Queen Rania of Jordan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rania |
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Rania in 2018
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| Queen consort of Jordan | |||||
| Tenure | 7 February 1999 – present | ||||
| Proclamation | 22 March 1999 | ||||
| Born | Rania Al-Yassin 31 August 1970 Kuwait City, Kuwait |
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| Father | Faisal Al-Yassin | ||||
| Mother | Ilham Yassin | ||||
| Religion | Islam | ||||
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Rania Al Abdullah (born Rania Al-Yassin, 31 August 1970) is the Queen of Jordan. She is married to King Abdullah II. Queen Rania works on many important projects. These include improving education, supporting young people, protecting the environment, and promoting health. Around the world, she speaks up for education and helps people from different cultures understand each other. She has also written three children's books.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Rania Al-Yassin was born on August 31, 1970, in Kuwait. Her parents were from Palestine. She went to the New English School in Kuwait. Later, she studied business administration at the American University in Cairo. After college, she worked for a short time at Citibank. Then, she worked for Apple Inc. in Amman, Jordan.
Family Life
Rania met Prince Abdullah bin Al-Hussein at a dinner party in January 1993. They got married on June 10, 1993, at Zahran Palace. Their wedding day was a national holiday in Jordan. Queen Rania and King Abdullah have four children:
- Crown Prince Hussein was born on June 28, 1994. He married Rajwa Al-Saif on June 1, 2023. They have one daughter:
- Princess Iman bint Al Hussein was born on August 3, 2024.
- Princess Iman was born on September 27, 1996. She married Jameel Alexander Thermiótis on March 12, 2023. They have one daughter:
- Amina Thermiótis was born on February 16, 2025.
- Princess Salma was born on September 26, 2000.
- Prince Hashem was born on January 30, 2005.
Abdullah became King on February 7, 1999. Rania was named Queen on March 22, 1999. Queen Rania is a Muslim. She has said that Islam is a religion of peace and kindness.
Queen Rania's Important Work
Since she married, Queen Rania has used her role to help many people. She works on projects in Jordan and around the world.
Helping Jordan's Communities
Improving Education
Queen Rania has started many projects to improve education. She believes that education helps young people get good jobs. She also says it helps people improve their lives. Education is an important way Jordan protects its people.
In July 2005, she and the King started an award for teachers. It is called the Queen Rania Award for Excellence in Education.
The Queen is also in charge of Jordan's first children's museum. It opened in May 2007. In April 2008, she started "Madrasati" ("My School"). This project helps fix up public schools in Jordan. Queen Rania also created a center for educational technology. It uses modern tools to help learning in Jordan.
The Queen Rania Teacher Academy opened in June 2009. It helps teachers learn new skills. The Queen Rania Scholarship Program helps Jordanian students study at universities worldwide.
Supporting Youth and Communities
Queen Rania started the Jordan River Foundation (JRF) in 1995. This group helps children and families.
The Jordan River Children Program works to keep children safe. It helps protect children from abuse. In 2009, Queen Rania called a meeting to discuss how to better protect children.
In 2009, she started the "Ahel Al Himmeh" award. This award celebrates people who help their local communities. Queen Rania also started the Al-Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans in 2003. This fund helps orphans.
She is also a regional ambassador for INJAZ Al-Arab. She has taught classes and talked with young people in many countries. She also helped start INJAZ Al-Arab in other Arab countries. In 2008, she launched a campaign to help one million Arab youth by 2018.
Promoting Health
In 2005, Rania started the Royal Health Awareness Society (RHAS). This group teaches families about healthy eating and exercise. It also teaches about hygiene and the dangers of smoking.
In 2011, the Queen Rania Children's Hospital was built. This hospital helps children in Jordan with complex medical problems. It performs organ transplants and other special operations.
Working on Global Issues
Global Education Efforts
In November 2000, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) asked Rania to join its Global Leadership Initiative. In 2007, she became UNICEF's first Eminent Advocate for Children. In August 2009, Rania became the Honorary Global Chair of the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI).
Queen Rania supports the Global Campaign for Education (GCE). She met with children and women in South Africa in 2009. She also joined First Lady Michelle Obama during a trip to the US in April 2009.
On August 20, 2009, Rania helped launch the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign. She worked with famous footballers at Wembley Stadium in London. This campaign aimed to get all children into school.
Encouraging Cross-Cultural Talks
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Queen Rania often talks about the importance of understanding different cultures and religions. She wants people to be more accepting of each other. She has worked to correct wrong ideas about the Arab world in the West.
She has spoken at many important events, like the Jeddah Economic Forum. She also appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in May 2006. There, she talked about common misunderstandings about Islam and women in Islam.
In September 2006, Rania joined the United Nations Foundation board. This group helps the UN solve global problems.
Supporting Small Businesses
In September 2003, Rania joined the board of directors for the Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA).
She believes in microfinance, which gives small loans to people to start businesses. As an ambassador for the UN's International Year of Microcredit in 2005, her work with FINCA has helped many Jordanians start their own small businesses.
Protecting the Environment
In October 2020, Rania became a member of the Earthshot Prize Council. This group, started by Prince William, looks for ways to solve environmental problems.
Using Social Media
YouTube Channel
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Queen Rania uses YouTube to encourage talks between different cultures. She started her own YouTube channel on March 30, 2008. She asked people to send her questions about the Middle East, Arabs, and Muslims. She then posted videos answering these questions. She talked about topics like stereotypes and the rights of Arab women.
In 2008, Rania also took part in YouTube's "In My Name" campaign. She appeared in a video with The Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am. The video asked world leaders to keep their promises to end poverty.
Twitter Account
Queen Rania started using Twitter on May 8, 2009, during a visit by Pope Benedict XVI to Jordan. Her username is @QueenRania. In June 2009, she did her first Twitter interview. She answered questions from the public during the World Economic Forum in Jordan.
Other Roles and Positions
Queen Rania helped campaign for Petra to be chosen as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
She holds many important international roles:
- In November 2000, she joined the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Global Leadership Initiative.
- In January 2007, she was named UNICEF's first Eminent Advocate for Children.
- In August 2009, she became a co-founder and global co-chair of 1GOAL.
- In July 2009, the United Nations made her Honorary Chairperson for the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI).
- She is also an honorary chairperson for the Global Campaign for Education.
- Since 2002, she has been on the board of directors for the International Youth Foundation.
- She is a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Foundation Board.
- In September 2006, she joined the United Nations Foundation board of directors.
- She is co-chair of the Arab Open University.
- As of 2024, she is a member of the board of trustees of the World Economic Forum.
Awards and Honours
Queen Rania has received many awards and honours from Jordan and other countries. These recognize her hard work and dedication.
National Honours (Jordan)
Knight Grand Cordon with Collar of the Order of Al-Hussein bin Ali. (June 9, 1999)
Knight Grand Cordon, Special Class of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance (March 6, 2024).
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Foreign Honours
Austria: Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (November 4, 1999).
Bahrain: Star of the Order of Al-Khalifa (November 4, 1999).
Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (May 18, 2016).
Brunei: DK of The Most Esteemed Royal Family Order of Laila Utama (May 13, 2008).
Germany: Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (October 21, 2002).
Italy: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (October 19, 2009).
Japan: Grand Cordon (Paulownia) 1st Class of the Order of the Precious Crown (December 4, 1999).
Montenegro: 1st Class of the Order of the Montenegrin Grand Star (July 23, 2015).
Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (October 30, 2006).
Norway: Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav (March 2, 2000).
Portugal:
- Grand Cross (GCSE) of the Order of Saint James of the Sword (March 16, 2009).
- Grand Cross (GCIH) of the Order of Infante Henry (March 5, 2008).
Spain:
- Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III (April 21, 2006).
- Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic (October 18, 1999).
Sweden:
- Member of the Order of the Seraphim (October 7, 2003)
Awards and Recognition
- 2001: Life Achievement Award from International Osteoporosis Foundation, Italy
- 2002: Gold Medal of the President of the Italian Republic from Pio Manzù International Research Centre, Italy
- 2005: Golden Plate Award, Academy of Achievement, USA
- 2007: Global Humanitarian Action Award from UNSA-USA
- 2007: Bambi Award for Attention Based Charity, Germany
- 2008: First ever YouTube Visionary Award
- 2009: North-South Prize by the North-South Prize, Portugal
- 2009: FIFA Presidential Award, Switzerland
- 2010: The Leadership Award from White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, USA
- 2010: James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award from Tech Awards, USA
- 2010: Glamour's 2010 Woman of the Year, USA
- 2011: Forbes magazine listed Rania as one of the world's 100 most powerful women
- 2013: Atlantic Council's Global Citizen Awards, USA
- 2015: Walther Rathenau Award from Walther Rathenau Institut, Germany
- 2016: Andrea Bocelli Humanitarian Award, Italy
- 2016: Foreign Press Association's Humanitarian Award, UK
- 2017: Global Trailblazer Award, USA
- 2018: The Influential Personality of the Year Award at the Arab Social Media Influencers Summit
- 2022: Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2022
- 2022: Path to Peace Award 2022
Honorary Doctorates
- 2001: Honorary Doctorate in Law (LLD) from the University of Exeter, UK
- 2008: Honorary Doctorate Degree in Educational Sciences from the University of Jordan
- 2008: Honorary Doctorate in International Relations from the University of Malaya, Malaysia
- 2015: Honorary Doctorate in "Science Development and International Cooperation" from the University of Sapienza, Italy
See also
In Spanish: Rania de Jordania para niños
