Umm Jimal enters UNESCO World Heritage List

AMMAN — The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) announced on Friday the inclusion of Umm Jimal as the seventh Jordanian site on the UNESCO World Heritage List. 

The list already includes Petra, Quseir Amra, Umm Rasas, Wadi Rum, Maghtas, and Salt. 

The announcement was made during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee held in India.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Makram Qaisi said during the session, "Today, we celebrate the inclusion of Umm Jimal in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and we also celebrate the strong relationship between the Kingdom and UNESCO, which has spanned decades."

Umm Jimal is the third Nabataean city after Petra and Umm Rasas, representing the northern expansion of the Nabataean kingdom and showcasing their ability to establish a smart, sustainable system despite water scarcity, Qaisi said.

According to a statement from the ministry on Friday, the inclusion of Umm Jimal follows the UNESCO criteria, recognising the value of the Jordanian submission made in 2022. 

On the sidelines of the meetings, Qaisi met with his Indian counterpart Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, to discuss ways to enhance mutual tourism between the Kingdom and India, aiming to remove obstacles hindering increased tourist flows from India, particularly establishing direct air connectivity between the two countries.

They discussed various cooperation points, including training, qualification, investment promotion, and providing incentives to encourage tourism. 

Qaisi also met with Archbishop Anil Couto, the Catholic bishop of Delhi, and other Christian clergy. 

He emphasised the importance of raising awareness among India's Christian communities about Jordan's significance for Christian pilgrims, highlighting the five Vatican-recognised sites: the Baptism Site (Maghtas), Mount Nebo, Machaerus, the Church of Our Lady of the Mountain, and Mar Elias. 

Bishop Couto affirmed that having an easy-to-use electronic visa system and visa-on-arrival for Indian tourists facilitates the church's mission to guide and educate pilgrims about the importance of pilgrimage to Jordan.