Safawi, Azraq, Sept. 5 (Petra) -- Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Saturday visited the "Blessed Tree" site in Safawi and the Restoration of the Al Azraq Oasis Wetlands Project as part of his field inspection tours of the Kingdom's governorates.
Hassan directed the launch of a project to develop tourism, environmental, and historical sites in eastern Jordan, aiming to strengthen their presence on the national tourism map.
The prime minister was briefed on the project, which forms part of government efforts to develop the national tourism product and make the most of the Kingdom's unique natural and environmental diversity, as well as its wealth of historical, archaeological, religious, and cultural assets. The initiative aims to enrich visitors' experiences, develop local communities, and strengthen the tourism sector's contribution to the national economy and economic activity in the governorates.
The project to develop tourism sites in eastern Jordan covers the Shaumari Wildlife Reserve, the Al-Dahek Nature Reserve in the northeastern Badia, Qasr Amra, Qasr Kharana and Azraq Castle, in addition to the Azraq Wetland Reserve, the Restoration of the Al Azraq Oasis Wetlands being implemented by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), and the Blessed Tree (Sahabi Tree, or the Tree of al-Buqayawiyya) area in Safawi.
The project aims to establish an integrated tourism destination in eastern Jordan, linking the oasis, natural and environmental reserves, desert castles, and historical, religious, and geological sites through new and integrated tourism routes and experiences.
Developing tourism sites in eastern Jordan will contribute to expanding and increasing tourism routes across the Kingdom and turning them into opportunities for development and investment, thereby supporting the development impact and benefiting local communities.
At the Azraq Reserve, the northern Azraq oases have been revived through the construction of four new pools designed to resemble the original oases naturally. Native fish species will be reintroduced, while an environmental camp managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature will be established, along with an ecological park for Azraq residents, tourists, and visitors. The park will host various recreational activities and arts and crafts within the reserve.
The project also includes reviving the palm forest in the castle area and connecting it to the wetland oasis, following the Cabinet's approval to expand the environmental reserve in Azraq. Some 1,200 palm trees have been planted, and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature has been tasked with developing and managing the tourism and development project.
The government adopted the Restoration of the Al Azraq Oasis Wetlands project based on the comprehensive plan for the town of Azraq drawn up in 2015, which was recently approved and implemented by the government. The plan also includes expanding and preparing industrial, handicraft, and commercial opportunities in Azraq and expanding the ecotourism product to provide income and employment opportunities for local residents, whose population exceeds 15,000. The project is expected to open to visitors before the end of next March.
The government will renovate the road leading to the "Blessed Tree" to facilitate access for tourists and visitors and provide the site with essential services.
The government has also illuminated all the desert castles at night to make them more attractive to travelers, particularly as they are located along the Omari-Saudi Arabia route.
Tourism sites in eastern Jordan have attracted international attention for decades because of their heritage value. Qasr Amra has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, while Azraq was added to the UNESCO Tentative List in 2007 as a mixed site of natural and cultural value. "Northern Azraq Village" was named among the world's best tourism villages in 2025, while Azraq Oasis is considered the first wetland reserve in the Arab world and the 13th globally to be designated under the Ramsar Convention.
The development of tourism sites in eastern Jordan comes as the government continues to implement other tourism development projects across the kingdom. These include the Jerash Eco-Tourism Village project; the rehabilitation and development of the archaeological site of Umm Qais and Tell Irbid in northern Jordan; the Yarmouk Eco-Tourism Project and Al-Araies Pool; and tourism development projects in Karak, including the cable car project.
Other projects in southern Jordan include Wadi Bin Hammad, the Al-Baraka site, and the Karak Gate, as well as the fully completed development of the archaeological Qatrana Castle. Work is also continuing on procedures to implement the Amman Cable Car project.
Hassan was accompanied on the visit by Minister of Public Works and Housing Maher Abul Samen and a number of officials.
//Petra// AF
