| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Profession | Equestrian |
| Physical Stats | |
| Height (approx.) | 5' 7" (170 cm) |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Hair Colour | Dark Blonde |
| Career | |
| Awards, Honours | • 1993- Jordan's athlete of the year • 1996- Spanish National Equestrian Federation’s Equestrian Personality of the Year • 2006- Bejeweled Grand Cordon of Al Nahda (Order of the Renaissance) Humanitarian, Hunger and Poverty • 2008- The Henry Clay Medallion for Distinguished Service by the Henry Clay Society • 2010- Der Steiger for outstanding merits in the field of sport • 2012- The World Food Programme Humanitarian Leadership Award • 2014- Awarded The Trophy Of The International Olympic Committee, IOC Session, Monaco, for outstanding contribution to the International Equestrian Federation and entire Olympic movement • 2014- Appointed as an Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest distinction • 2015- World Food Programme Hunger Hero Award • 2015- Giglio d’Oro Award for outstanding contributions in the humanitarian field by the Galileo 2000 Foundation • 2015- Path to Peace Award from the Path to Peace Foundation that supports the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See at the United Nations • 2015- Longines Ladies Award in celebration of positive impact on equestrian sport, Longines • 2017- Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award at the Atlantic Council |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 3 May 1974 (Friday) |
| Age (as of 2025) | 51 Years |
| Birthplace | Amman, Jordan |
| Zodiac sign | Taurus |
| Nationality | Jordanian |
| Hometown | Amman |
| School(s) | • Badminton School, Bristol, England • Bryanston School, Dorset, England |
| College/University | St Hilda's College, Oxford (1993-1995) |
| Educational Qualification | BA honours in philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE) |
| Controversy | Divorce proceedings and allegations on her ex-husband Princess Haya's husband and ruler of Dubai named Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum divorced her without even informing her. In the month of April, Princess Haya left Dubai with her children Sheikha Jalila and Sheikh Zayed and moved to the United Kingdom in order to "save her and her children's life." It was reported that Princess Haya had applied for asylum in Germany and that she had been escorted by a German diplomat to Germany. In the month of May, Sheikh Mohammed began the legal proceedings in England and Wales seeking orders for the children to be returned to the Emirate of Dubai. In july, Princess Haya issued a few applications in the court including the application of children to be made Wards of Court, a forced marriage protection order (FMPO) with respect to her daughter Sheikha Jalila, and for a non-molestation order for her own protection. All the orders that she applied for were granted by the legal court. In 2020, the High Court found out that Princess Haya's husband carried out the abduction of two of his daughters named Sheikha Shamsa and Sheikha Latifa. Princess Haya was a victim of intimidation and abuse, including having a gun placed on her pillow twice and threats to be taken to a remote prison. In 2021, Princess Haya was granted full custody of her children. Sheikh Mohammad was order by the High Court to pay a lump sum settlement of £251.5 million to Princess Haya in addition to £5.6 million-a-year for each of their two children and an upfront payment of £290 million as guarantee. ((Tatler)) |
| Social Media | • Instagram |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Marriage Date | 10 April 2004 |
| Family | |
| Husband/Spouse | Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Ruler of Dubai) |
| Children | Son- Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Daughter- Sheikha Al Jalila bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum  |
| Parents | Father- King Hussein (Former King of Jordan) (Deceased) Mother- Queen Alia (Former Queen of Jordan) (Deceased)  |
| Siblings | Brother- Prince Ali bin Al Hussein (Businessman) Sister- Abir Muhaisen  |
| Other Relatives | Half Brother- King Abdullah II (Politician) |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Princess Haya bint Al Hussein
- In 1977, when Haya bint Al Hussein was just 3 years old, mother passed away in a helicopter crash.
- In 1999, Princess Haya’s father passed away after suffering from complications related to non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Princess Haya began horse riding internationally at the age of 13.
- In 1992, she took part in the seventh Pan Arab Games in Damascus, Syria, and she won the bronze medal in the individual Jumping event.
- Princess Haya was the first woman to represent her native Jordan in international equestrian sport and the only woman to win a medal in the Pan Arab Equestrian Games.
- She was trained for several years in Ireland and Germany. In 2000, Princess Haya was qualified for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She represented Jordan in the show jumping event (one of the English riding equestrian events), where she also served as her country’s flag bearer.
- In 2002, Princess Haya took part and represented her country, Jordan, in the FEI World Equestrian Games, which were held at Jerez de la Frontera in Spain. She also represented Jordan at the FEI General Assembly on several occasions.
- In 2003, she founded a Jordanian non-governmental organisation named ‘Tkiyet Um Ali’ in honour of her late mother, Queen Alia. Her organisation was the first Arab NGO dedicated to overcoming local hunger, in her native Jordan, which aimed at providing food assistance and employment opportunities to thousands of poor families in the community.
- In 2005, Haya Bint Al Hussein became the first Arab and first woman to become Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme. She served as the Goodwill Ambassador from 2005 to 2007.
Haya bint Al Hussein (extreme right) during the food drive under the Nations World Food Programme
- In 2006, she was appointed as the president of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (Fédération Équestre Internationale) (FEI), which is an international governing body of equestrian sports. She was chosen on the basis of a Manifesto for an initial four-year term.
- In 2007, she became one of the members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which is a governing body of the modern Olympic Games.
- In the same year, Princess Haya was appointed as the UN Messenger of Peace by the eighth secretary-general of the United Nations named Ban Ki-moon.
- In 2007, she became one of the founding members of the former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Global Humanitarian Forum, which was based in Geneva.
- As her responsibility towards the Global Humanitarian Forum, Princess Haya used to write editorials and articles on hunger and nutrition, which were published in many prominent newspapers like The London Times, The Globe and Mail, and La Repubblica.
- In 2008, an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse named ‘New Approach,’ which was owned by Princess Haya bint Al Hussein won the Group 1 flat horse race named ‘Derby Stakes’ in England. The horse was trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger and ridden by Kevin Manning.
- In the same year, her American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse named ‘Raven’s Pass,’ won the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic race in the United States.
- Haya retired her horse ‘New Approach’ at the end of the 2008 racing season.
- In 2009, Princess Haya was made the first Patron of Retraining of Racehorses, which is a national animal welfare organisation in the United Kingdom. She was given the position for her contribution towards the equine world.
- In the same year, the South-African politician Nelson Mandela and the political activist Mlungisi Sisulu appointed Princess Haya as Global Patron of the Walter Sisulu Pediatric Cardiac Foundation (WSPCF), which is an independent, philanthropic cardiac foundation for Africa which aims to deliver life-saving cardiac intervention and surgical corrections.
- In 2009, during the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (Fédération Équestre Internationale) (FEI) campaign to eliminate doping (performance-enhancing drugs) and horse abuse in equestrian sport, Princess Haya’s husband, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and stepson were both convicted by the FEI for serious doping violations.
- Due to the conviction of her husband and stepson, Princess Haya gave up her position as president of the FEI to a senior colleague for the FEI disciplinary processes on the matter.
- Princess Haya was re-elected as the president of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports to serve a second term in November 2010.
- In 2010, Haya became an appointee to the International Olympic Committee’s International Relations Committee.
- In the same year, she also served on the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ and Culture and Olympic Education Commissions.
- In 2010, Princess Haya became the first sitting International Federation for Equestrian Sports (Fédération Équestre Internationale) (FEI) president to be challenged in a re-election bid. She was re-elected for the second and final four-year term by receiving 75% votes and defeating the other two European rivals.
- As FEI President, Princess Haya oversaw Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events at the Olympic Games of Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, 2010, as well as equestrian world championships in Aachen, 2006, Kentucky, 2010 and Normandy, 2014.
- In 2012, Princess Haya, through her NGO Tkiyet Um Ali, launched a campaign to increase its support four times, aiming to reach 20,000 families living below the food poverty line, in an effort to help achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals on hunger by 2015.
- In 2013, Princess Haya brokered a record-breaking ten-year sponsorship deal with the Swiss watch brand named ‘Longines’ worth more than 160 million Euros for the International Federation for Equestrian Sports. She later facilitated the funds to the International Horse Racing Federation.
- Soon after, she eased out the International Federation for Equestrian Sports’ partnership with CNN to launch the CNN Equestrian on World Sport, which was later extended to include horse racing.
- In 2015 and 2016, Princess Haya became the Campaign Manager for her brother, Prince Ali’s bid for the Presidency of FIFA, which is an international self-regulatory governing body of association football, beach soccer, and futsal.
- During the campaign for her brother, Princess Haya set up an Integrity Unit and Network to fight corruption in sports and their governing bodies.
- As of 2016, Princess Haya served the position of the president of the International Jordanian Athletes Cultural Association, which was founded by her to provide athletes with the required national incentives and support.
- Princess Haya witnessed the evacuation of 200 UNDP staff from Afghanistan in 2009, 45 WHO staff members from Egypt in 2011, and nearly 500 UN Staff in Yemen across crises in 2011, 2014 and 2015. She decided to airlift and help the refugees.
- She managed airlifts of aid to Syrian refugees in Greece and Jordan and oversaw emergency humanitarian aid delivery to many affected including South Sudan, Mozambique, Uganda, Madagascar, Nepal, Iraq, Syria, and Jordanian flood victims.
- In 2018, Princess was appointed as the chairperson of International Humanitarian City (IHC) (Formerly known as Dubai Humanitarian City), which was the largest centre for the delivery of aid, both in emergencies and for long-term development.
- She was President of the UAE Nursing and Midwifery Council from 2009 until 2019, and she also contributed to the establishment of The Al Jalila Foundation for medical research and education in April 2013.
- During her tenure as the chairperson of the International Humanitarian City (IHC), it grew to become the world’s largest and busiest logistics hub for humanitarian aid, housing 9 United Nations agencies and 89 NGOS, and commercial entities.
- From 2011 to 2019, Princess Haya served as Chairperson of Dubai Healthcare City Authority.
- As of 2020, Princess Haya was appointed as one of the members of the Honorary Board of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), which is an international non-profit organisation and the global governing body for the Paralympic Movement.
- Princess Haya is the Heavy Goods Vehicle license holder, as she once served as the president of Jordan’s Land Transport and Mechanical Union. She was the first woman in Jordan to hold a heavy vehicles license.
- She managed the air corridors for relief to be sent to Gaza in 2009 and 2014, and an airbridge to enable the delivery of aid to the Rohingya people in 2017.
- Princess Haya managed and took responsibility for Al Jalila Children’s Speciality Hospital in Dubai.
- In 2021, the High Court in England found that agents of Sheikh Mohammed used the Pegasus spyware to hack the phones of Princess Haya, a personal assistant, and two members of her security team in the summer of 2020.
- It was also revealed that Sheikh Mohammad tried to purchase a property near Princess Haya’s home, to which Princess Haya was quoted as saying in a statement that
It feels as if I am being stalked, that there is literally nowhere for me to go to be safe from him, or those acting in his interests. It is hugely oppressive.”
- As of 2025, Princess Haya’s non-governmental organisation ‘Tkiyet Um Ali’ supports 30,000 households living in extreme poverty throughout the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
- As of 2025, Princess serves as the President of the Board for the Queen Alia Foundation for Hearing and Speech and President of the Princess Haya Biotechnology Centre at Jordan University of Science and Technology.
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