Their mastery of water management enabled the people of Petra to cultivate crops, rear camels, and build a commercial center whose tradesmen grew rich on the frankincense and myrrh that passed through their hands.
Keahlian mengelola pengairan tersebut memungkinkan penduduk Petra menanam palawija, beternak unta, dan membangun pusat bisnis yang menghasilkan banyak keuntungan dari para pedagang kemenyan dan mur.