Ammon News - 'Ammon News' reports summaries of the qualifications and accomplishments of the new cabinet of Prime Minister Samir Rifai.
Prime Minister – Samir Rifai
Born in 1966, Rifai graduated from Deer Field Academy in the U.S. (1984), received a bachelor's degree from Harvard University, Center for Middle Eastern Studies (1988) and earned a Master's degree in International Relations from Trinity College, Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. Rifai also participated in several extensive training programs at Harvard University.
He worked in the Royal Hashemite Court since 1988 until he was appointed Secretary General of the Royal Court In (1999), where he was credited with implementing a major program of administrative and financial restructuring. He also led the Press Office and Public Relations Department of His Majesty King Abdullah II.
King Abdullah II later promoted Rifai and appointed him Minister Chief of the Royal Court in (2003) and later appointed him in April (2005) as advisor to the King until end of 2005.
In October 2005, he took the position CEO of Jordan Dubai Capital Corporation.
Prior to being named as new Prime Minister, Rifai was the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Company, chairman of Jordan Dubai Properties, chairman of Jordan Dubai Energy and Infrastructure Company, chairman of Energy Arabia Company, chairman of Kingdom Electricity Company, chairman of MESC, chairman of Industrial Development Bank, board member of King's Academy and a member of the Board of Saraya Aqaba.
Rifai also formerly served as chairman of the Royal Committee to Promote Investment, chairman of the Amman Message Preparatory Committee, member of the Committee on Interfaith, member of the Higher Steering Committee for the Peace Process, vice-chairman of the Board of the King Hussein Automobile Museum.
Rifai was also member of the Board of the King Abdullah Award for Excellence and Transparency in the Public Sector, and member of the Board of the Housing Bank for Trade and Finance, member of the Board of Amlak Mortgage Finance.
Samir Rifai is the son of Zeid Rifai, who last week resigned from his post as president of the Senate in Jordan and retired from public life. Both Samir's grandfather and his father have served as the country's prime ministers several times.
Deputy Prime Minister Raja'i Al Muasher
Member of Senate (since 1993), Board Chairman of Jordan Ahli Bank (since 1997), Board Chairman of Al Arab Al Yawm newspaper (since 1999). Muashar earned a PhD degree in Business Administration in 1971 from University of Illinois, and has an MBA degree (1966) and a Bachelors degree in Chemistry (1964). Held former cabinet seats as Minister of Industry and trade (1985-8, 1975-6), and Minister of National Economy (1974-5).
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior - Nayef Al Qadi
Al Qadi earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Baghdad University (1969) and was appointed charge d'affaires for Foreign Ministry in Baghdad (1970), Consul at the Jordanian Embassy in London (1974), Deputy permanent envoy to the Arab League in Tunisia (1980), charge d'affaire of Jordan's Embassy in Beirut (1983), Advisor at the Jordanian Embassy in London (1984) and was appointed Jordan's Ambassador to Qatar in (1989). Al Qadi was a member of the Peace Negotiation team between Jordan and Israel, and was Jordan's Ambassador in Cairo (1993), Jordan's permanent envoy to the Arab league, and a member of the Senate since (1997).
Minister of Communications and Media Affairs - Nabil Al Sharif
Al Sharif worked as a professor of English Language at Yarmouk University and University of Jordan (1982-93), Addustour newspaper Editor-in-Chief (1993-2003/ 2006-9), Board Chairman of Jordan Radio and Television (2003), Press Minister and Government Spokesman (2003), Jordan's Ambassador to Morocco (2004-6), and as non-resident Ambassador to Mauritania (2005-6) and to Senegal (2006). Sharif was Board Chairman of Jordan Press Institute (2007), and Vice Chairman of Jordan News Agency 'Petra' (2007).
Minister of Finance - Dr. Muhammad Abu Hammour
Former Minister of Finance (2003-5), former Minister of Industry and Trade (2003), Secretary General of MoF (2000-3). Abu Hmour earned a PhD degree in Economics from Surrey university in UK (1997), has a Masters in Economics from University of Jordan (1989) and bachelors of Economics from Yarmouk University (1984). Held academic positions at University of Jordan (1998-99), and was head of General Finance Department in Central Bank of Jordan (1997-8) in addition to other positions at CBJ. Abu Hamour is also Board Chairman of Arab Potash Corporation.
Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs - Dr. Abdul Salam Al Abbadi
Earned a PhD degree in Comparative Fiqh (Jurisprudence) with High Honors in Shari'ah and Law faculty at Al Azhar University (1972). Earned Master's preparatory degree in Islamic History at Dar Al Uloum faculty in Cairo University (1968) and Masters in Fiqh from Shariah and Law faculty at Al Azhar University (1967) with distinction. Earned the License university diploma in Islamic Shariah (Law) from Damascus University (1963).
He was a member of the academic Faculty in Shari'ah at University of Jordan (1972-83), and was Dean of Students and Department head during that time. He held the positions of Secretary General of Ministry of Endowments (1982-88), and Director General of Orphan's Funds' Development and Administration institution (1989-93).
Abbadi held position of Minister of Endowments (1993-2001), Appointed Chairman of Board of Trustees at Al al Bayt University (2001-4). Earned Full Professor position in Comparative Jurisprudence at Al Balqaa Applied University (2003).
Royal Decree appointed him President of Al al Bayt University (2004-5) and again in (2006-present). He was Minister of Endowments in 2005. Royal Decree appointed him as Advisor for Islamic and Religious Affairs (2006), Appointed Director General of the International Islamic Fiqh Council of the Organization of the Islamic Countries (OIC) (2008).
Minister of Foreign Affairs - Nasser Sami Judeh
Judeh earned a bachelors degree in International Relations, Law, and International Organizations (Foreign Service degree) from George Town University in Washington. He worked in the Press Office of Late King Hussein in the Royal Court (1985-1992), then as Personal Secretary of then Crown Prince El Hassan Bin Talal. He moved to London in 1992 to establish and administer the Jordan Information Bureau there. He returned to Jordan in 1994 and was appointed Director of Jordan Television, then Director General of the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation. He was appointed Press Minister and Government Spokesman (1998), and moved to the private sector after the government resigned in 1999.
He returned to public work in 2005 and was appointed official Government spokesman, then Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications (2007). He held that position until he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in the 2009 cabinet reshuffle.
Minister of Political Development - Musa Al Maaytah
Holds a Master's degree in Communications Engineering from Bucharest University (1981) and was an activist in the political parties movement prior to 1989. He is one of the founders of the Jordanian Democratic Socialist party (1991), and contributed to the founding of the United Democratic party (formed after merging of four political parties; the Jordanian Socialist party, Democratic Arab party, Democratic Progressive party, and Democratic Party) and was elected secretary general of the party in (1996-2008) (the party was later renamed Jordanian Democratic Leftist party). Maaytah is the Executive Director of Aman Corporation for Trade and marketing since (1999) and Director General of Al Badeel Center for Political studies and training.
Minister of Public Works - Dr. Muhammad Talib Obeidat
Earned a PhD degree in Civil Engineering from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1993), and has two Master's degrees in Civil Engineering from Illinois (93) and Jordan University of Science and Technology (1987), where he had held the position of professor of Civil Engineering since 1994. Obeidat became full professor in 2006. Worked as advisor to Minister of Higher Education (2004-8), Dean of Student Affairs at Science and Technology Univ. (1998-2004), member of Board of Trustees at Jerash Private University, and was president of the Sports Union for Jordanian Universities (1998-2001).
Minister of Public Sector Development - Engineer Emad Najib Fakhouri
Executive president of Aqaba Development Corporation, earned a Masters Degree in Engineering Administer, a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University (1992), and an MBA from Northwestern University in (1998).
Fakhouri worked as an engineer at the Royal Scientific Society, researcher at Harvard Institute for International Development (1992) and a director of Regional Politics in the United Nations Development Program (NY 1992-5). He was an economic consultant and Director of Economic Relations and Research for the Peace Process for Jordan's Foreign Ministry (1995-99). In 2003, he held the position of Coordinator general for Planning Affairs and The King's Programs at the Royal Court. He held the position of Board Chairman of Aqaba Development Corporation from 2004-7, and Executive president until now.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs - Tawfiq Kreishan
Earned a Bachelors degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Beirut Arab University. Ran for Parliament in 1993 and became a deputy. Held position of Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment first in (1996), and held the cabinet position four times since. Held position of Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs twice before. Member of the Senate (1997, 2001, 2003). Kreishan ran again for parliamentary elections and won in 2007.
Minister of Environment - Hazem Malhas
Earned a degree in Civil Engineering from University of Texas, USA. Held positions of Head of Operations at Aramex, founder and CEO of Arigon Corporation for Information Technology services, Executive Director of Optimizer Corporation, Vice president of the Tree Society (headed by Prince Hamzah), and member of Intaaj Society, U.S. Center for Oriental Studies, and Petra National Trust.
Minister of Agriculture - Saeed Al Masri
Al Masri earned a bachelors degree in Civil Engineering from Alexandria University. He worked in the general contracting sector in industrial, road, and building construction. Masri held the position of Technical Director at the Jordanian Corporation for Production and Marketing of Agricultural products, and oversaw production of citrus in the Jordan Valley (1987-97). He also held the position of Deputy Director General at Jordan River Foundation for Agricultural Products.
Minister of Health - Dr. Nayef Al Fayez
Al Fayez earned a PhD degree in Neurosurgery from West Germany and a bachelor’s degree in Medicine from Damascus. He is a member of the Medical Faculty board of the University of Jordan, and President of the Amman branch of Medical Sciences Society. Al Fayez was elected as Deputy in the 14th Parliament, and was First Deputy to Speaker of the 14th House of Deputies.
Minister of Water and Irrigation - Muhammad Al Najjar
Earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Russia (1981), and a Master's degree in Environmental Engineering from New Castle University in England. Al Najjar worked in the Water Authority (1981-present), where he held several positions including Head of Planning and Administration Unit and director of Private Sector participation in Water Projects. He took part in several important water sector projects including Al Disi and Al Khirbeh Al Samrah Projects.
Minister of Social Development - Hala Lattuf
Lattuf held various government and international posts, including Director of Queen Rania Al Abdullah's Office (2007). Executive Director of World Links Arab Region, Advisor to Prime Minister in Government Performance, Secretary General of Ministry of Administrative Development, Secretary General of Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, Jordan's Deputy Governor at the World Bank, and worked in the United Nations Development programs.
Lattuf earned a Masters degree in Accounting and International Finance from London School of Economic and Political Science (1990) and a Bachelor's degree in Applied Economics and Statistics with distinction from University of Jordan.
Minister of Transportation - Alaa Batayneh
Born in Amman in 1969, Batayneh holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in electrical engineering and a Master's in Science degree in management information systems from George Washington University in D.C.
After working in the U.S. and in the UK, he returned to Jordan to work in the private sector.
he served as secretary general of the Ministry of Transport for five years and was appointed director general of the Jordan Customs Department in 2005.
He is also chairman of the Arab Bridge Maritime Company. He also previously held the position of Minister of Transportation and minister of Public Works.
Minister of Planning and International Cooperation - Jaafar Abdul Hassan
Dr. Jaafar Abdul Hassan Al Danadneh holds a PhD and a Masters degree in Political Science and International Economics from the International Studies Institute at Geneva University in Switzerland, a Master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University and another Master's degree in International Relations from Boston University. He earned a bachelor's degree in International Relations from the American University in France with distinction.
He began working with the Foreign Ministry in 1991. Worked in the Royal Court (1993-5) as special assistant to Prince Talal bin Muhammad, who was then Military Secretary to Late King Hussein. Abdul Hassan also worked as special assistant to Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad.
Abdul Hassan worked with Jordan's permanent delegation at the United Nations in Geneva (1995-9) overseeing the issues of human rights and international agreements ratified by Jordan.
He returned in the Royal Court as special assistant to Prince Talal bin Muhammad (1999-2001). He was Jordan's Deputy Ambassador to Washington (2001-6) overseeing political and economic bilateral relations with the U.S. administration. Abdul Hassan held the position of Director of International Affairs Department at the Royal Court since 2006 and speaks Arabic, English, French and Bulgarian.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities - Maha Al Khatib
Holds a Bachelor's of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Jordan and a Master's degree in Public Administration from the American University of Beirut. Khatib served at the Planning Ministry's regional planning department and as chief of the private sector and privatisation unit.
She also served as UNIFEM National Program Director, director of Women and Development programs in the German International Cooperation Agency, and Director General of the Jordan River Foundation and advisor to Queen Rania. She held the ministerial post in the former government.
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research - Dr. Walid Al Maani
Dr. Al Maani earned a bachelor's degree in Medicine and Surgery with distinction from Alexandria University (1969), Associates Diploma in General Surgeon from Alexandria University (1970), and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, UK since (1975), and an Eisenhower Fellow in the U.S. (1983). He worked as a professor of Neurology, and Chief of Medicine at the Neurology Department in the Faculty of Medicine and University of Jordan Hospital. He held the position of Secretary General of the Asian-European Committee of the International organization for brain Research, France.
He is also a member of the teaching committee in the International Union of Neurosurgeons (1998), Treasurer of the U.S.-Jordan educational exchange (Fulbright), and was President of University of Jordan (1998-2002), Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research (2002), Minister of Health (2002-3), and Minister of Education and Higher Education and Scientific Research in the recently resigned Nader Dahabi's government.
Minister of Justice - Ayman Odeh
Born in 1961, Odeh earned a bachelor's degree in law from the University of Jordan in 1982, and a master's degree from Miami University in the USA in 1984.
A member of the Jordan First Commission's anti-corruption committee, the We are All Jordan committee and other legal committees, Odeh has been practising law in Jordanian courts since 1985.
He represented the government and several local companies in several lawsuits abroad. He also worked as a lawyer representing the Arab Bank, and the Law Firm of former Minister of Justice, Sharif Al Zu'bi.
Minister of Education - Dr. Ibrahim Badran
Dr. Badran holds the position of Advisor to the President of Philadelphia University for International Relations and Scientific Centers, member of the Royal Advisory Committee for Education, member of the Jordan Academy of Arabic, member of the Higher Council for Family Affairs, member of the Arab Thought Forum, professor of Electrical Engineering at Philadelphia University, and head of the Scientific Consultation Center there. He was formerly advisor to the Prime Minister, and held positions of Secretary General of Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and was the Executive Director of the Noor Al Hussein Foundation.
Dr. Badran received his PhD degree in Electrical Engineering from University of London (1970), and a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Cairo University in (1963), in addition to special studies in economics, development, energy, technology, philosophy, sociology, and political science.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources - Khaled Al Irani
Born in 1964, Irani got his Bachelor's in Science and Master's in Science degrees in Agriculture from the University of Jordan (1986).
Since 1996, he has served as director general at the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) and project coordinator for Dana GEF project.
His previous positions included manager of protected areas department at the RSCN, research assistant at the university of Jordan and Land Use Planner at the Ministry of Agriculture.
Irani Served as Environment Minister in the previous two governments.
Minister of Trade and Industry - Amer Al Hadidi
Born in 1968, Hadidi obtained a Bachelor's of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Bridgeport.
He worked as project engineer at the Industrial Development Bank, secretary general of the Ministry of Transportation, executive director of the public sector reform administration and director of the Industrial Development Directorate of the Industry and Trade Ministry.
Hadidi also served as director of the King Abdullah II Award for Excellence for the private sector. He held the position of Minister of Industry and Trade in PM Nader Dahabi's government.
Minister of Culture - Nabih Shuqum
Shaqam earned a degree from the Islamic Sciences College and graduated from the University of Jordan with a degree in Political Science. He worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Jordanian Embassy in France, the Prime Ministry, the Royal Hashemite Court, and held the position of head of Royal Protocol and Headed the European and U.S. Department in the Foreign Ministry. He also held several positions as Ambassador, Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry, personal Advisor to Foreign Minister and had earned a number of honorary awards.
Minister of Labor - Dr. Ibrahim Attallah Al Omoush
Earned a Masters and PhD degrees in Law from England, and graduated from University of Jordan with a bachelor's in Law. Former faculty member in the Law Department at the University of Jordan. Omoush was also a former member of the Anti-Corruption Commission committee. He holds the position of legal counsel and lawyer for a number of public institutions and private firms, and is a member of the Investment Unit committee in the Social Security Corporation and a member of the administrative board of several corporations.
Minister of Municipal Affairs - Ali Al Ghezawi
Al Ghezawi earned a Master's degree in Economics from the United States, worked in the Royal Scientific Society and in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation. He held the positions of Director General of Milh Al Safi Corporation.
Al Ghezawi is a researcher in Economics and Administration sciences and is a lecturer at Princes Summaya University for Technology.
He held the position of Director General of the Development and Employment Fund since 2003.
Minister of Communications and Information Technology - Marwan Juma
Juma held the positions of CEO of Express Telecommunications Corporation, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Jordan Information Technology Company Group (Intaaj), Board Chairman of 'Dot Jo' Corporation, CEO of Batelco Jordan Corporation.
Juma also held the position of Board Chairman of the Young Arab Leaders' - Jordan and is a member of the Jordan Hashemite Fund for Human Development.
Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs - Jamal Al Shamayleh
Shamayleh received a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from University of California (1981), and joined the Jordanian Foreign Ministry as an attache (1983-4), Special Secretary to the Prime Minister/ representing Foreign Ministry (1984-6), Third Secretary of Jordan's Permanent Delegation to the United Nations' European headquarters in Geneva (1986-9).
Shamayleh also held the position of Special Secretary of Her Majesty Queen Noor Al Hussein (1989-91), Second Secretary at the Jordanian Embassy in Brazil (1991-5), First Secretary at the Foreign Ministry's Peace Negotiations Coordination office (1995-6), First secretary at the Jordanian Embassy in paris (1996-9), and First Secretary and Assistant Director of European and Americas' Affairs (1999-2000).
Shamayleh was appointed Advisor at the Jordanian Embassy in Vienna (2000-5), and Foreign Ministry Advisor - Assistant Director of International Organizations' Administration (2005-6), Charge D'affaires at the Jordanian Embassy in Brussels (2006-7). Shamayleh later headed the office of Prime Ministry (2007-8), and was appointed as Ambassador/ head of the Special Political Office at the Foreign Ministry (2008), and until his latest appointment as minister, he had held the position of Jordan's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates since September (2008).
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