Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah (formerly Rania Al-Yasin) was born in Kuwait on August 31, 1970 to a notable Jordanian family of Palestinian origin.
She completed her primary and secondary education in Kuwait, and in 1991 obtained a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the American University in Cairo.
Upon her graduation from university, Queen Rania returned to Jordan and pursued a career in banking, followed by a brief career in the field of Information Technology.
His Majesty
King Abdullah bin Al-Hussein (then Prince) married Queen Rania
on June 10, 1993. They have three children: HRH Prince Hussein, born June 28,
1994; HRH Princess Iman, born September 27, 1996; and HRH Princess Salma, born
September 26, 2000.
After her marriage to then Prince Abdullah, Queen Rania channeled her energies
behind initiatives that aim to improve the livelihood of Jordanians from various
sectors of society.
As First Lady, Queen Rania's activities encompass issues of national concern, such as the environment, youth, human rights, tourism, and culture, among others. She also has a special interest in several core issues: the development of income-generating projects and the advancement of best practices in the field of microfinance, the promotion of family safety and the protection of children from violence, the promotion of Early Childhood Development, and the incorporation of Information Technology into the educational system; and the promotion of tourism and the preservation of Jordan’s heritage.
Queen Rania is currently President of the Arab Women’s Summit, a rotating position she will assume until November 2004. The Queen assumed presidency during the Second Arab Women’s Summit held in Amman in November 2002, which brought together Arab First Ladies as well as experts and activists committed to the advancement of women across the Arab World, to openly discuss the challenges and aspirations of women in the region and to further activate their role in the sustainable development of their communities.
In September 2002, Queen Rania accepted an invitation by the World Economic Forum (WEF) Foundation Board to join as a member. In January 2003, the Queen attended her first meeting as the only serving member from the Arab World. The Queen was invited to become a member of the Board in recognition of her concern for the state of the world and her commitment to engaging in collaborative efforts to meet the challenges of this century.
In November 2000, in recognition of her commitment to the cause of children and youth, the United Nations Children’s Fund invited Queen Rania to join its Global Leadership Initiative. The Queen is working alongside other world leaders, including former South African President Nelson Mandela, in a global movement seeking to improve the welfare of children.
In 2001, Queen Rania became a member of the Board of Directors of The Vaccine Fund, a non-profit organization harnessing resources that seek to provide children in the poorest countries of the world with access to life-saving vaccines. She joins world-famous personalities including Mandela, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, and Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen, among others, to call attention to the need to vaccinate every child, every where.
In early 2002, Queen Rania also became a member of the Board of Directors of the International Youth Foundation, based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. She joins a distinguished group of business, government, and civil society leaders from across the globe to support the work of one of the world's largest public foundations helping young people learn basic life skills and get the education, training, and opportunities they need to succeed.
Queen Rania is Honorary Chair of the Board of Governors of the ‘Pacem in Terris’ Institute of La Roche College, which offers scholarships to outstanding students from developing countries. Some of Jordan’s brightest students are amongst the recipients of this prestigious award.
She is also Honorary President of the Arab Academy for Banking and Financial Sciences (AABFS), a pioneering institute in the region offering technical and academic training in banking and financial services.
Queen Rania is also Honorary President of the Arab Women Labor Affairs Committee of the Arab Labor Organization.
The Queen is Patron of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), and in October 2001 was awarded the prestigious Italian Government-sponsored Life Achievement Award in recognition of her efforts for the international cause of osteoporosis.
She is President of the Jordan Society for Organ Donation and the Jordan Cancer Society.
On July 12, 2001, Queen Rania was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom.
She is fluent in Arabic and English, and has a working knowledge of French.