UNESCO adds Jordan’s Umm al-Jimal village to heritage list
Date
7/29/2024 3:50:14 AM
(MENAFN) Jordan's Umm al-Jimal village has been officially added to UNESCO's World Heritage List, a milestone celebrated on Sunday by the country's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Makram al-Qaisi, as a significant achievement. This inclusion was announced during UNESCO's World Heritage Committee meeting in New Delhi. The earliest structures at Umm al-Jimal, which date back to the first century AD, were part of the Nabataean Kingdom, according to a statement on X by UNESCO. The site is notable for its inscriptions in Greek, Nabataean, Safaitic, Latin, and Arabic, which provide valuable insights into the evolving religious beliefs of its inhabitants.
Located near the Jordanian-Syrian border, approximately 86 kilometers (53 miles) north of the capital Amman, Umm al-Jimal is often referred to as "the black oasis" due to the extensive use of black volcanic rock in its construction. The name "Umm al-Jimal" is derived from the historical use of camels in trade caravans that passed through the village. Established by the Nabataeans in the first century AD and later occupied by the Romans, the village became a crucial agricultural and commercial hub in the region.
Minister al-Qaisi expressed pride in the designation and emphasized the ministry’s intent to attract both local and international investors to develop the site as a major tourist destination. He highlighted that this recognition would help present Umm al-Jimal as a prominent attraction, aligning with Jordan’s broader goals of boosting its tourism sector.
Umm al-Jimal is the seventh historical site in Jordan to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, joining other significant locations such as Petra, Quseir Amra, Umm al-Rasas, Wadi Rum, Mughatas, and Salt. Tourism is a vital sector for Jordan, contributing between 12 and 14 percent of the country’s GDP, and is crucial for the livelihoods of its 10 million residents. The addition of Umm al-Jimal to the World Heritage List is expected to further enhance the country's tourism appeal and economic growth.
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