation work, as he took charge of the property to prevent it from being demolished or dismantled, later turning it into the cultural space it is today. It was at that time, at the end of the last century, when the monarch named him Duke of Mukhaibeh, the region of the Jordan Valley where he is from.
What it was, what it is and what you will find in it
The Duke’s Diwan of Amman building was built in 1924 and its original function was as the headquarters of the Jordanian postal company. This shows the strategic place in which it is located, in the nerve center of the capital, in a modern style but with traditional notes: this can be seen in its ashlar with a cushioned effect, but also in its central balcony with an arcade of horseshoe arches.
After that initial administrative function, it was used as a hotel for the rest of the century, until a warning voice set off the alarms of Mamdouh Bisharat: it was about to be sold and, most likely, demolished to build another new building. But this newly invested duke, who also stood out for the donation of archaeological pieces to the Ministry of Antiquities, prevented that sad ending, which would have been irreversible.
His desire, materialized today, was to turn it into a cultural space open to all: anyone can enter its rooms and, if they wish, organize an event or a cultural meeting, such as conferences, colloquiums, book presentations, etc. And all this in a genuine environment: its decoration and furniture evoke the 20s of the 20th century, the decade in which this building was born and of great effervescence for the city, when it was already the capital of the newly created Emirate of Transjordan, under British protectorate according to the mandate of the League of Nations.
In addition, some rooms also evoke the time when it functioned as the Haifa Hotel. All this can be seen when walking through its entrance hall, its central hall, its dining room, its study, its bedroom or its main balcony, which is perhaps its most emblematic place.
Practical information about the Duke Diwan of Amman
If you are curious about visiting the Duke’s Diwan of Amman, here are some practical facts that you will want to know:
- Location: King Faisal Street (or King Faisal Square), very close to the Citadel hill
- Price: free for all audiences.
- Hours: open every day of the week (except Fridays), from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
