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AMMAN — Chief Commissioner of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) Fares Braizat on Tuesday presented a sculpture representing Ad-Deir (The Monastery), one of Petra’s most iconic landmarks, to the management of Alhambra Palace in Spain.
The unveiling, part of a broader promotional initiative, took place during a formal ceremony held at the main entrance of the Alhambra Visitor Centre in Granada, Andalusia, according to a PDTRA statement.
The sculpture has been installed at the palace entrance, where it will be viewed by the Alhambra’s 2.6 million annual visitors (2024 figure).
The initiative aims to raise awareness about Petra and promote the site as a global tourism destination, while counteracting the impact of regional instability on travel patterns.
HH Prince Firas bin Raad and HH Princess Dana Firas, president of the Petra National Trust for the Preservation of Petra and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Heritage, as well as senior officials from the Spanish government and representatives of Granada’s cultural and heritage institutions attended the ceremony.
In her remarks, Princess Dana stressed the importance of boosting cooperation between two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, underscoring the shared responsibility for the preservation and promotion of global heritage.
Braizat said that this initiative reflects the vision of Their Majesties the Kings of Jordan and Spain to “deepen” bilateral relations across various domains.
“The twinning between Petra and the Alhambra is a pioneering model of integrated marketing, heritage protection, and site management. It strengthens the global profile of both cities as unique cultural destinations and facilitates mutual promotion through collaborative efforts,” Braizat said.
Director of the Alhambra Palace Rodrigo Carreras described the agreement as a “tangible” step towards expanding cultural and tourism cooperation between Jordan and Spain.
Following the unveiling ceremony, the Jordanian delegation toured the Alhambra complex to explore Spain’s “advanced” practices in heritage site management, including visitor flow regulation, conservation strategies, sustainable operations, and cultural outreach, according to the statement.
Discussions also addressed activating the partnership through training programmes, exchange initiatives, and joint marketing campaigns targeting international tourism markets and showcasing shared heritage narratives.
The Monastery sculpture, now standing at the palace’s main entrance, was hand-carved by Jordanian artists from Petra, and embodies the architectural and civilizational depth of the ancient Nabataean city and stands as a symbol of friendship and collaboration between the Jordanian and Spanish peoples.
