Jordan has added another achievement to its record in safeguarding and protecting architectural and urban heritage. The Salt Historical Museum and Dar Al-Funun have been listed on the Arab Register of Architectural and Urban Heritage, run by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO). The listing was confirmed during the 11th meeting of the Observatory, held at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, from 25 to 27 October 2026.
اضافة اعلان
Director General of the Department of Antiquities, Prof. Dr. Fawzi Abu Dana, said the achievement reflects Jordan’s continued commitment to protecting its cultural heritage and strengthening its presence in Arab forums. He stressed the importance of cooperation and coordination with regional institutions and organisations concerned with heritage preservation, which helps to promote Jordan’s heritage sites and their historical and architectural value.
He added that the achievement builds on the department’s efforts to increase its participation in Arab and international initiatives for heritage protection, and to follow up on files related to documenting Jordan’s heritage sites and highlighting their cultural value, which enhances Jordan’s standing and leadership in safeguarding architectural and urban heritage.
The achievement is particularly significant, as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was the first Arab country to submit nomination files to the Observatory, and the first to have its sites listed on its register. This reflects the status of Jordan’s heritage, its cultural value, and the national efforts to document and protect it and strengthen its presence across the Arab world.
The Salt Historical Museum was listed in recognition of its architectural, historical and heritage importance, as part of efforts to highlight the distinctiveness of Jordan’s cultural heritage and strengthen the presence of heritage sites in regional initiatives to preserve Arab architectural and urban heritage.
The Observatory of Architectural and Urban Heritage in Arab Countries, overseen by the Culture Department at ALECSO, is a specialised Arab initiative for monitoring, documenting and protecting architectural and urban heritage. It has 22 Arab member states. The Observatory works to establish a specialised database of heritage sites and structures, and to receive, evaluate and assess nomination files against defined criteria covering architectural, historical and heritage importance, before they are listed on ALECSO’s register.
The achievement confirms that the Department of Antiquities continues its efforts to protect, document and promote Jordan’s heritage, and to strengthen its presence at Arab and international levels, as an essential part of the national identity and the memory of human civilisation.
