UNESCO recognizes Jordanian village's rich history Tourism hits rough patch

Jordan’s recent addition of Umm al-Jimal to UNESCO’s World Heritage List marks a significant cultural milestone, highlighting the village's rich history as a key trade and agricultural center since its settlement by the Nabataeans in the first century AD.

The oldest structures at the site date back to the first century AD, when it was part of the Nabataean Kingdom, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

Jordan’s Umm al-Jimal village has been newly inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, a development celebrated by the country’s tourism and antiquities minister as a “significant achievement.” UNESCO, which is holding a World Heritage Committee meeting in New Delhi, India, announced on X on Friday that the earliest remains found at Umm al-Jimal date to the first century AD, during the period of the Nabataean Kingdom.

UNESCO also noted that inscriptions found at the site in Greek, Nabataean, Safaitic, Latin, and Arabic reveal the evolving religious beliefs of its inhabitants. Located near the Jordanian-Syrian border, 86 kilometers (53 miles) north of Amman, the village is often referred to as “the black oasis” due to the abundant black volcanic rock in the area.

Jordan’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Makram al-Qaisi, celebrated Umm al-Jimal’s addition to the World Heritage List as a “significant achievement” during a press conference on Sunday. He expressed the ministry’s intention to attract both local and international investors to the site and to promote Umm al-Jimal as a compelling tourist destination.

The name Umm al-Jimal is derived from its historical association with camel caravans, reflecting its role as a key trade hub. Originally settled by the Nabataean people in the first century AD and later occupied by the Romans, the village evolved into a significant agricultural and commercial center.

Umm al-Jimal now joins six other Jordanian sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List: Petra, Quseir Amra, Umm al-Rasas, Wadi Rum, al-Maghtas, and Salt. Tourism is a vital sector for Jordan, contributing between 12 and 14 per cent to the country’s GDP and supporting its 10 million residents.

In 2023, Jordan attracted over six million tourists, generating $7 billion in revenue. The majority of visitors come from Europe, the United States, and Canada, with a growing number from the Asia-Pacific region.

However, tourism in Jordan has been impacted by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza. Qaisi reported that, in 2024, the kingdom has experienced a 4.9 per cent decline in tourism revenue and a 7.9 per cent drop in visitor numbers.