You may think of Queen Noor as a real-life Cinderella, but the reality is even more extraordinary. Before she became royalty, Queen Noor was Lisa Halaby, a successful architect with deep-rooted Arabic heritage. Little did she know that her life was about to take an unimaginable turn when she met King Hussein of Jordan during an airport opening in the 1970s. Their friendship quickly blossomed into a whirlwind romance, leading to an engagement. Noor wouldn’t be Hussein’s first wife, but their love prevailed. The journey from Lisa Halaby to Noor Al Hussein, “Light of Hussein,” was not without its challenges. But Queen Noor’s impact extended beyond the palace as she championed women’s rights, urban planning, and charitable initiatives. Together with King Hussein, they became a power couple that influenced the Arab world in the 1990s. Tragically, the King’s passing in 1999 marked a heart-wrenching moment for Queen Noor, who continued to honor his legacy through charity projects, maintaining her status as the beloved Queen of Jordan.
