General Information

Biography

HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein is a woman of many facets. She is a devoted wife and mother, a former Olympic athlete, a humanitarian, a member of the International Olympic Committee, a UN Messenger of Peace, president of the International Equestrian Federation and the only Jordanian woman who holds a license to drive heavy trucks. 

She is the daughter of HM Late King Hussein Bin Talal of Jordan (1935-1999) and HM Late Queen Alia Al Hussein (1948-1977); and the wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai. They have one daughter, HH Sheikha Al Jalila, who was born on December 2, 2007.

Humanitarian

Princess Haya has a strong humanitarian presence both on local and international levels. Her work and interests focus on humanitarian issues and human development concentrated primarily on the areas of health, education, youth and sports. She continues to raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially those of eliminating poverty and hunger. Additionally, She also works to find ways that sport can support the development of impoverished youths in the world's poorer nations. 

In memory of Her mother, Her Majesty the late Queen Alia, Princess Haya founded Tkiyet Um Ali in 2003, the first food aid NGO in the Arab World, and became the Chairperson of its Board of Directors. She was also the first Arab and first woman to serve as World Food Programme Goodwill Ambassador (2005-2007). In that role, She travelled to Malawi, Ethiopia and Syria to witness first-hand the impact of the food crises in those areas. 

In March 2007, Princess Haya was appointed the Chairperson of International Humanitarian City (IHC) following a decree issued by HH Sheikh Mohammed. One of the largest supply depots for aid in the world, the IHC aims to facilitate aid and development efforts by providing local and international humanitarian actors with facilities and services specifically designed to meet their needs. 

In September 2007, Princess Haya was selected by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, the highest honor bestowed on a global citizen by the United Nations Secretary-General to address pressing problems around the world. A month later, Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan chose Princess Haya to become a founding member of the Geneva-based Global Humanitarian Forum (2007-2010), an international organization aimed at addressing humanitarian issues.

In January 2010, Princess Haya visited the Kenyan capital of Nairobi to encourage an effective local and global response to catastrophic food shortages. On January 22nd, just ten days after the devastating 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti, Princess Haya traveled to Port-au-Prince to oversee a delivery of 90 metric tonnes of relief supplies for the Haitians, a shipment organized by the IHC, meet with Haitian and UN officials and raise awareness of the need for international aid. Most recently, in February 2011, Princess Haya visited Siem Reap in Cambodia to bring further attention to the ongoing food crisis in that area.

Sport

Sport has been a dominant part of life for Princess Haya since childhood. Having experienced the power of sport in Her own life, She works tirelessly to give others, especially young girls, a similar experience. Her work as President of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is motivated by the belief that sport improves lives, empowers women, and breaks down barriers between people and nations. 

At age 13, Princess Haya was the first female to represent Jordan internationally in equestrian sport in show jumping. She won an Individual Bronze Medal in the Pan-Arab Equestrian Games in 1992, and is the only female ever to have won a Pan-Arab medal in equestrian sport. Additionally, She was also the first Jordanian athlete to turn professional, signing a commercial contract with the Italian designer Loro Piana in May 2000.

In 1994, HM Late King Hussein created ‘Team Harmony,’ a group of international show-jumping horses and appointed Princess Haya as athlete director. In recognition of Her accomplishments, the Spanish Equestrian Federation named Princess Haya the Equestrian Personality of the Year in 1996, when She was just 22 years old.  

In 2000, Princess Haya fulfilled a lifelong dream by competing at the Sydney Olympic Games in show jumping. Two years later, Princess Haya competed for Jordan in the World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain. She was the first Arab woman to qualify for and compete in an equestrian world championship. She achieved another “first” when she obtained a license to drive heavy trucks to transport Her horses.

Princess Haya was elected President of the FEI in 2006 (and re-elected in November 2010 for a 2nd term) and has since improved the federation’s financial position with the addition of new sponsors, launched FEITV to reach a broader audience and adopted the Clean Sport initiative to combat doping. 

Princess Haya has been an IOC member since 2007 and has served on the IOC Athletes’ Commission (2005-2010) and on the Commission for Culture and Olympic Education. In addition to serving on the Advisory Board of The Economist Global Sports Conference, Princess Haya was also President of the Dubai Organizing Committee for SportAccord 2010 and as of June 2010, became a Global Patron for the World Academy of Sport.

Health

HRH Princess Haya's work in health stems from Her parents' legacy and is fueled by Her commitment to raise the bar when it comes to quality health care services.  Throughout Her public role, Princess Haya's work focuses on improving the quality of life for individuals regardless of their background or nationality. She pays particular attention to the health sector by supporting and initiating health programmes and projects.

In early 2009, after a decree issued by HH Sheikh Mohammed, Princess Haya was named President of the UAE Nursing and Midwifery Council. The Council is set to oversee professional education, development and on-going regulation of the nursing and midwifery professions across the country. Also in keeping with the wishes of HH Sheikh Mohammed, Princess Haya continues, through a global fact-finding initiative for best practices, to assist in the development of the Dubai-based Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital. The Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital will be the only dedicated paediatric hospital in the region. 

Through Her interest in paediatric cardiology, Princess Haya has encouraged the creation of other Centres of Excellence for that specialty. In May 2009, Princess Haya became a Global Patron of the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Foundation (WSPCF) in South Africa. She first visited the Foundation in April 2008 as part of a tour with President Nelson Mandela to raise awareness of paediatric cardiac health in Africa. 

In early 2010, Princess Haya was named Honourary President of Chain of Hope, a collaborating partner of the Aswan Heart Centre. The Centre, which opened in 2009, offers surgery, treatment and research related to diseases and defects of the heart. In recognition of Princess Haya’s support and service, the paediatric cardiology unit will be named the Sheikha Al Jalila Paediatric Unit at Aswan Heart Centre.

In May 2011, after a decree issued by HH Sheikh Mohammed, HRH Princess Haya was appointed as Chairperson of Dubai Healthcare City Authority to oversee Dubai Healthcare City and re-position it as an internationally renowned center for integrated medical services.  

Princess Haya supports several national efforts targeting the advancement of children’s and women’s health in Jordan. She is President of the Princess Haya Biotechnology Centre at Jordan University of Science and Technology, the first fully equipped biotech academic lab in Jordan, and is Honourary President of the Queen Alia Foundation for Hearing & Speech. 

Princess Haya also developed a regional health meeting that addresses a health topic affecting children in the UAE and the region. The Arab Children Health Congress (ACHC) is a biennial event bringing together health care providers, care givers, parents and offers a platform for interaction and discussion, not only between medical and social professionals and the general public, but also with the children themselves. 

As a humanitarian, Princess Haya continuously advocates for the rights of children and underprivileged communities to have access to food, healthcare, education and security. She continues to participate in international conferences, charity events and field activities in those key areas. 

HRH Princess Haya graduated from St Hilda’s College, Oxford University with an Honors Degree BA MA, in P.P.E. (Politics, Philosophy and Economics). She resides in Dubai, traveling often to her homeland, Jordan.