The ancient city of Petra received 318,311 visitors during the first eight months of 2026, down 2.1% from the same period in 2025, according to preliminary figures from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities reviewed by Al-Mamlaka.
According to the data, Petra recorded around 318,311 visitors between January and August 2026, compared with 325,121 during the same period in 2025, a decline of 6,810 visitors.
The number of foreign visitors reached 187,710 during the first eight months of 2026, compared with 228,853 in the same period of 2025, a decline of 41,143 visitors, or 18%.
By contrast, the number of Jordanian visitors rose to 130,601 during the same period in 2026, compared with 96,268 in 2025, an increase of 34,333 visitors, or 35.7%.
Foreign visitors accounted for around 59% of total Petra visitors during the first eight months of 2026, compared with about 41% for Jordanians. During the corresponding period in 2025, foreigners accounted for approximately 70.4% of visitors, while Jordanians represented 29.6%.
On a monthly basis, total visits to Petra increased by 88.4% in January 2026 compared with the same month in 2025, and by 118.2% in February.
Visitor numbers then fell by 60.7% in March, 57.4% in April, 29.5% in May and 3.4% in June, before rebounding by 52.5% in July and 12% in August.
According to the website of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority, Petra is one of the world’s most important archaeological sites and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Located in southern Jordan, Petra is renowned for its unique architecture carved into rose-colored rock, earning it the nickname “the Rose City.”
The flourishing city was established by the Nabataeans, a powerful Arab people who exerted broad influence across the region from the fourth century BC to the second century AD.
What distinguishes Petra from other archaeological sites is that its main structures, including the Royal Tombs, monumental facades, temples and the famous Treasury, were carved directly into sandstone mountains, reflecting remarkable engineering skills and a unique ability to transform the natural landscape into an integrated city.
