• The Royal Hashemite Court has announced Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah's engagement to Rajwa Al Saif. All photos: Royal Hashemite Court
    The Royal Hashemite Court has announced Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah's engagement to Rajwa Al Saif. All photos: Royal Hashemite Court
  • From left, Queen Rania, Al Saif, Prince Hussein and King Abdullah II at the engagement ceremony
    From left, Queen Rania, Al Saif, Prince Hussein and King Abdullah II at the engagement ceremony
  • A statement issued by the court said it 'extends its sincere congratulations on this occasion'
    A statement issued by the court said it 'extends its sincere congratulations on this occasion'
  • The Royal Hashemite Court announced the engagement on Twitter
    The Royal Hashemite Court announced the engagement on Twitter
  • Queen Rania congratulated her son on Twitter
    Queen Rania congratulated her son on Twitter
  • Al Saif, Queen Rania and Prince Hussein
    Al Saif, Queen Rania and Prince Hussein
  • Al Saif and Prince Hussein during the engagement ceremony
    Al Saif and Prince Hussein during the engagement ceremony
  • King Abdullah embraces Al Saif
    King Abdullah embraces Al Saif

Who is Rajwa Al Saif, the Saudi fiancee of Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein?


Katy Gillett
  • English
  • Arabic

Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah and Rajwa Al Saif announced their engagement on Wednesday, much to the family's delight.

The engagement took place at the home of Al Saif's father in Riyadh. It was announced on Twitter with four photos showing the couple, with Prince Hussein's parents, King Abdullah II and Queen Rania, pictured alongside members of Al Saif's family.

Queen Rania also took to Twitter to share her happiness.

“I didn’t think it was possible to hold so much joy in my heart! Congratulations to my eldest Prince Hussein and his beautiful bride-to-be, Rajwa,” Queen Rania wrote.

Who is Rajwa Al Saif?

Al Saif was born in Riyadh, on April 28, 1994, according to Roya News in Jordan.

She is the youngest of four siblings — alongside Faisal, Nayef and Dana — born to businessman Khalid Al Saif and his wife Azza Al Sudairi.

Her secondary education took place in Saudi Arabia, before she moved to New York, US, to complete her higher education at the College of Architecture at Syracuse University.

During her time there, Al Saif took a nine-day field trip to Dubai in 2016, as part of the course. “What made this trip so memorable for me was seeing the students in the studio experience Arabic culture and architecture for the first time," said Al Saif, as reported on Syracuse University's website.

"Dubai is very intriguing, having contemporary architecture while also attempting to maintain the traditional beauty of the Arabic culture and history.”

Princess Iman gets engaged

  • Jordan's Princess Iman and Jameel Alexander Thermiotis are engaged. Photo: @RHCJO / Twitter
    Jordan's Princess Iman and Jameel Alexander Thermiotis are engaged. Photo: @RHCJO / Twitter
  • Jordan’s Queen Rania and Princess Iman. Reuters
    Jordan’s Queen Rania and Princess Iman. Reuters
  • King Abdullah II and Princess Iman. Reuters
    King Abdullah II and Princess Iman. Reuters
  • Queen Rania and Princess Iman tried their hands at traditional crafts on a visit to Umm Qais in 2020. Photo: Instagram / Queen Rania
    Queen Rania and Princess Iman tried their hands at traditional crafts on a visit to Umm Qais in 2020. Photo: Instagram / Queen Rania
  • Newborn Princess Salma Bint Abdullah is held by her mother Queen Rania in September 2000, with her father King Abdullah, her brother Prince Hussein and her sister Princess Iman, aged 4, surrounding them. Getty Images
    Newborn Princess Salma Bint Abdullah is held by her mother Queen Rania in September 2000, with her father King Abdullah, her brother Prince Hussein and her sister Princess Iman, aged 4, surrounding them. Getty Images
  • King Abdullah II of Jordan, second from right, and his wife Queen Rania of Jordan, third from left, stand next to Princess Iman, second from left, during an awards ceremony at the Al Hussein Sport City, in May 2008. Getty Images
    King Abdullah II of Jordan, second from right, and his wife Queen Rania of Jordan, third from left, stand next to Princess Iman, second from left, during an awards ceremony at the Al Hussein Sport City, in May 2008. Getty Images
  • Princess Iman, centre, looks on during the King Abdullah II award ceremony for physical fitness in 2008. Getty Images
    Princess Iman, centre, looks on during the King Abdullah II award ceremony for physical fitness in 2008. Getty Images
  • Princess Iman performs during the King Abdullah Award for Fitness ceremony, in May 2009. Getty Images
    Princess Iman performs during the King Abdullah Award for Fitness ceremony, in May 2009. Getty Images
  • Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein, second from right, Princess Iman, third from right, and Prince Faisal, fourth from right, attend the Global Forum on Youth Peace and Security at the King's Academy school in Madaba city, in August 2015. Reuters
    Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein, second from right, Princess Iman, third from right, and Prince Faisal, fourth from right, attend the Global Forum on Youth Peace and Security at the King's Academy school in Madaba city, in August 2015. Reuters
  • Princess Iman, aged 12, with her horse Saqir, an Arabian filly, as they won second prize at the Middle East Championships horse show in Amman, in October 2008. Reuters
    Princess Iman, aged 12, with her horse Saqir, an Arabian filly, as they won second prize at the Middle East Championships horse show in Amman, in October 2008. Reuters
  • King Abdullah II, Queen Rania and Princess Iman arriving for the France premiere of 'Quantum of Solace' at the UGC Normandie Theater in Paris, in October 2008. Reuters
    King Abdullah II, Queen Rania and Princess Iman arriving for the France premiere of 'Quantum of Solace' at the UGC Normandie Theater in Paris, in October 2008. Reuters
  • King Abdullah II is greeted by Princess Iman during the throne opening ceremony of the first ordinary session of the 17th parliament in November 2013, in Amman. Getty Images
    King Abdullah II is greeted by Princess Iman during the throne opening ceremony of the first ordinary session of the 17th parliament in November 2013, in Amman. Getty Images
  • Princess Iman and Queen Rania attend the Medef Summer 2015 University Conference in August 2015, in Jouy-en-Josas, France. Getty Images
    Princess Iman and Queen Rania attend the Medef Summer 2015 University Conference in August 2015, in Jouy-en-Josas, France. Getty Images

Prince Hussein's engagement only comes a few weeks after his sister, Princess Iman, announced her engagement to Jameel Alexander Thermiotis.

Princess Iman is the first daughter and the second child of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania.

The princess, who was born in Amman in 1996, studied at Georgetown University in Washington, following in the footsteps of her newly engaged brother.

Thermiotis was born in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1994 and is of Greek descent, said Jordan's royal court. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and works in finance in New York.

The court congratulated the king and queen on the engagement, wishing the couple “a lifetime of happiness”.

Jordanian royal weddings through the years — in pictures

  • 1955: King Hussein of Jordan weds first wife, Dina bint Abdul-Hamid, former Queen of Jordan, on April 19. Getty Images
    1955: King Hussein of Jordan weds first wife, Dina bint Abdul-Hamid, former Queen of Jordan, on April 19. Getty Images
  • 1961: King Hussein of Jordan and second wife, Antoinette Gardiner, who became Princess Muna al-Hussein upon marriage, leaving the Zahran Palace after their wedding ceremony, Amman on May 29. Getty Images
    1961: King Hussein of Jordan and second wife, Antoinette Gardiner, who became Princess Muna al-Hussein upon marriage, leaving the Zahran Palace after their wedding ceremony, Amman on May 29. Getty Images
  • 1970: Princess Basma of Jordan with Timoor Daghistani after their wedding ceremony on April 2.
    1970: Princess Basma of Jordan with Timoor Daghistani after their wedding ceremony on April 2.
  • 1993: The wedding of Abdullah II of Jordan and Queen Rania on June 10. AFP
    1993: The wedding of Abdullah II of Jordan and Queen Rania on June 10. AFP
  • 1993: The couple on their wedding day with King Hussein of Jordan, far right, and Queen Noor. AFP
    1993: The couple on their wedding day with King Hussein of Jordan, far right, and Queen Noor. AFP
  • 2004: The wedding of Prince Hamzah bin Hussein of Jordan and Princess Noor. Getty Images
    2004: The wedding of Prince Hamzah bin Hussein of Jordan and Princess Noor. Getty Images
  • 2020: Princess Raiyah, centre, daughter of Queen Noor of Jordan, left, marries Roald Dahl's grandson Ned Donovan in small UK ceremony. Photo: Arabia Royal Agency
    2020: Princess Raiyah, centre, daughter of Queen Noor of Jordan, left, marries Roald Dahl's grandson Ned Donovan in small UK ceremony. Photo: Arabia Royal Agency
  • 2020: The couple announced their engagement in 2019, and put a big wedding on hold because of pandemic. Photo: Twitter / RaiyahHKJ
    2020: The couple announced their engagement in 2019, and put a big wedding on hold because of pandemic. Photo: Twitter / RaiyahHKJ
  • 2023: Princess Iman married Jameel Alexander Thermiotis in Amman on March 12. AFP
    2023: Princess Iman married Jameel Alexander Thermiotis in Amman on March 12. AFP
Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
  • 2018: Formal work begins
  • November 2021: First 17 volumes launched 
  • November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
  • October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
  • November 2024: All 127 volumes completed

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

Last-16

France 4
Griezmann (13' pen), Pavard (57'), Mbappe (64', 68')

Argentina 3
Di Maria (41'), Mercado (48'), Aguero (90 3')

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Match statistics

Dubai Sports City Eagles 8 Dubai Exiles 85

Eagles
Try:
Bailey
Pen: Carey

Exiles
Tries:
Botes 3, Sackmann 2, Fourie 2, Penalty, Walsh, Gairn, Crossley, Stubbs
Cons: Gerber 7
Pens: Gerber 3

Man of the match: Tomas Sackmann (Exiles)

My Cat Yugoslavia by Pajtim Statovci
Pushkin Press

Evacuations to France hit by controversy
  • Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
  • Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
  • The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
  • Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
  • It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
  • Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
  • Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Updated: August 19, 2022, 10:58 AM