Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II gets engaged to Saudi national Rajwa Khalid bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al Saif. (Twitter)
Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming royal wedding:
Who is the bride-to-be?
Al-Saif, whose full name is Rajwa Khaled bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al Saif, was born in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh on April 28, 1994. Her parents are Saudi businessman Khalid Al Saif and Azza Al Sudairi.
The bride-to-be received her bachelor’s degree in architecture from Syracuse University.
After she weds Prince Al Hussein, her title will be ‘Crown Princess of Jordan’ before becoming ‘Queen Rajwa’ when her husband takes the throne as king.
Where will the Jordanian royal wedding take place?
The Royal Hashemite Court announced that the eagerly awaited wedding ceremony will take place at Zahran Palace in the Jordanian capital of Amman.
As the date of the wedding of HRH Crown Prince Al Hussein and Miss Rajwa Khalid Alseif nears, we are pleased to share the official logo to mark the occasion, which is Arabic for “we rejoice”#CelebratingAlHussein Download the high-quality version here:https://t.co/H6taT7DBqipic.twitter.com/nwxMGKLA6c
Wedding processions will then move to Al Husseiniya Palace.
The palace, built in 1957, was the same location where King Abdullah II wed Queen Rania in 1993. The Jordanian king and queen, who will celebrate three decades together on June 10, left Zahran Palace in a convertible car to take part in a procession through the streets of Amman, where they greeted adoring crowds.
King Abdullah II of Jordan and Queen Rania waving to crowds on their wedding day in 1993. (Twitter)
Who will attend?
The Jordanian royal wedding is expected to witness global country heads, Jordanian community leaders, prominent members of society, family members, friends and celebrities come together to celebrate the bride and groom.
Queen Rania and Rajwa al-Saif at the pre-wedding henna party. (Instagram)
The couple will welcome several international royal guests and dignitaries, including Princess Hisakoa and Princess Tsuguko of Japan, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden, and the Crown Prince Haakon of Norway.
No further details have been shared on which dignitaries from Arab countries will be in attendance.
What pre-wedding celebrations will take place?
As part of the Jordanian royal wedding celebrations, the Amman International Stadium in the capital will see a star-studded lineup of musical performances on May 29.
Jordanian singers Diana Karazon and Zain Awad, Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama and Egyptian singers Tamer Hosny and Ahmad Saad are all expected to perform. The event is free for ticket holders only.
The skies of the capital Amman have witnessed drone shows in the evening this week to mark the royal occasion. (Al Mamlaka TV)
The Ministry of Culture will also hold various events, including folkloric performances and fireworks shows on June 1.
Activities will be held in all governorates in Jordan, starting at 5:00 pm on the wedding day. More information will be shared on official government accoutnts.
On May 31, an exclusive dinner for several Jordanian and Arab guests will take place at the Raghadan Palace. The palace was home to King Abdullah I and is commonly used to host meetings with visiting heads of states and other ceremonial events.
A special invitation was sent out to guests that included the embelem of the royal Hashemite crown and the names of Prince Al Hussein and Al Saif. Among the conditions listed on the invite is a dress code only allowing national or traditional clothing and not bringing cell phones.
Pre-wedding celebrations underway
Pre-wedding celebrations have already been underway for Prince Al Hussein and Al Saif in the weeks leading up to the occasion.
This week, Queen Rania hosted a pre-wedding traditional henna night for the bride-to-be that saw the bride’s mother and the groom’s sisters – Princesses Iman and Salma – in attendance.
Princesses Iman and Salma at the pre-wedding henna party. (Instagram)
The occasion was marked with traditional Jordanian dances and poetry. Queen Rania also gave a speech expressing her love for her son Prince Al Hussein and the newest addition to their family.
Watch: Jordan’s Queen Rania shares a video from a pre-wedding henna party she hosted for Rajwa al-Saif, the fiancée of Jordan’s Crown Prince Al Hussein.https://t.co/QNPWHgL3Lipic.twitter.com/Tzr3he5aBq
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) May 23, 2023
Women from across the Jordanian community also attended the henna party.
A week earlier, Jordan’s Crown Prince Al Hussein celebrated his upcoming wedding with his comrades at the 40th King Hussein Bin Talal Royal Armoured Brigade with festivities that included traditional dances and songs.
Watch: Jordan’s Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah celebrates his upcoming wedding with his comrades at the 40th King Hussein Bin Talal Royal Armoured Brigade with festivities that included traditional dances and songs. https://t.co/PTZmpbntX6pic.twitter.com/TpAwxxIG56
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) May 18, 2023
The event also featured poetry, tug-of-war games, and other activities.
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies
H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.
During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.
He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.
The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.
At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books
As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”
Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.
Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.
Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.
Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.
Automation
The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.
Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.
US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79
US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.
In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.
He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.
President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.