Got an Axe to Grind? Throw it Instead at Jordan Rage Room

A Jordanian girl collects an axe from the target at a store, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Amman, Jordan August 4, 2020. (Reuters)
A Jordanian girl collects an axe from the target at a store, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Amman, Jordan August 4, 2020. (Reuters)
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Got an Axe to Grind? Throw it Instead at Jordan Rage Room

A Jordanian girl collects an axe from the target at a store, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Amman, Jordan August 4, 2020. (Reuters)
A Jordanian girl collects an axe from the target at a store, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Amman, Jordan August 4, 2020. (Reuters)

Had it up to here with your boss, the lockdown?

Throw an axe to get it all out. “Axe Rage Rooms” are all the er, rage in Jordan as people seek release during the pandemic.

While you’re at it, have a smashing time with TVs, plates and electronics as well, in this cathartic form of entertainment at a time when theaters and sports venues are closed. Do it with family, friends or colleagues to celebrate or mourn an event like a birthday, wedding, divorce or your sports team’s outcome in a tournament.

“We’re used to throwing darts at targets to get points. But the idea of throwing an axe at the same target is quite new,” said Nour Mohaib, wearing a helmet with a face shield to enjoy her new therapeutic pastime.

“This is a great way to spend your surplus energy.”

The AXE rage room entertainment center in Amman features five themed experiences, such as classrooms and kitchens.

“(F)ulfil your darkest pleasures of smashing things up by a baseball bat, or throwing dishes to the wall rather than washing them, or destroy the whole office electronics with your co-workers... like a team for once rather than shouting at each other in boring meetings,” says its website.

Safety rules must be followed and players must sign a waiver of liability.

“No one can enter the area where the axes are thrown, and there’s safety gear for the face and the eyes,” said founder and director Aladdin Attari.

The cost is 15 Jordanian dinars ($21) per person to smash an unlimited supply of items for an hour, which is “more than enough for most people,” a customer service representative said by phone.



Iran Envoy: Jareesh is Part of Our Culture, I Prefer It to Mandi

Enayati says regional ties run deep through shared history (Photo: Turki Al-Oqaili)
Enayati says regional ties run deep through shared history (Photo: Turki Al-Oqaili)
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Iran Envoy: Jareesh is Part of Our Culture, I Prefer It to Mandi

Enayati says regional ties run deep through shared history (Photo: Turki Al-Oqaili)
Enayati says regional ties run deep through shared history (Photo: Turki Al-Oqaili)

With a warm smile and a calm tone, Dr. Alireza Enayati, Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, reflects on nearly two years in Riyadh, describing a personal journey shaped by culture, cuisine, and diplomacy.

“I’ve visited different regions and tasted traditional Saudi dishes,” Enayati told Asharq Al-Awsat in an interview. “Jareesh –a dish made from cracked wheat and cooked with meat, spices, and vegetables– has become my favorite—I choose it over mandi and other dishes on any occasion.”

According to the Iranian envoy, the two countries share more than just geography. “There are many common dishes between Saudi Arabia and Iran,” he said.

But food is only one layer of the ambassador’s experience. Enayati, who has spent over two decades immersed in Middle East diplomacy, sees deep historical ties binding the region’s peoples together.

“I recently read Al-Hadaqi, a novel about Al-Jahiz—Abu Uthman Amr ibn Bahr—and his life between Baghdad, Basra, and Iran. It left me with a strong sense that the relationships among peoples in this region go far back in history,” he said. “Reading it felt like tracing our steps backward to better understand the present.”

“These are not new connections,” he added. “We’re not creating the relationship—we’re nurturing what has always existed. The cultural and civilizational dialogue has never ceased.”

His comments come against the backdrop of a thaw in relations between Tehran and Riyadh, after both sides agreed in March 2023—under Chinese mediation—to restore diplomatic ties following a seven-year rift.

The ambassador pointed to culinary overlaps as another reflection of cultural convergence. “Stews, for example, are common in both countries,” he said. “Jareesh is part of Iranian culture too, as are lamb and camel meat. And as everyone knows, kebab originated in Iran, but it’s also very popular here in the Kingdom.”

Enayati has built his career around the region. “I’ve spent more than 20 years working on regional affairs and never served outside this part of the world,” he said with a smile. “I’m not sure if that’s a strength or a limitation, but my focus has always been here.”

Appointed to Riyadh as part of a diplomatic breakthrough, Enayati said he is proud to represent Iran in Saudi Arabia. “It’s a great honor. I dedicate my efforts to enhancing bilateral ties and supporting regional peace and stability.”

Looking ahead, Enayati hopes to help build stronger cultural bridges—not only between Saudi Arabia and Iran, but across the broader region. “Arabic and Persian cultures both occupy a distinguished place,” he said. “We must deepen mutual understanding between them.”

He concluded with a nod to Tehran’s long-term vision for cooperation with Riyadh. “Iran and Saudi Arabia are both pillars of regional stability,” he said. “This region belongs to its people, and we view our relationship with the Kingdom through that lens.”