Haya bint Hussein Biography

At the age of 13, Princess Haya bint Hussein became the first woman to represent Jordan internationally in equestrian sport in Jumping. With her Bronze Medal win in the Pan-Arab Equestrian Games in 1992, she became the only woman to have won a Pan-Arab medal in equestrian sport. Following years of training in Ireland and Germany, she achieved her dream of representing Jordan in show jumping at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where she was also her country’s flag bearer. In 2002, she participated in the FEI World Equestrian Games at Jerez de la Frontera in Spain. In the following years, she assumed several administrative positions in the equine world and also became known for her charitable work locally and globally.

Princess Haya bint Hussein was elected president of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports in FEI's first contested presidential race in 2006. In 2009, after her husband and her step-son were convicted by the FEI for serious doping violations, she ceded presidential powers to a senior colleague. The following year, she was reelected for another four-year term with 75% votes. She became a member of the International Olympic Committee in 2007 and later became an appointee to the IOC's International Relations Committee in 2010. She is the founder and president of the International Jordanian Athletes Cultural Association that provides support to athletes.

In 2003, Princess Haya bint Hussein founded the NGO, 'Tkiyet Um Ali', in honor of her late mother Queen Alia. Its aim was to provide food and services to the less privileged people of Jordan. As the first Arab and first woman ever, she was named the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme in 2005 and was appointed a UN Messenger of Peace in 2007. That year, along with former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, she co-founded Global Humanitarian Forum based in Geneva, and wrote articles for it until it closed in 2010. She has also been involved with charitable initiatives in Jordan like the King Hussein Cancer Foundation, the Haya Cultural Centre, the 'Reading Nation' campaign, and the charity 'Anything is possible'. She also chairs Dubai's International Humanitarian City, a global hub for humanitarian emergency preparedness and response.

Princess Haya bint Hussein was born on May 3, 1974 in Amman, Jordan, to King Hussein of Jordan and his third wife, Queen Alia. King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan is her step-brother. Studying in the UK, she attended Badminton School for Girls in Bristol and Bryanston School in Dorset. She then graduated with bachelor's degree in philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE) from St Hilda's College, Oxford University.

Princess Haya bint Hussein became the sixth and "junior wife" of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum following their marriage on April 10, 2004 in Amman, Jordan. They welcomed daughter Sheikha Jalila bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on December 2nd, 2007 in Dubai, on the day of the United Arab Emirates' 36th celebration of its National Day. Their second child, son Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was born on January 7, 2012. Talking to 'Emirates Woman' in October 2016, she had mentioned that the secret of their happy 12-year marriage was her husband, adding "I am far from perfect, but he puts up with me!"

It was reported on June 30, 2019, that Princess Haya bint Hussein had taken refuge in Germany after fleeing from Dubai with her two children and £31 million. The Sheikh subsequently posted a poem in Arabic and English on Instagram in which he accused his wife of "treachery and betrayal". According to latest reports, she now lives in a mansion near Kensington Palace in London from where she is preparing for divorce and custody battle. Interestingly, campaigners fighting for the release of Sheikha Latifa, the Sheikh's daughter who went missing off the coast of Goa after trying to escape Dubai and is reportedly being held prisoner, had previously tried to get Princess Haya involved in freeing Latifa.