HRH Princess Haya

Jordanian Princess Haya Bint Al-Hussein was the first Arab woman to compete internationally in equestrian, winning a bronze medal at the 1992 Pan-Arab Equestrian Games. In 1993 she was named Jordan’s Athlete of the Year and she competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in show jumping.

HRH Princess Haya was elected President of the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) in 2006 and served in that role through 2014, when she resigned to avoid conflict of interest issues related to possible doping violations by her then husband. She was a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 2007-14, at which time she had to step down as she was no longer President of the FEI.

HRH Princess Haya was educated in Britain, graduating from St. Hilda’s College, Oxford with degrees in philosophy, politics, and economics. The daughter of King Hussein of Jordan, from 2004-19 she was married to the ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum.

In the late 2000s HRH Princess Haya owned several racehorses, notably Raven’s Pass, who won the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic, and New Approach, who won the 2008 Epsom Derby. For her contributions to equine sport, she was made the first Patron of Retraining of Racehorses.

HRH Princess Haya has become known for her charitable and philanthropic work. In 2003 she founded Tkiyet Um Ali, the first food aid non-governmental organization (NGO) in the Arab word. She was the first Arab woman to become Goodwill Ambassador for the World Food Programme (2005-07). She served as President of the International Jordanian Athletes Cultural Association, which she founded to provide athletes with needed national incentive and support. UN Secretary General Ban Gi-Mun appointed her a UN Messenger of Peace in 2007. She also chaired Dubai’s International Humanitarian City, the world’s largest center for the delivery of aid, both in emergencies and for long-term development.