This arched bridge is part of an aqueduct that carried water from the Zurrabah water reservoir (which is located near the Petra Museum) to a big cistern beside the Palace monument. The aqueduct is part of the spring water supply system, which is very sophisticated and covers the entire area of the city basin, bringing spring water from the east, south, and north into the city by using locally manufactured terracotta pipes. This system provided the daily drinking water needs of Petra. The arch has a span of 7 meters, and the top of the bridge reaches 20 meters above the bottom of Wadi Sha`ab Qais. It is the only preserved arched bridge in Petra’s entire city area. The construction of the Wadi Sha`ab Qais bridge showcases their advanced knowledge and skills in water management. It is likely that the bridge was built in the mid-first century BC. 

And it is worth mentioning that, the Nabataeans were masters of water management; therefore, they invented different water engineering techniques and systems to supply their city with water. The city of Petra reached its peak of prosperity during the first century BC and the first century AD.

The Nabataean hydraulic systems installations in Petra include agricultural field terraces, aqueducts, channels, cisterns, dams, wadi barriers, and fountains.