Queen Noor


Queen Noor of Jordan is the first queen of an Arab country to be born in the United States.

She was born in Washington, DC, on August 23, 1951. Her name then was Lisa Najeeb Halaby. She went to private schools in the United States. She then studied architecture and urban planning at Princeton University. She graduated in 1974.

Her first job was in Australia, where she helped to design new towns. She next went to Iran to work on a new plan for the city of Teheran. In 1976, she accepted a job with Arabair Services in Jordan. She helped to design a new university and housing for employees of the airline.

She met King Hussein of Jordan in 1977. The King was interested in the airline and the two became friends. Their friendship turned into a romance, and they decided to get married. When they married in June 1978, she took the name Noor al-Hussein, which means “Light of Hussein.” Queen Noor became a Muslim and dedicated herself to her new husband and her new country.

She managed the royal household and became the mother of her husband’s three children from his previous marriage. Queen Noor and King Hussein also had four children of their own. Prince Hamzah was born in 1980, Prince Hashim in 1981, Princess Iman in 1983, and Princess Raiyah in 1986.

For more than 20 years, Queen Noor has worked to improve the lives of the people of Jordan. She has set up schools and school programs, started a festival of culture and arts, and Encouraged Arab children from all countries to learn more about their history.

She has been especially interested in the health and welfare of Jordanian women and children.

In 1998, King Hussein died of cancer. His eldest son became the new king. Queen Noor has remained in Jordan and continues to work for her people. In 2003, she wrote a book about her life as the Queen of Jordan.