Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan

Queen Noor of Jordan

Queen Noor of Jordan visits the United World College in Maastricht, The Netherlands, 16 March 2012. The United World College is an education movement comprising thirteen international schools and colleges, national committees in over 130 countries and a series of short educational programmes. The UWC movement believes in education as a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. Queen Noor is President of the United World College. Patrick van Katwijk/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: dpaphotos660255

The Middle East is a place full of fascinating people changing the area. Most interesting to me are the women that play roles either on the forefront or behind the scenes. One such woman on the forefront is Queen Noor of Jordan.

Queen Noor is the fourth wife of deceased King Hussein of Jordan, and is well known for her international humanitarian efforts. Her goals are to educate about Arab and Islam culture, empower women, conflict prevention, and to  help refugees and missing persons. She founded media programs to highlight these issues along with the issues of poverty and disarmament, because she’s outspokenly against nuclear weapons. Queen Noor’s efforts towards peace focus on the Middle East, the Balkans, Central and Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

Queen Noor

HM Queen Noor of Jordan during the Marianne & Sigvard Bernadotte Art Awards Gala 2012 in Stockholm, Sweden, 07 June 2012. Rpe-Albert Nieboer/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: dpaphotos704719

Queen Noor was born in America as Lisa Najeeb Halaby. Her father held government positions, including Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense with President Truman, and head of the Federal Aviation Administration with JFK. She had a typical education in America, and graduated from Princeton University with a BA in Architecture and Urban Planning. She used her Urban Planning degree to take her places in the world, and first landed a job in Australia, then worked for a British company to help redesign a Middle Eastern city. She then came back to the U.S. and received a job as Director of Facilities Planning and Design in a company founded by her father. That is what determined the rest of her life.

As a high profile figure, she worked closely with King Hussein of Jordan as they created an airport in memorial of Hussein’s third wife, Queen Alia who died in a helicopter accident. Supporting him through his mourning, the two’s friendship quickly grew and evolved, and they were married in 1978. Upon their marriage, Lisa gave up her U.S. citizenship and changed her name and religion. Joining the Islam faith, she became Noor Al-Hussein, which means Light of Hussein.

Again using her Urban Planning degree, Queen Noor founded the Noor Al Hussein Foundation where she chairs the charity and directs it towards developmental thinking in Jordan. Their focus is on poverty eradication and sustainable development, along with women’s empowerment, microfinance, health, environmental conservation, and the arts as a means of cross-cultural exchange.

Queen Noor

Queen Noor of Jordan, President United World College visits the United World College in Maastricht, The Netherlands on March 16, 2012. The United World College is an education movement comprising thirteen international schools and colleges, national committees in over 130 countries and a series of short educational programmes. The UWC movement believes in education as a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. Van Katwijk Patrick/DPA/ABACA/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: abaphotos862310

After a long battle with cancer, King Hussein died in 1999. Queen Noor then founded the King Hussein Foundation International. Queen Noor has founded several different foundations, but this one is in honor of King Hussein and to develop the humanitarian visions King Hussein had. This foundation focuses on education and leadership, economic empowerment, tolerance, and cross cultural dialogue and media that enhance mutual understanding and respect among different cultures and across conflict lines. 

Another of her recent campaigns is that of Global Zero. Global Zero is working to eradicate nuclear weapons. Queen Noor appeared on The Colbert Report explaining the mission of Global Zero to Colbert, who asked if it was a type of diet drink. Colbert agreed to sign onto the Global Zero pact, and so Queen Noor knighted him.

Queen Noor at a benefit auction.

Feb. 14, 2008 – New York, New York, U.S. – THE VALENTINE’S DAY RED AUCTION BALL FOR BENEFIT AIDS IN AFRICA AT SOTHEBY’S AUCTION HOUSE 02-14-2008. 2008. QUEEN NOOR OF JORDAN AND BOBBY SHRIVER. Rick Mackler/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: zumaglobe510931

Queen Noor of Jordan at the Marianne & Sigvard Bernadotte Art Awards in Stockholm, SWEDEN. NIEBOER/PICTURE PRESS EUROPE/SIP/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: sipaphotosthree625543

Queen Noor

PhotographerRpe-Albert Nieboer
HM Queen Noor of Jordan (L) and Countess Marianne Bernadotte arrives for the opening of Marianne & Sigvard Bernadotte Art Awards Gala 2012 in Stockholm, Sweden, 07 June 2012.Rpe-Albert Nieboer/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom. Find it on Newcom.com: dpaphotos704708.

Queen Noor of Jordan visits the United World College in Maastricht, The Netherlands, 16 March 2012. The United World College is an education movement comprising thirteen international schools and colleges, national committees in over 130 countries and a series of short educational programmes. The UWC movement believes in education as a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. Queen Noor is President of the United World College. Patrick van Katwijk/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom.Find it on Newscom.com: dpaphotos660296

Queen Noor of Jordan visits the United World College in Maastricht, The Netherlands, 16 March 2012. The United World College is an education movement comprising thirteen international schools and colleges, national committees in over 130 countries and a series of short educational programmes. The UWC movement believes in education as a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. Queen Noor is President of the United World College. Patrick van Katwijk/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: dpaphotos660281

Queen Noor attends a wedding.

A handout picture released by the Jordanian news agency Petra, shows Jordan King Abdullah II (2nd R), Queen Noor widow of late King Hussein (R) and Queen Rania (L) posing for a picture with Prince Hamzah Half brother of Jordan King (C) and his wife Princess Basma Otoum (2nd L) during their wedding at the Royal Palace in Amman on January 12, 2012. YOUSEF ALLAN/AFP/Getty Images/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: afplivefour224371

Find more pictures at Newscom. 

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4 comments

  1. [...] Here is the original post: Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan [...]

  2. She is just great all around nice preson and a pretty woman Breathlessss

  3. Queen Nor-Hussain is a saint just as her late husband the late king Hussain was. God bless her for her contribution to the conflict between the U.S and the middle east, let alone her charaties. she is so devoted to.

  4. Hope she had a great and Happy Valentine day lots of Hugggs and a Hole bunches of Kiss

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