jordan pulse -

By Talal Al-Sukar Al-Adwan – Orouba News

In a city that has embraced the sun for millennia, on land that once cradled empires and became a beacon for thought and beauty, the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts returns in 2025 for its 39th edition, once again blending authenticity with innovation and past with present—making it one of the most prominent cultural and artistic events in the Middle East.

Since its inception in 1981, the festival has enjoyed royal patronage, a tradition upheld by His Majesty King Abdullah II and previously by the late King Hussein, affirming the belief that culture and the arts are vital pillars of Jordan’s national identity and progress. This continued royal support has been a protective and developmental force behind the festival, helping it flourish into a rare creative platform that showcases Jordan’s civilized and humanistic image to the world.

The 2025 edition builds on this deep royal vision and is brought to life by the skillful and insightful leadership of the festival’s Executive Director Ayman Samawi, a seasoned cultural figure whose contributions have transformed Jerash into a comprehensive experience. Samawi’s cultural vision, national commitment, and long-standing expertise have elevated the festival to a balance of entertainment and purpose, artistic depth and popular appeal, historical richness and future-forward thinking.

Far more than a manager, Samawi is a cultural architect, reshaping Jordan’s artistic scene from the heart of its ancient city. His leadership is evident in the way the festival attracted leading regional stars, supported rising Jordanian talents, and offered a mosaic of poetry, theater, visual arts, and intellectual dialogue.

Meanwhile, the festival’s media committee played a critical and commendable role in crafting an image worthy of Jerash’s cultural stature. With a highly professional team, the committee delivered real-time, comprehensive, and creative coverage, combining traditional and digital media to give the festival widespread regional reach and interactivity that extended well beyond physical attendance.

Rooted in the historic city once known as "Gerasa" during Roman times—a city that remained a center of thought, commerce, and art across eras—the festival rejuvenates the spirit of Jerash in a modern cultural form, positioning Jordan as a beacon of creativity in the Arab East. This achievement would not have been possible without institutional support, led by royal patronage, which has, over the decades, been the cornerstone of the festival’s growth and appeal.

Jerash Festival 2025 has proven once again that Jordanian culture is not only rooted in its past but alive in its present and capable of shaping its future. From the southern Roman amphitheater, where voices of Arab unity rise with rhythm and harmony, Jordan once again proclaimed its message of beauty, intellect, and enlightenment.

As the curtain draws near on this remarkable edition, voices of gratitude rise, especially for Executive Director Ayman Samawi, whose visionary leadership showed that culture is best led with the mindset of a nation-builder, not bureaucratic routine. The media committee, too, deserves applause for its masterful portrayal of an ever-shining Jordan.

Thus, the Jerash Festival—under Hashemite patronage, visionary management, and mindful media—remains a powerful reminder:
This is Jordan... and its glory endures.