BEIT ABU JABER

The Abu Jaber House is one of the finest examples of Ottoman architecture in Jordan in the late 19th century. This beautiful residence with its dozens of arches on the façade stands in the main square of As-Salt and surpasses all others in its finesse and elegance. It contributes greatly to the inscription of the city on the Unesco World Heritage List. It was built in several stages between 1887 and 1905 for a wealthy merchant in the city, Saleh Abu Jaber. The first floor dates from 1887 and housed the family and the store. In 1896, a second floor was added where the family moved in. The first floor was used for storage and as a residence for visiting guests. In 1905, Saleh Abu Jaber had a third floor added. The family gained more height, while the second floor was allocated to guests and the first floor was used for meetings, trading and horse stables. The building is the first in As-Salt to be equipped with a plumbing system. The roof tiles were imported from Marseille. King Abdullah I resided here in 1922. After the death of Abu Jaber, the upper floors were divided into three separate apartments, one for each of his sons. The first floor has retained its commercial vocation with the installation of stalls. On the^first floor, you will notice that the arched windows have colored stained glass. The house of Abu Jaber was transformed into a museum in 2010. It presents the history of the city and its rich heritage.