Al-Dara is a plot of land about 73,000 sq.m of hillside located in the northeast of Wadi Musa, leading down to the entrance of the archeological Park of Petra. Al-Dara land is owned by over 300 landlords of local Wadi Mosa’s origin, and it is unique for its stonewalled terraces planted with indigenous trees and crops. Al-Dara is considered a buffer zone between Petra in the west and Wadi Musa town in the east.

In recognition of the landowners’ former development rights, gained by prior classification of their lands in class (c) residential housing, and keeping in mind the environmentally sensitive situation of the site, PRPC, MOTA (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities) and World Bank sought after an equitable solution that balances between these two critical issues in a proper manner.

The idea was to develop a package of regulations, guidelines and legal model that prescribes a Master Plan for a tourist project in the form of a traditional vernacular village with a variety of light tourist functions.

The main objective of Al-Dara Project is to buffer the archaeological site of Petra, according to the UNESCO criteria for world heritage sites, by creating a valuable visual identity preserving, historic vernacular character and environmental resources; and trying to achieve the responsible balance between preservation concerns and the development of sustainable tourism for the benefit of Petra and its people.

Our work included an environmental impact study, an economic feasibility study, a legal study and un-urban, and special zoning / building regulations study.