The B'doul tribe is perhaps the biggest Bedouin tribe in Petra. They used to live in Petra and claim to be descended from the Nabataeans. They lived in the caves for over 170 years. Petra became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the mid-1980s.

The tribe historically and currently most associated with the ancient city of Petra is the Bdul (or B’doul) tribe. For centuries, members of this Bedouin tribe lived within the caves and ancient structures of the Nabataean city itself. However, in the mid-1980s, the Jordanian government, in collaboration with UNESCO, relocated the majority of the Bdul families to the purpose-built village of Umm Sayhoun, located just above the archaeological site. This move was intended to preserve the ruins and facilitate the site's status as a UNESCO World Heritage destination. Despite the relocation, the Bdul people maintain a strong presence within Petra; many work as tour guides, sell handicrafts and jewelry, or provide camel and donkey rides to visitors. They consider themselves the "guardians of Petra" and claim direct ancestral links to the Nabataeans who originally carved the city. Their deep knowledge of the complex desert terrain, hidden paths, and local history remains an integral part of the visitor experience, even as they balance their traditional nomadic heritage with the modern demands of international tourism.