The Queen of Jordan: More Than an Ornament

Rania Al Abdullah, Queen of Jordan

Born in 1970 in Kuwait to Palestinian parents, Rania, wife of King Abdullah II has been his Queen since 1999. Her concerns at home include environmental matters, health, education, youth and human rights.  She looks to ‘Righting the wrongs of the country and helping the people have better lives’. Much more than a royal ornament, Rania has made a good stand against terrorism and spoke eloquently after the bombings in Amman.

Her first venture was the establishment of the Jordan River Foundation (1995), an NGO which places the welfare of children above political considerations and social taboos. In 2002, Queen Rania was appointed as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Foundation Board, became a member of the UN Foundation Board of Governors four years later and Chair of the UN Girls Education Initiative in 2009. She is UNICEF’s advocate for children.

“She looks to ‘Righting the wrongs of the country and helping the people have better lives’.”

After receiving a Business Administration Degree, Rania took up posts in Amman at Citibank and Apple. She is a respected author who writes mainly for children and in May 2010 topped the New York Times Best Seller List (Children’s Books).