About Me
In a traditional Islamic ceremony in Jordan on June 15, 1978, the brave and graceful Lisa Najeeb Halaby became the first American-born queen of an Arab country, taking the name Noor al-Hussein or "Light of Hussein." Her throne came with a myriad of challenges yet she embraced her official duties, raising four children and sponsoring projects to improve education, culture, women and children's rights and urban planning. Following the untimely death of her husband, Queen Noor established the King Hussein Foundation to further his commitment to peace and today speaks actively on Arab-Western relations.
Her Majesty Queen Noor was born Lisa Najeeb Halaby on August 23 of 1951, to an Arab-American family distinguished for its public service. She attended schools in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., New York City, and Concord Academy in Massachusetts, before entering Princeton University in its first co-educational freshman class.
After receiving a B.A. in Architecture and Urban Planning from Princeton University in 1974, Queen Noor worked on international urban planning and design projects in Australia, Iran, the United States, and Jordan from where she traveled throughout the Arab World to research aviation training facilities. Subsequently, she joined ‘Royal Jordanian' airline as Director of Planning and Design Projects.Their Majesties, King Hussein and Queen Noor, were married on 15 June 1978. They have two sons: HRH Prince Hamzah (born 29 March 1980), and HRH Prince Hashim (born 10 June 1981), and two daughters: HRH Princess Iman (born 24 April 1983), and HRH Princess Raiyah (born 9 February 1986). Their family also included the children of His Majesty's previous marriage: Ms. Abir Muheisen, HRH Princess Haya, and HRH Prince Ali.
Since 1978, Queen Noor has initiated, directed, and sponsored projects and activities in Jordan to address specific national development needs in the areas of education, culture, women and children's welfare, human rights, conflict resolution, community development, environmental and architectural conservation, public architecture, and urban planning. She is also actively involved with international and UN organizations that address global challenges in these fields. Queen Noor has played a major role in promoting international exchange and understanding of Middle Eastern politics, Arab-Western relations, and humanitarian and conflict prevention, and recovery issues throughout the world, such as youth drug abuse, refugees, and disarmament.
Jordan
In 1979, Queen Noor chaired the National Committee for the International Year of the Child and actively launched a national immunization campaign, children's parks, and literature programs, as well as an initiative to establish Jordan's first children's hospital. Also, in 1979, the Queen established the Royal Endowment for Culture and Education (RECE), which conducted the first research on the country's specific manpower needs and awards scholarships, with special emphasis on outstanding women, for graduate studies in fields vital to Jordan's future development.In 1980, the Queen convened the first Arab Children's Congress, which annually brings together children from throughout the Arab world for two weeks of activities designed to promote understanding, tolerance, and solidarity. During two weeks of travel, learning, and cultural interaction in Jordan, the children are encouraged to discuss and debate contemporary issues and challenges facing the Arab nations and to appreciate the cultural and historical bonds shared by all Arabs.
