Baraka Destinations: Hadab Making Workshop in Umm Qais

A small tassel carries a big story. At Beit Al Baraka in Umm Qais, you learn Hadab, also called Tahdeeb, the traditional skill of adding tassels to the sides of Jordan’s Keffiyeh. I like the personal scale of this 90-minute workshop and the fact that you take home a bookmark made with your own hands. The main consideration is that transportation to Beit Al Baraka is not included, so you need to arrange your own way there.

I also like that the session focuses on a craft kept mainly by older generations, rather than a quick souvenir demonstration. You work alongside a local woman, enjoy a refreshing drink, and get a private group setting. Children under 10 cannot join, and the activity may feel too specialized if you want a broad tour of Umm Qais rather than one careful craft lesson.

Key points about the Hadab workshop

• A traditional Keffiyeh craft: Learn Hadab, the tasseling technique used along the sides of Jordan’s iconic headdress.
• A bookmark you make yourself: Practice the method on a sample bookmark, then take it home as a useful souvenir.
• A local woman as your guide: Receive instruction from someone connected to a craft preserved mainly by older generations.
• A small private setting: The activity is arranged for a private group, giving you room to work at your own pace.
• A simple 90-minute plan: The workshop fits neatly into a day exploring Umm Qais, with time for a drink while you work.
• A clear $30 value: The fee covers the guided activity and refreshments, but not transportation to Beit Al Baraka.

Why Hadab matters beyond the tassel

Hadab is the process of making the tassels attached to the sides of the Keffiyeh. The skill is also called Tahdeeb, so do not be confused if you hear both names during the session. They refer to the same traditional art described for this workshop.

The Keffiyeh is more than a piece of clothing in Jordan. It is an instantly recognizable part of local dress, and the tassels give its edges a finished, distinctive look. By learning this small part of the process, you gain a closer view of the work behind an object you may otherwise see only as a symbol or souvenir.

I appreciate the choice of a bookmark for practice. A full Keffiyeh would require far more time and patience, while a bookmark gives you a manageable piece of material to work on during a 90-minute visit. You get to try the technique without needing advanced sewing or craft experience.

The workshop also preserves a skill that is becoming less common. The activity notes that Hadab is mainly kept alive by older generations, which gives the lesson added importance. You are not simply making a decorative item. You are helping keep a small piece of local knowledge in use.

Arriving at Beit Al Baraka in Umm Qais

Your meeting point is Beit Al Baraka, a bed and breakfast in the heart of Umm Qais village. The name translates as house of blessings, an appropriate setting for a workshop built around hospitality, local work, and a shared drink.

You will need to get yourself to Beit Al Baraka. Transportation to and from the property is not part of the $30 price, so plan this before booking. You are also asked to provide your preferred time for the experience, and the available starting times depend on the schedule for your chosen date.

Beit Al Baraka has six bedrooms. Five are double rooms for up to two people, while one Family Room can accommodate up to four people and includes an en-suite bathroom. You do not need to stay overnight to join the workshop, but the lodging helps explain why this location feels more like a local home base than a formal activity center.

The bed and breakfast is also known for breakfast prepared by local women from the village. They come in each morning to cook the dishes. That detail gives you a sense of the property’s wider connection to the community, though breakfast is not listed as part of this workshop.

Meeting a local craftswoman

The central part of the visit is instruction from a local woman who guides you through Hadab. Her name is not provided, so you should not expect a named guide in advance. The important point is that your teacher is presented as a local practitioner guiding you through a craft passed down through older generations.

That personal instruction is one of the strongest reasons to choose this activity. A museum display can show you a Keffiyeh, but it cannot give you the feel of working its tassels through your own fingers. Here, you can watch the technique, ask questions in English or Arabic, and repeat the steps on your bookmark.

The language options make the session practical for many visitors. The instructor speaks English and Arabic, and the private group format should make it easier to ask for another explanation when a step feels fiddly. The supplied information does not promise translation into any other language.

Expect the workshop to reward patience more than speed. Tasseling is a small-scale craft, so the work may require attention to the arrangement and finish of the threads. If you enjoy making things carefully, the narrow focus is a plus. If you prefer fast-moving activities, 90 minutes spent on one technique may feel long.

Making your own bookmark

You practice Hadab on a sample bookmark that you can take home. This is the most tangible part of the activity, and it gives the session a clear beginning and end: learn the method, work on the piece, and leave with something you made.

The bookmark is a smart souvenir for several reasons. It is small enough to pack easily, it has a practical use, and it records your own participation rather than simply carrying a purchased design. You can also photograph the work as you go, which is why bringing a camera is recommended.

Do not expect a factory-perfect item. The value lies in learning the technique and seeing how the tassels are formed. Small variations in your finished bookmark are part of its story. You made it during a local workshop in Umm Qais, and that matters more than an identical finish.

The activity description does not specify the bookmark’s color, material, or final design. Those details may vary, so avoid booking with a fixed picture in mind. The reliable promise is that you will practice Hadab on a sample bookmark and take that bookmark home.

A refreshing drink during the work

A refreshing drink is included while you work. It is a modest detail, but it suits the pace of the session. You can pause, look at your progress, and continue without the workshop feeling like a purely instructional appointment.

The drink also adds to the welcome at Beit Al Baraka. This is not a large group production with a line of visitors moving through. It is a private activity with time for conversation and careful work. The refreshment is part of that relaxed setting.

The exact drink is not specified. If you have dietary or drink-related needs, ask when you arrange your preferred time. Do not assume that a full meal is included, because only refreshments are listed as part of the workshop.

Is $30 a fair price?

At $30 per person, the workshop costs more than a simple souvenir purchase, but that is not the right comparison. You are paying for a 90-minute private activity, direct instruction from a local woman, the materials and practice piece, and a refreshing drink.

I consider the price reasonable if you value personal contact and hands-on learning. You leave with a bookmark, but the main product is the understanding of how Hadab is done. That makes the fee easier to justify than buying a finished tassel item without learning anything about it.

The value is less convincing if you only want a quick photograph or a standard shopping stop. The activity gives you one focused craft lesson, not a full tour of Umm Qais, a meal, or transportation. You should choose it because you want to spend time making something.

The private group arrangement improves the value for couples, families with older children, and small groups of friends. You are not paying for a large shared class with strangers. At the same time, the minimum age is 10, so families with younger children will need another plan for them.

How to fit the workshop into your Umm Qais day

The 90-minute length makes the workshop easy to place within a visit to Umm Qais. You can request a preferred start time, subject to availability, then plan your other activities around that appointment.

Because the workshop takes place at Beit Al Baraka in the village, allow enough time to reach the meeting point. Transportation is your responsibility, and the activity does not include pickup or return travel. The supplied information does not give a recommended arrival time, so confirming the meeting details in advance is sensible.

You should also consider your energy and interests for the day. After spending time on sightseeing, a seated craft workshop can provide a welcome change of pace. If your schedule is already packed, though, the fixed 90-minute session may require more planning than a quick stop.

Bring a camera. You may want photographs of the setting, the work in progress, and your finished bookmark. The activity does not list any special equipment or clothing requirements.

Who will enjoy this workshop most?

I would recommend this for anyone who wants a quieter cultural activity with a real skill at its center. It suits you especially well if you like textiles, traditional dress, local handicrafts, or souvenirs with a personal story.

It is also a good match for visitors who prefer private experiences. You can work within your own group and receive guidance in English or Arabic. The format should appeal to couples, small groups, and families with children aged 10 or older.

The workshop may not suit you if your main goal is to see as many sights as possible in a short time. It also may not be right for children under 10, who are specifically not permitted. Anyone who dislikes careful handwork may find the narrow focus less rewarding.

You should also know what is not included. There is no transportation, and the listed inclusion is refreshments rather than breakfast or a full meal. Beit Al Baraka serves breakfast for its bed and breakfast visitors, but that is separate from this activity.

Booking, timing, and cancellation details

You need to provide your preferred time when arranging the experience. Starting times are subject to availability, so it is wise to choose a time that works with your plans in Umm Qais rather than leaving the workshop until the last minute.

The activity is offered as a private group experience. The available instruction languages are English and Arabic, and the listed duration is 90 minutes.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now-and-pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying at the time of booking, which is useful when your Jordan itinerary is still changing.

Should you book the Hadab workshop?

Book it if you want a personal connection to Jordanian craft and like the idea of learning by doing. The local instruction, private format, included drink, and handmade bookmark make this a thoughtful addition to a day in Umm Qais.

Skip it if you want a broad village tour, transport, or a full meal. The workshop is deliberately narrow and hands-on. For the right visitor, that focus is its strength: you spend 90 minutes learning one traditional technique and leave with a small souvenir that you made yourself.

FAQ

Where does the Hadab workshop take place?

The workshop takes place at Beit Al Baraka, a bed and breakfast in the heart of Umm Qais village in Jordan’s Irbid Governorate.

How long does the workshop last?

The activity lasts 90 minutes.

How much does the experience cost?

The price is $30 per person.

What will I learn?

You will learn Hadab, also called Tahdeeb, the traditional skill of adding tassels to the sides of the Keffiyeh.

Do I take anything home?

Yes. You practice the technique on a sample bookmark, which you can take home as a souvenir.

Are refreshments included?

Yes. A refreshing drink is included while you work on your Hadab creation.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation to and from Beit Al Baraka is not included.

What languages does the instructor speak?

The instructor speaks English and Arabic.

Can children join the workshop?

Children under 10 years old are not suitable for this activity.