Amman: - Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Makram Al-Qaisi lauded the inclusion of the archaeological site of Umm al-Jimal as the 7th Jordanian site on the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) World Heritage List. Speaking at a press briefing held on Sunday at the Ministry of Government Communication, Al-Qaisi said that the inclusion of Umm al-Jimal on UNESCO's World Heritage List is a new milestone that reflects the historical uniqueness of the Kingdom and the Hashemite care for the country's heritage, as it is not only a recognition of the site's historical importance but also reflects the vision of the wise Hashemite leadership that always seeks to enhance the Kingdom's position on the global level. In the briefing, attended by Minister of Government Communications and Government Spokesperson Muhannad Mubaideen and a group of stakeholders, Al-Qaisi added, "The inclusion of the Umm al-Jimal archaeological site on the World Heritage List is the first step and will be followed by many steps to develop the site, raise it to global levels, and develop infrastructure and other facilities," stressing the ministry's diligent efforts to raise the level of services at the site. "Jordan is the kingdom of time, the cradle of civilizations and the guardian of history, and we Jordanians should be proud of the historical and tourist archaeological sites in our beloved kingdom," he said. "The inclusion of Umm al-Jimal on the World Heritage List and other Jordanian sites such as Petra, Qusayr Umrah, Umm Al-Rasas, Wadi Rum, Al-Maghtas (the baptism site), and Salt are of great importance in raising the site to global levels, as the site has become a global value that transcends borders. Umm al-Jimal is the seventh site to be included on the list and the fifth during the reign of King Abdullah II," Al-Qaisi added. "The city of Umm al-Jimal is a cradle of civilizations, as many civilizations passed through it throughout the ages, from Nabataean and Roman to Byzantine and Islamic," he said, noting that there are inscriptions in Umm al-Jimal that have no equivalent in the world. Source: Jordan News Agency