The Director of Tourism in Madaba Governorate, Wael Al-Junayni, announced that the Cabinet’s decision to approve and document three heritage buildings in Madaba in the Urban and Architectural Heritage Register aims to protect them from tampering or demolition.
اضافة اعلان
He noted that the approved buildings are: Al-Saraya Building, Al-Bayroti Building, and Omar Shubeib Al-Sawalha’s House, based on recommendations from the Committee for Services, Infrastructure, and Social Affairs, and the endorsement of the National Committee for Urban and Architectural Heritage.
Al-Junayni told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) on Sunday that the Ministry of Tourism is working to integrate these buildings into cultural tourism and tourist trails, while also raising community awareness of the importance of urban heritage as a key component of national identity.
For his part, Samer Al-Tawal, President of the Association for Tourism Development and Heritage Preservation in Madaba, described the decision as a vital step in protecting the city’s heritage character, given the historical and cultural value of these buildings and their potential to stimulate tourism and support community-based investment.
Al-Tawal emphasized that Madaba is rich in heritage homes that require support for their owners, through tax exemptions or investment incentives, to enable their reuse as restaurants, cultural centers, or exhibition spaces—thus contributing to local development.
The Al-Saraya Building is one of the most prominent historical administrative buildings in Madaba. Built in 1896 during the Ottoman rule, it consists of two floors and is owned by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The building has been equipped with a special entrance for people with disabilities.
The Al-Bayroti Building, constructed in 1931, features a traditional architectural style made of old stone and is also owned by the same ministry. Meanwhile, the Omar Shubeib Al-Sawalha House, a traditional residential structure built in 1952, is located in the city center and retains its original heritage features.
