Umm al-Jimal is the latest site in Jordan to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage, a status that was conferred during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee held in New Delhi recently. 

In a press statement, the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) says that Umm al-Jimal has become the seventh Jordanian site on the list, joining Petra, Quseir Amra, Um er-Rasas, Wadi Rum, Baptism Site and As-Salt.

Makram Al-Queisi

“Today we celebrate the inclusion of Umm al-Jimal on the UNESCO World Heritage List, but we also celebrate the strong relationship between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and your esteemed organisation, which has lasted for decades,” says Makram Al-Queisi, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of Jordan.

“Umm al-Jimal is the third Nabataean city after Petra and Um er-Rasas, representing the northern expansion of Nabataean rule and demonstrating the Nabataeans’ ability to build a smart, sustainable system despite the scarcity of water, embodying the resilience of the region’s inhabitants from that time until today,” he adds. 

JTB says that the inclusion of Umm al-Jimal, according to UNESCO criteria, comes from the exceptional universal value outlined in the Jordanian file submitted in 2022.

It meets the requirements of integrity and/or authenticity and has an adequate protection and management system to ensure the site’s preservation. 

This inclusion is seen as a model of achievement and harmony among national institutions, represented by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Umm al-Jimal Municipality and the Department of Antiquities.

JTB says this marks only the beginning of Jordan’s diligent efforts to include many Jordanian sites of exceptional universal value and unique human heritage.