The International Governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, under UNESCO, announced during its session in New Delhi, India, on Wednesday, the inclusion of Jordan’s “Al-Mahras” olive tree on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, alongside other Jordanian and Arab joint heritage files.
اضافة اعلان
According to a statement from the Ministry of Culture, Minister Mustafa Al-Rawashdeh emphasized that registering the Al-Mahras olive tree as Jordanian heritage reflects cultural practices and represents a historic achievement, showcasing the depth and beauty of the country’s intangible cultural heritage, which forms a core part of daily life and national identity. He highlighted that the recognition of the Al-Mahras tree as a unique Jordanian element underscores the richness of local traditions rooted in wisdom, hospitality, and community interaction.
Al-Rawashdeh noted that the Al-Mahras file also serves as a tourist attraction and opens opportunities for economic and cultural benefits, encouraging further submission of Jordanian heritage files to the international community.
He expressed gratitude to the national institutions that collaborated on the file, praising the roles of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Agriculture, the National Center for Agricultural Research, Jordan’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO in Paris, the Jordanian National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, the Mahras Cooperative Society, the Jordan Olive Oil Exporters Association (JOPIA), the Jordanian Sensory Evaluation Association for Food, the General Union of Olive Mill Owners and Producers, the Jordanian Women’s Olive Network, the Traditional Crafts Makers Association, and Jordanian academics and experts.
The Al-Mahras olive tree is an ancient variety, resilient through the ages, forming an integral part of Jordan’s traditional agro-pastoral civilization. It is highly adaptable to harsh climates and produces oil with a distinctive quality, reaching up to 30% oil content—among the highest in the world for olive varieties. The oil is notable for its unique fatty acid composition, high oleic acid content, and a distinctive fruity flavor.
Genetic analyses conducted by the National Center for Agricultural Research, in collaboration with two Jordanian universities, indicate that Al-Mahras represents one of the oldest olive genotypes in the Mediterranean basin and is genetically closest to the origin of olives in Spain, Italy, and Cyprus. This confirms Jordan’s historical centrality in the development of olive cultivation.
The Al-Mahras tree is widespread in the Maysar area of Hashimiya in Ajloun Governorate. Its name, “Al-Mahras,” derives from its resemblance to an old camel that tramples the ground as it walks. It is also known locally as “Al-Roumi” in Tafila, Jerash, and Wadi Rum, and as “Al-Kafri” or “Al-Atiqah” in Irbid.
