Located to the north of Irbid city, Umm Qays was historically known as Gadara and was one of the cities of the Decapolis League.

Among the most significant archaeological sites in Umm Qays are the Southern Theater, Northern Theater, Byzantine church, markets, storage rooms, the Roman bath complex, the Octagonal Church, the Basilica Church, the Arched shops, and the Nymphaeum (a public fountain known as The Nymphs’).

In 2022, Umm Qays was selected by the World Tourism Organization as one of the best tourist villages in the world.