Bedul

The Bedul (Arabic: البدول, also transcribed Bdul, Badul, Bedoul, B'doul or Budul) is a small Bedouin tribe residing in the vicinity of Petra, Jordan. The origins of their name suggest a possible conversion to Islam at a later period, with scholars proposing Jewish or Nabatean ancestry based on oral traditions. Early 20th-century accounts depict their nomadic lifestyle, traditions, and conflicts with the dominant Liyathnah tribe.

In the 1980s, the Jordanian government forcibly relocated the Bedul from Petra, establishing the nearby Umm Sayhoun as a permanent settlement for them. While this relocation improved access to education and healthcare, it also curtailed their traditional agricultural activities. This led to a greater reliance on tourism for income, although they still practice goat herding and cereal farming.

The Bedul are part of the Bedu tribes in Petra and Wadi Rum whose cultural heritage and traditional expertise were recognized by UNESCO, listed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2005, officially inscribed in 2008.