UNESCO Warns of Rising Flood Risks to Jordan’s Petra Site

UNESCO Warns of Rising Flood Risks to Jordan’s Petra Site
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A 2025 report by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has warned that climate-related water risks are increasingly threatening World Heritage sites, including Jordan’s ancient city of Petra. The report highlights growing dangers from flash floods, prolonged droughts and water stress linked to climate change.

According to the study, prepared in cooperation with the World Resources Institute, 73% of World Heritage sites worldwide now face a high level of water-related risk, while about one quarter are exposed to multiple overlapping threats. Experts say these risks are no longer theoretical and represent an urgent international concern.

The report identifies the Middle East and North Africa as among the most vulnerable regions due to irregular rainfall patterns and mounting pressure on natural resources. Petra was cited as a key example of a site combining exceptional cultural value with increasing environmental fragility, as sudden floods pose a direct threat to its rock structures, visitor safety and tourism sustainability.

While noting the Nabataeans’ historic achievements in water management, specialists stressed that changing rainfall patterns and stronger flood events require modernized systems and scientific solutions. The report welcomed existing measures such as early warning systems but called for stronger integrated water management linked to tourism planning and heritage protection to safeguard Petra’s future.