The astonishing basalt city of Um Al Jimal will be experiencing a major facelift this fall. The Department of Antiquities (DoA) is going ahead with establishing an on site museum to exhibit the treasures of what is known as the black gem of the Eastern Badia.

The three room structured museum will be equipped with electricity, water and other utilities and it will be highlighting the Nabataea, Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad eras of this 2000-year old site. The museum will also have a fully equipped visitors’ centre with restroom facilities and a café.
 
With the opening of the museum in October, the Municipality of Um Al Jimal and the Mafraq Cultural Directorate will be hosting a festival to display the treasures of the Nabataea town-turned-Roman outpost.

Um Al Jimal city has been nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list and is currently being threatened by urban expansion.