As an educator, human rights activist, and woman of grace and style, Her Majesty Queen Rania of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is one of many prominent women in the Arab World. As a result of her leadership, Jordan has achieved international prominence in refugee assistance, youth empowerment, public health, education, and public health.
Her majesty didn’t grow up in royalty and came from humble beginnings – she was born in 1970 to Palestinian parents from a West Bank town. Having grown up mostly in Kuwait City, she later obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the American University in Cairo, Egypt. As a result of the first Gulf War, Queen Rania and her family were forced to leave Kuwait and settle in Jordan, where she pursued her career in technology and business. Her relationship with the current King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein of Jordan began at a coworker’s dinner party. After two months of dating, they got engaged and married in June 1993.
Princess Rania did not anticipate becoming queen in the six years following her marriage to Prince Abdullah II. On his deathbed in 1999, King Hussein bin Talal unexpectedly named his son Abdullah as his heir. He was followed by Abdullah and Rania, respectively, as King and Queen of Jordan. She was 28 years old and one of the youngest queens in history.
Even though Queen Rania has a background in technology, she has focused on education as her primary agenda. To encourage private sector investment and reform in education, the queen has worked with the Ministry of Education and established a number of educational initiatives of her own, such as the Queen Rania Teachers Academy and Madrasati.
As an Honorary Global Chair of both the United Nations Education Initiative and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), she has been recognized internationally for her work on behalf of youth and education. A champion of the 1Goal education campaign, she even wrote a New York Times-bestselling children’s book, The Sandwich Swap, based on her childhood stories. Frequently speaking at international conferences and appearing on television, she has been named one of Forbes magazine’s 100 most powerful women.
The Queen of Jordan embodies grace, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to making a positive difference today. Her dedication to education, women’s empowerment, and peacebuilding has inspired hope and ignited change in countless lives. By virtue of her exceptional character, she redefined royalty’s role in the 21st century, leaving behind a remarkable legacy that will continue to shape the world in the years to come.
