Royal Tank Museum
The Royal Tank Museum is a military museum in Amman, Jordan, inaugurated on January 29, 2018. Located next to the King Abdullah II Park in Al Muqabalain. The Royal Tank Museum spans an area of approximately 20,000 square meters and houses around 110 tanks and armored vehicles from Jordan, Arab nations, and foreign countries, displayed in chronological order. The collection includes a number of American, British, Soviet, and German-made vehicles, with a dedicated hall showcasing local military industries. The museum features both original and restored rare items, illustrating the historical evolution of military vehicles since 1915. The museum's design was created by Jordanian architect Zaid Daoud.
It is dedicated to Jordan's military heritage, showcasing vehicles used in Jordan and the region. These exhibits illustrate the impact of wars on Jordan's historical transformations, offering an educational and interactive experience through audiovisual technologies. In addition to its permanent displays, the museum features a demonstration program of tanks and armored vehicles in an outdoor arena. The museum and its grounds cover 100,000 square meters. Construction took nearly ten years, and it is managed by a Board of Trustees, which includes organizations such as the Greater Amman Municipality, the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau, the Royal Special Operations, and the Royal Automobile Museum.
History
Establishment of the museum
Since 1977 Jordan had only one military museum dedicated to its military history, the Martyr's Memorial Museum, located in the Sports City of Amman. This museum showcases military vehicles and weapons in chronological order.The Royal Tank Museum was established following a transformation in the quality, size, and specialization of museums in Jordan. The idea for creating the museum dates back to 2002 when it was initially planned to be located in Aqaba, southern Jordan, specifically adjacent to the Port of Aqaba, where many military vehicles were stored. However, the construction site was later moved to the eastern part of the capital, Amman, after the Greater Amman Municipality provided the land for the project, which spans 100,000 square meters.
Construction of the Royal Tank Museum in Amman began following the issuance of an official royal decree in 2007. The project took more than ten years to complete and was inaugurated by King Abdullah II of Jordan on January 29, 2018, as part of the kingdom's celebrations marking the centenary of the Arab Revolt and the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Karama.
The museum's primary objective is to preserve and showcase tanks and armored vehicles from the Jordanian Armed Forces, as well as other military heritage from around the world, for public viewing. Each tank retains its original color and military unit number, with efforts made to restore its interior components. The restoration process was supervised by the museum's board of trustees and the Jordanian Department of Heritage, with assistance from international specialists.
During its first four days of operatioweln, the museum comed over 13,000 visitors, including officials and military attaches from various countries. Since its opening, the museum has also organized educational tours for school students, employing interactive methods to explain the history of tanks. A portion of the construction and operational costs was covered through donations.
This museum is the second of its kind in the Middle East; Israel opened a tank and armored vehicle museum in Latrun in 1982, following its occupation of the West Bank in the 1967 war, which had been under Jordanian administration prior to that. Most other tank museums worldwide are located in countries such as Germany, Spain, Australia, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Poland, the Czech Republic, Russia, Slovakia, Switzerland, China, France, Finland, Canada, India, the Netherlands, and the United States. Several international tank museums, including the Tank Museum in Dorset and the Imperial War Museum in London, contributed to the organization of this project.
Ground Force history
The Royal Tank Museum displays a wide array of weapons used by the Royal Jordanian Army since its establishment in 1920. The collection features a total of 46 types of tanks, armored vehicles, and other military vehicles, some of which remain in active service while others have been retired. As of 2018, Jordan possesses a diverse inventory of 1,321 tanks, 2,547 armored vehicles, and 461 self-propelled guns, placing it 18th globally in terms of tank strength, 30th in armored vehicle strength, and 15th in self-propelled artillery strength.Additionally, the Jordanian military has acquired various other assets, including wheeled and tracked tank destroyers, artillery pieces, infantry fighting vehicles, and rocket launchers. Notably, the Bofors 40mm was the first anti-aircraft artillery to serve in the Jordanian forces, while the South African Marmon-Herrington was the first armored vehicle. The American M4 Sherman was the first tank in the Jordanian arsenal, followed by the British Centurion, American M47 Patton, American M48 Patton, American M60, British Chieftain, and British Challenger 1.
The Jordanian Armed Forces have implemented modifications to some of these tanks, enhancing their operational range, increasing payload capacity, and reducing operational costs related to spare parts and repairs.
Diversity in presentation
Several countries have contributed to the Royal Tank Museum by providing tanks, armored vehicles, and supporting machinery. Israeli media reported that Israel gifted the museum a Merkava tank; however, Jordanian official sources denied these claims.Jordan's strong diplomatic relations with various governments have facilitated the acquisition of a diverse and rare collection of military vehicles, many of which served in NATO forces, while others were part of the Warsaw Pact. The museum features a wide range of exhibits that encompass various time periods and conflicts, dividing its display halls into sections that guide visitors through different military histories.
In addition to showcasing weapons from regional and global conflicts—ranging from World War I and World War II to the Arab-Israeli wars and the Gulf War—the museum provides a detailed account of Jordan's military history. It emphasizes the role of tanks within the Jordanian Armed Forces and Jordan's involvement in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Despite this variety, the majority of the tanks on display are of American and British manufacture, reflecting the historical alliance between Jordan and these nations.
Location
The Royal Tank Museum is located within the King Abdullah II Gardens, which span approximately 550 dunams in the Al-Muqabalain area of eastern Amman. Specifically, it is situated at the intersection of Al-Sakhra Al-Musharrafah Street and Jamal Badran Street. The building is adjacent to several landmarks, including Jordan Media City, the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation, the Jordan Post Office, the Border Guards Center, and the South Amman Police Directorate. It is also located just 5 kilometers south of the city center.Access to the museum can be achieved via public transportation, specifically through bus line 103, as well as neighboring routes 144 and 145; however, a supplementary means of transport may be required. Photography is permitted within the museum, and entry requires a ticket priced between 2 and 5 Jordanian dinars, depending on the visitor's age and residency status. The museum is open every day except Tuesday and features ample parking for both cars and buses, with facilities accommodating individuals with special needs.
Design and construction
The Royal Tank Museum features a futuristic design, consisting of two levels shaped like a square fort with four main pillars. This design is inspired by the desert palaces found in the Jordanian Badia, symbolizing the actual power and durability of tanks while reflecting the general form of a tank itself. At the center of the building sits a glass dome from which a Cobra attack helicopter is suspended, representing the transition from Jordan's ancient heritage to the future.Various materials were used in the design of the museum during its construction, including a metal structure, woodwork, acoustic insulation, glass, and fiberglass-reinforced concrete. The museum is considered a green building, as it collects water in a large reservoir located beneath it for later reuse. Additionally, solar panels are installed to generate clean electrical energy, and special energy-saving lighting systems based on LED technology illuminate the interior of the museum.
The architectural design was crafted by the Jordanian firm Zaid Daoud Architects, which also created all multimedia works and graphics within the museum. Design oversight was managed by Sigma Engineering Consultants, and several contracting companies executed the project in phases starting from 2007, including the Central Contracting Company and the Consolidated Contractors Company. The project has received several international awards for its unique design.
The exhibition halls are divided into 14 different sections, both temporally and spatially, featuring sound effects, soldier mannequins, and display screens to enhance the visitor experience.
Ground floor
This floor is the main level of the building and includes all fourteen halls that comprise the museum's sections. Visitors start at the reception and ticket area, located in the pre-arming zone. This is followed by a space dedicated to the Great Arab Revolt and World War I, succeeded by the area focusing on World War II.Next, the halls for Jerusalem, the Arab Army, and the Royal Armored Corps from the 1950s and 1960s overlap, leading visitors to the Hall of the Battle of Karama. Following this, the area covering the Arab-Israeli wars is presented, culminating in the heart of the museum, represented by the Hall of King Abdullah II, which features the distinctive Cobra helicopter suspended from the museum's glass dome.
Adjacent to this space are additional halls, including the cutaway tank and support and reinforcement sections. Visitors then proceed to the battle tank halls and the international hall, concluding with the local military industries hall affiliated with the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau. This floor also houses service areas, such as a gift shop displaying locally made souvenirs.