Bio Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah is a mother, a wife, a boss, an advocate, and a humanitarian.
She once said, “I just wake up and feel like a regular person. At the
end of the day you are living your life for the people that you
represent. It’s an honour and a privilege to have that chance to make a
difference – a qualitative difference in people’s lives – and it’s my
responsibility to make the most out of that opportunity.”
For that reason, Queen Rania spends much of her time listening to and
talking with the people of Jordan, to learn from them the best way to
improve their livelihoods and Jordan’s prospects.
Queen Rania spearheads efforts in Jordan to adopt a holistic approach
to national education, encouraging agencies and organizations to work
on classroom quality, teaching standards, computer access, family
involvement, community investment, and health awareness. Through
initiatives, like Madrasati and the Teachers Academy, Queen Rania is
helping Jordan’s children get the best start in life by repairing and
revamping local schools, while inspiring teachers to be their best. She
believes that the power of partnerships between the public, private,
and non-profit sectors is a source of great potential for change in
Jordan’s education system.
The Jordan River Foundation (JRF) is Queen Rania’s NGO that gives a
helping hand to the disadvantaged in Jordan. For over ten years it has
provided families with skills and knowledge to work themselves out of
poverty. Today, it partners with the private sector and entire
communities to bring resources, energy, and change to the lives of
vulnerable citizens, empowering and inspiring them to believe they can
make a difference for themselves and their loved ones. JRF is also
recognized as a leader in the region for its achievements in protecting
children. From rescuing abused children to healing whole families, JRF
is now a centre of excellence, sharing its knowledge and know-how with
others in and outside of the country.
Abroad, Queen Rania works for greater global action on access to
quality education, and in her capacity as Eminent Advocate for UNICEF
and Honorary Chairperson for UNGEI, she campaigns on behalf of children
in need. She also participates in international gatherings, such as the
Clinton Global Initiative and the World Economic Forum, of which she is a
Board Member. As an Arab, Muslim woman, Queen Rania is committed to
reconciling people of different faiths and cultures by encouraging
cross-cultural dialogue, particularly amongst young people.
Her Majesty is author of the New York Times Best Seller, ‘The
Sandwich Swap’, a children’s story about two young girls, Lily and
Salma, who learn the value of diversity by exchanging food at school.
Queen Rania is also the author of two other stories, ‘The King’s Gift’
and ‘Eternal Beauty’.
A keen runner, and seeker of good jogging tunes, Queen Rania enjoys
spending time with her family and friends in Aqaba, where she can relax
and get into a great book. She also makes a mean chocolate chip cookie.
Her Majesty is married to King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of Jordan,
they have 4 children: Prince Hussein, Princess Iman, Princess Salma, and
Prince Hashem.