Ammon News - The Petra National Trust held a ceremony on Monday evening to honour the winners of the 2025 Heritage Award sponsored by President of the Petra National Trust and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Heritage Princess Dana Firas.

Launched in partnership with the European Union Delegation, Jordan Kuwait Bank and Saeed Samih Darwazeh, the award recognises outstanding individual and community efforts in preserving and promoting Jordan's cultural heritage.

It highlights creativity, innovation and best practices in heritage conservation as essential components of maintaining national identity.

Now in its second edition, the award attracted nearly 140 submissions from across the Kingdom, reflecting strong nationwide engagement.

Princess Dana Firas praised the winners, "You are living examples of what can be achieved when inspiration meets perseverance," highlighting their contributions across fields such as research, conservation, community development and innovation.

She expressed deep appreciation for the "serious and courageous efforts" that keep heritage alive not only as a legacy of the past, but as a source of pride, learning and hope for future generations.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Imad Hijazin described Jordan's historical sites, archaeological landmarks and living traditions as a "priceless human treasure," underscoring the national and historical responsibility to protect them.

European Union Ambassador to Jordan Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas, Head of the Middle East Unit at the European Commission, emphasised the EU’s strong partnership with the Petra National Trust.

They noted that supporting initiatives like the Heritage Award reflects the EU’s commitment to global heritage preservation and sustainable development in Jordan.

Jordan Kuwait Bank CEO Haitham Battikhi reaffirmed the bank's sponsorship for the second consecutive year, highlighting its belief in the importance of safeguarding Jordan's cultural and civilisational legacy.

Each of the four winners received a cash prize of JOD10,000 and a certificate recognising their exceptional contributions to cultural heritage.

2025 Heritage Award Winners:
Preservation and Adaptation: Sharif Hussein bin Ali House Museum Project – Bitar Consulting, Engineering and Project Management Company
Research and Innovation: Khararif Project – Hala Dheeb
Community Participation: Ana Sawti Project – Tajalla Foundation
Climate Change and Heritage: Climate Risk Monitoring Using Artificial Intelligence – Engineer Safwan Abdel Aal
The ceremony was attended by several members of the Royal Family, along with officials, diplomats and cultural figures.