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His
Majesty King Abdullah II is the 43rd generation direct
descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. King Abdullah assumed
his constitutional powers as King of the Hashemite Kingdom
of Jordan on February 7,1999, the day his father, the late
King Hussein, passed away.
Born
in Amman on January 30, 1962, His Majesty is the eldest son
of the late King Hussein and has four brothers and six
sisters. King Abdullah began his education at the Islamic
Educational College and received his secondary education at
St. Edmund’s School in Surrey, England, Eaglebrook School
in Massachusetts, then at Deerfield Academy in the United
States of America. In 1980, King Abdullah entered the Royal
Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, where he
received his military education.
King
Abdullah attended Oxford University in 1984, undergoing a
one-year Special Studies course in International Politics
and World Affairs. Upon returning home, His Majesty
continued his military path, gaining experience and working
his way to the rank of Captain and the Commander of a Tank
Company in the 91st Armored Brigade. From 1986-1987, also as
Captain, His Majesty was attached to the Royal Jordanian Air
Force’s Helicopter Anti-Tank Wing as a Tactics Instructor,
where he received qualification as a Cobra Attack Helicopter
Pilot.
In
1987, King Abdullah attended the School of Foreign Service
at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and was in
residence as a Mid-Career Fellow. He undertook Advanced
Study and Research in International Affairs under the
auspices of the Master of Science in Foreign Service Program.
Upon
returning home, His Majesty was assigned to the 17th Tank
Battalion, 2nd Royal Guards Brigade and in the summer of
1989, he became Battalion 2nd-in-Command, with the rank of
Major. In 1991, King Abdullah was the Armor Representative
in the Office of the Inspector General. He was promoted to
Lt. Colonel at the end of the year and assumed command of
the 2nd Armored Car Regiment in the 40th Brigade.
Upon
handing over the battalion in January 1993, King Abdullah
was promoted to full Colonel and assigned as deputy
commander of the Jordanian Special Forces. In June 1994 he
was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, and assumed
command of the Royal Jordanian Special Forces, after having
served as Deputy Commander for six months. His Majesty was
appointed Commander of the Special Operations Command on
October 1997, and in May 1998, he was promoted to the rank
of Major General.
In
addition to his career as an army officer, King Abdullah has
served his country many times in the official capacity of
Regent in the absence of His Majesty King Hussein, and he
regularly traveled with the late King Hussein. Before his
accession to the throne, King Abdullah represented Jordan
and his late father on visits to many countries throughout
the world, and developed close relationships with leaders
and officials of a number of Arab countries during the
course of his career.
King
Abdullah is committed to building on the legacy left by the
late King Hussein to further Jordan’s democratic
institutionalization and political pluralism, while working
for a just and comprehensive peace. Following in his late
father’s footsteps, King Abdullah has placed great
emphasis on improving Jordan’s economy and streamlining
the government which will lay the foundations to allow
Jordan to enter the next century with confidence.
King
Abdullah married Queen Rania on June 10, 1993. Their
Majesties have one son, Prince al-Hussein, born June 28,
1994, and one daughter, Princess Iman, born September 27,
1996.
King
Abdullah is a qualified frogman, pilot and a free-fall
parachutist. His other interests include car racing (he is a
former Jordanian National Rally Racing Champion), water
sports, scuba diving and collecting ancient weapons and
armaments.
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