UNESCO seeks to promote the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage throughout the world that are of great value to humanity.

These sites give the status of World Heritage, which recognizes the need to protect and preserve this heritage for future generations. The situation symbolizes the collective ownership and responsibility of this heritage, and, in addition,

, UNESCO provides ongoing support to the Department of Antiquities in the form of capacity-building and training in the management and protection of heritage sites.

There are five Jordanian sites included in the World Heritage List, namely Petra, Qusayr Amra, M. Umm al-Rasas, Wadi Rum, and al-Magtas have been signed and there are 16 other sites on the preliminary list.