Rania << RAHN yah >> Al Abdullah, Queen of Jordan, (1970-…), is one of the most influential women in the Arab world. She is the wife of King Abdullah II of Jordan. Abdullah II took the throne in 1999, following the death of his father, King Hussein I. Queen Rania is known worldwide as a supporter of education, health, human rights, and women’s and children’s issues. She has played a leading role in efforts to improve Jordan’s educational system. An Arab Muslim, Queen Rania has worked to promote communication and understanding between people of different cultures and religious backgrounds.
Rania Al-Yassin was born in Kuwait on Aug. 31, 1970. Her parents were Jordanians of Palestinian background. After attending primary and secondary school in Kuwait, Rania studied at the American University in Cairo, Egypt. She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1991. Rania then worked in banking and information technology in Jordan.
Rania married Abdullah ibn al-Hussein on June 10, 1993. Abdullah became king of Jordan in 1999, and Rania became queen. The couple have four children: Prince Hussein, Princess Iman, Princess Salma, and Prince Hashem.
Queen Rania has led efforts in Jordan to fix troubled schools, raise teaching standards, and increase students’ access to computers. The queen leads the Jordan River Foundation (JRF), an organization that seeks to protect and assist disadvantaged Jordanians.
Queen Rania is also involved with international organizations that promote education, human rights, and economic development. In 2007, she became the eminent advocate for children for UNICEF (originally the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund). In this position, she works to improve the lives of children and to raise global awareness of children’s issues.
