Her Majesty Queen Noor is an international public servant and advocate for cross-cultural understanding and conflict prevention and recovery issues such as refugees, missing persons, poverty, climate change, and disarmament. Queen Noor’s work in Jordan and the Arab world has focused on national and regional human security in the areas of education, conservation, sustainable development, human rights, and cross-cultural understanding.
Overall, her peace-building work has focused on the Middle East, the Balkans, Central and Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa. In recognition of her efforts to advance sustainable development, democracy, and peace, the Queen has been awarded numerous awards and honorary doctorates in international relations, law, and humane letters.
She has published two books, Hussein of Jordan (KHF Publishing, 2000) and Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life (Miramax Books, 2003), a New York Times #1 best seller published in 17 languages.
Early Life, Family, and Education
Born to an Arab American family distinguished for its public service, she received a degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from Princeton University before working on international urban planning and design projects in Australia, Iran, the United States, and the Arab world. She married His Majesty King Hussein bin Talal of Jordan in 1978 and was widowed when the King passed away in 1999 after a brief bout with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Together, His Majesty King Hussein and Queen Noor had two sons: HRH Prince Hamzah and HRH Prince Hashim, and two daughters: HRH Princess Iman and HRH Princess Raiyah, and 12 grandchildren.