Despite having no formal political power, Queen Rania possesses an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Child and women’s rights, support for refugees, responsible use of advanced technologies, combating climate change, and challenging stereotypes about the Middle East—these are the issues that the wife of His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan brings to the world’s attention. She does so by speaking at major international forums and conferences. Initially, she became a symbol of unity, hope, and fundamental human values for the people of Jordan. Over time, she has come to represent these ideals for the entire Arab world.

Rania Faisal Al-Yassin never imagined she would one day become a member of the Jordanian royal family. She was born in Kuwait to a family of Palestinian refugees—her father was a pediatrician, and her mother was a homemaker. Her Majesty describes her early years as unremarkable:

She pursued her studies diligently and enrolled in a Business Administration program at the prestigious American University in Cairo, which has educated figures such as Yuriko Koike, the first female governor of Tokyo, and Haifaa Al-Mansour, Saudi Arabia’s first female filmmaker. However, when war broke out in Kuwait, her family was forced to flee to Jordan. Starting her career in a new country, Rania worked at Citibank and later at Apple.

At the time, Prince Abdullah also had no idea he would one day become king. Many legends surround their first meeting—some say it happened at the bank where Rania worked, while others claim they met at a social gathering to which she was invited by the prince’s sister. Just two months after their first encounter, Prince Abdullah proposed. His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan personally visited Rania’s family to request their approval for the marriage. She became the prince’s only wife—an unusual occurrence in the Jordanian royal household, where polygamy had been the norm. For example, Prince Abdullah’s father had four wives.

Queen Rania is known for making a bold decision early in her public life—choosing not to wear the hijab. This move sparked significant controversy, yet her progressive views have never interfered with her ability to maintain a dignified and respectful image as Queen. She sees each new day as an opportunity to bring something positive to the world, a chance that should never be wasted. However, in her view, a woman’s choice to wear or not wear the hijab should not define her as a person:

"Unfortunately, in the West, people often assume that the hijab is a symbol of oppression and weakness. This is not true. Women wear it based on their personal beliefs. I always say that a woman should be judged by what is inside her head, not what is on it."

Queen Rania’s influence is evident in her numerous social initiatives. Her recent speech at the World Summit on Children’s Rights at the Vatican gained widespread attention in the media. She highlighted that one in six children worldwide lives in a conflict-affected region. She urged global leaders to take greater responsibility for the fate of these children, who have long abandoned traditional childhood dreams of becoming astronauts or firefighters due to the harsh realities of war.