Irbid (Arabella) إربد
City
Nickname:  Bride of the North
Irbid (Arabella)
Coordinates: 32°33′0″N 35°51′0″E / 32.55000°N 35.85000°E / 32.55000; 35.85000
Grid position	230/217
Country	Jordan
Governorate	Irbid Governorate
Founded	7000 BC
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Mayor	Nabeel Al-Kofahi
Area [1]
• City	410 km2 (160 sq mi)
• Metro	1,572 km2 (607 sq mi)
Elevation	620 m (2,034 ft)
Population  (2020)
• City	569,068
• Density	1,400/km2 (3,600/sq mi)
• Metro	2,003,800 [2]
Time zone	UTC+2 (GMT)
• Summer (DST)	+3
Area code	+(962)2
Website	www.irbid.gov.jo

Irbid (Arabic: إِربِد), known in ancient times as Arabella or Arbela (Άρβηλα in Ancient Greek), is the capital and largest city of Irbid Governorate. It has the second-largest metropolitan population in Jordan after Amman, with a population of around 2,003,800.^[3] As a city, Irbid is Jordan's third-largest, after Amman and Zarqa.

Irbid is located about 70 kilometres (43 mi) north of Amman on the northern ridge of the Gilead, equidistant from Pella, Beit Ras (Capitolias), and Um Qais, and approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of the Syrian border.

Irbid was built on successive Early Bronze Age settlements and was possibly the biblical Beth Arbel and the Arbila of the Decapolis, a Hellenistic league of the 1st-2nd century BCE. The population of Irbid swelled in the late 19th century, and prior to 1948 it served as a significant centre of transit trade.^[4]

The city is a major ground transportation hub between Amman, Syria to the north, and Mafraq to the east.

The Irbid region is also home to several colleges and universities. The two most prominent universities are Jordan University of Science and Technology and Yarmouk University.

History

Pottery dating from the Bronze Age displayed in the Irbid Archaeological Museum

Artifacts and graves in the area show that Irbid was inhabited in the Bronze Age. Pieces of pottery and wall stones found at Tell Irbid were estimated to be made in the year 3200 B.C.^[5] A city wall dated to around 1300-1200 BC.

• Phase III (c. 3200 BC)
• Phase II (c. 1300-1150 BC)
• Phase I (c. 1150-800 BC)

In the Hellenistic period, Irbid, then known as Arabella was a major trade center. Before the advent of Islam, Arabella was famous for producing some of the best wines in the ancient world. The area in the region had extremely fertile soil and moderate climate, allowing the growing of high quality grapes.

After the Muslim conquests, the city came under the rule of the Rashidun Caliphate and became known as Irbid, at which time it shifted from wine to olive oil production. Wheat was also an important product in the area.^[6]

In 1596 it appeared in the Ottoman tax registers named as Irbid, situated in the nahiya (subdistrict) of Bani Juhma, part of the Sanjak of Hawran. It had 72 households and 35 bachelors; all Muslim. The villagers paid a fixed tax-rate of 25% on agricultural products; including wheat (22,500 akçe), barley, summer crops, fruit trees, goats and bee-hives; in addition to a market toll. The total tax was 38,116 akçe.^[7]

In 1838, Eli Smith noted Irbid (Arbela) as being a place with Sunni Muslim.^[8]

The Jordanian census of 1961 found 44,585 inhabitants in Irbid.^[9]

Irbid today combines the bustle of a provincial Middle Eastern town and the youthful nightlife of a typical college town. The city is home to four major universities: Yarmouk University, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid National University and Jadara University. In addition, it is home for two campuses of Balqa Applied University and several private colleges. University Street, which defines the western border of the Yarmouk University campus, is popular with locals as well as with the occasional foreign visitors who stop by to relax in any of its numerous restaurants and cafés that open late into the night.

Though not usually a major tourist destination itself, Irbid is home to two notable museums: the Museum of Jordanian Heritage and the Jordan Natural History Museum, both on the campus of Yarmouk University. Furthermore, Irbid's strategic location in northern Jordan makes it a convenient starting point for tourists interested in seeing the northern Jordan Valley; visiting Umm Qais, Beit Ras (Capitolias), Pella, Ajloun, Umm el-Jimal, La Foossi baitaras and other historical sites; or traveling on to Syria.

• 
  Irbid Museum Of Jordanian Heritage Dolmen
• 
  Irbid Museum Of Jordanian Heritage Decorated stone
• 
  Irbid Museum Of Jordanian Heritage Decorated stone
• 
  Irbid Museum Of Jordanian Heritage Mosaic
• 
  Irbid Museum Of Jordanian Heritage Mosaic
• 
  Irbid Museum Of Jordanian Heritage Mosaic
• 
  Irbid Museum Of Jordanian Heritage Mosaic
• 
  Irbid Museum Of Jordanian Heritage Mosaic
• 
  Irbid Museum Of Jordanian Heritage Mosaic
• 
  Irbid Centre
• 
  Irbid Clock tower

Geography

Irbid is situated in northern Jordan, on a fertile plateau. As of 2010, the city of Irbid encompassed an area of 30 km², with residential areas making up 74.3% of the total area, followed by the Services areas occupying 9.5%, then Empty or unoccupied areas of 7.7%, then 4.2% is classified as Commercial areas, and 3.3% as Industrial areas, and finally gardens occupied 1% of the total city area.

Districts of Greater Irbid Municipality

Church in Irbid

Irbid is divided into 23 city districts forming smaller cities within the metropolitan sphere of influence of Irbid:

Huwwarah district

Jordan University of Science and Technology Hospital.

The Safeway shopping center in Irbid

Prince Hassan Youth City.

Al-Arabi Sports Club in Irbid

Al-Fayhaa Mosque in Irbid.

Hospitals

King Abdullah University Hospital in Irbid, the hospital of Jordan University of Science and Technology.

• Abu Obaida Hospital
• Al-Najah Hospital
• Al-Qawasmi Hospital
• Al-Ramtha Hospital
• Al-Yarmouk Hospital
• Ibn-Alnafees Hospital
• Irbid Islamic Hospital
• Irbid Speciality Hospital
• King Abdullah University Hospital
• Muaath Bin Jabal Hospital
• Princess Badeea Hospital
• Princess Basma Hospital
• Princess Rahma Hospital
• Princess Raya Hospital
• Rahbat Al-Wardieh Hospital
• Roman Catholic Hospital

Education

As of 2007, there were 70,000 registered students in Irbid's 10 universities, community colleges and institutes, of whom 8,000 were international students from 47 countries.^[11] This high concentration of institutions of higher education has played a key role in carving a unique identity of the city. The largest universities in Irbid are:

Yarmouk University

Jordan University of Science and Technology campus

• Yarmouk University^[12]
• Jordan University of Science and Technology^[13]
• Irbid National University^[14]
• Al-Balqa` Applied University (Irbid campus)^[15]
• Jadara University^[16]

Private Schools in Irbid (sorted by alphabetical order):

• Adventist School
• Al-Arabiya Model School
• Al-Manara Schools ^[P]
• Al-Nahda Private School ^[P]
• Alwatany center
• American University School of the Middle East ^[17]
• Dar Al Uloum Schools ^[P]
• Greek Catholic School
• Irbid International Schools
• Irbid Model School ^[P]
• Islamic School ^[P] (Al-Madares Al-Islamiya)
• Jeel Al Jadeed School
• Jordan National Schools ^[P]
• Khawla Bint Alazwar ^[P]
• Rosary Sisters School
• Shoa'a Alammel School ^[P]
• Yarmouk University Model School ^[P]

Economy

Irbid Mall in Western Irbid.

Most of the city's economy is based on the services sector, that is directly or indirectly related to the higher education institutions in the city, as an example there are 26 book publishing companies in the city. The number of internet cafes per capita is the highest in the world that took Irbid to the Guinness Book of World Records.^[18] Irbid is considered the cultural capital of Jordan.^[19] There is one Qualifying Industrial Zone in Irbid.

Sports

The Irbid-based club Al-Hussein (Irbid) was ranked fourth in the Jordanian football premier league in the year 2008. Its home matches are held in Prince Hasan Youth City's Stadium. The other major football club in Irbid is Al-Arabi. Established in 1945, it is one of the oldest athletic clubs in the country. As of 2008, there are 22 cultural and sport clubs registered in Irbid. Irbid hosted the 1999 Pan Arab Games.

Twin towns – sister cities

Irbid is twinned with:

• Gaziantep, Turkey^[20]
• Zhengzhou, China^[21]

Notable people

See also

•  Jordan portal

Citations

General bibliography

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Irbid.

• Irbid - Jordan Tourism Board Archived 15 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine
• Beautiful Natural Scenes From Al-Koura Department - Irbid
• Irbid News
• Greater Irbid Municipality
• Irbid Guide
• Irbid Discussion Forum (in Arabic)
• Al Husun FM Radio Station
• Photos of Irbid at the American Center of Research