As-Salt: The Place of Tolerance and Urban Hospitality - a UNESCO World Heritage Site

    Amman – Under the patronage of HRH Princess Dana Firas – President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS-Jordan), President of the National Society for the Preservation of Petra, and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Heritage – ICOMOS Jordan, in cooperation with the National Society for the Conservation of Petra, held a symposium entitled “Salt on the The World Heritage List” on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, at the headquarters of the Cultural Center – Beit Yaish, following the inclusion of the city of Salt – the sixth Jordanian heritage site on the World Heritage List.

    HRH Princess Dana Firas inaugurated the symposium by thanking the work team who prepared the file and worked to make it a success. Her Highness also expressed her happiness and pride in this national achievement. Her Highness explained the importance of the inclusion in preserving cultural heritage in the first place and responsible development that preserves the exceptional values of the site. Her highness also mentioned the importance of implementing world heritage charters and sound management that maintains the sustainability of the site.

    The seminar included the following posts:

    • The stages of preparing the nomination file of the city of Salt on the World Heritage List, the architect Lina Abu Salim, Director of the Development Projects Management Unit in the Municipality of Salt, and Secretary of ICOMOS Jordan Association.
    • The vision and nomination file of the city of Salt on the World Heritage List, Dr. Rami Daher, associate professor at the German Jordanian University and director of the Heritage Office for Studies and Design, and head of the Scientific Research and Publication Committee at ICOMOS Jordan.
    • Al-Salt City Architecture, Architect Ranwa Al-Khatib.
    • Comparative Analysis, Mr. Jihad Haroun, Assistant Director of the American Center for Research, and a member of a public body in ICOMOS Jordan.

    The symposium concluded by answering the attendees’ inquiries and questions about the file and future plans. The workshop was attended by more than thirty researchers and academics interested in the field of cultural heritage from members of the General Authority of the Petra Conservation Society and ICOMOS Jordan, and representatives from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the General Department of Antiquities and the Greater Salt Municipality.