Profile in Summary
Born in Amman on January 30, 1962, to Majesty King Hussein Bin Talal (1935-1999) and Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al Hussein.
King Abdullah began his education in Jordan before proceeding to England and later to the United States.
He completed his military education at the prestigious Sandhurst Academy and spent a year at Oxford studying Middle Eastern Affairs and attended the School Of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in the States.
After Sandhurst, he served with British Army before returning to his homeland, where he took a post in the Jordanian Armed Forces (Armoured Corps, 3rd Division). He rose through the ranks to lieutenant-colonel.
During his years as an army officer, then-Prince Abdullah was regularly dispatched on official diplomatic and military missions.
King Abdullah II is scuba diving and automobile racing fan. He is a qualified frogman, pilot and a free fall parachutist. He is also a keen collector of ancient weapons and armaments.
His stance as a truly modern monarch is underlined by the vision he has posted on his website of "a Jordan with equal opportunities for all and with special privileges for none".
The young army officer met his wife, Kuwait-born Palestinian; Queen Rania and were married on 10 June 1993.They have four children; Prince Hussein, born in 1994; Princess Iman, born in 1996; Princess Salma, born in 2000 and Prince Hashem, born in 2005.
His Majesty King Abdullah II assumed his constitutional powers as monarch on 7 February 1999.
King Abdullah is known to follow the leadership legacy of his father, the late King Hussein.
Of special concern to the King is the future of Jordan’s young people.
– Youth engagement/empowerment, education and opportunity marks king’s top agendas for the country’s youth.
– King Abdullah ushered in a new era of structural reform and modernisation, integration with the world economy and globalisation.
– The king has worked with public and private sector, both domestic and global
– Presided over Jordan’s becoming the first Arab country to sign a free trade agreement with the United States.
– King Abdullah II has forged new bilateral and multilateral economic alliances with countries from Asia to Latin America.
– In diplomatic affairs, King Abdullah has been the voice of Jordan’s progressive policies to expand global justice and cooperation.
