Amman, May 25 (Petra)– His Majesty King Abdullah II on Monday
bestowed Royal medals on Jordanian institutions and individuals on
the occasion of Jordan’s 80th Independence Day, in recognition of
their distinguished achievements and contributions to Jordan’s
progress and modernization.

The ceremony, held at Al Husseiniya Palace, was attended by Her
Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and Their Royal Highnesses Crown
Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, Prince Hashem bin Abdullah II,
Princess Salma bint Abdullah II, and Princess Rajwa Al Hussein, as
well as a number of Royal family members, and senior officials and
officers.

His Majesty bestowed the Order of Al Istiqlal (Independence) of the
First Degree on the national football team, in recognition of their
qualification for the 2026 World Cup for the first time in the team’s
history, and for finishing as runners-up in the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar
2025, as well as for embodying national pride and igniting national
spirit among Jordanians.

The King bestowed the Order of Al Istiqlal (Independence) of the
First Degree on Al Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans, an initiative
of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, in recognition of its role in
providing a support system for young adult orphans across all
governorates of the Kingdom after they age out of care homes upon
reaching the age of 18, to enable them to complete their education
and build their future.

His Majesty also bestowed the Order of Al Istiqlal (Independence) of
the First Degree on the Association of Banks in Jordan, in
recognition of its role in advancing the banking sector and promoting
financial stability, and for its contributions to supporting vital
sectors in Jordan through corporate social responsibility.

The King bestowed the Order of Al Istiqlal (Independence) of the
First Degree on Muhannad Hijazi in recognition of his role in
strengthening the system of good governance, establishing standards
of integrity, and safeguarding public funds, and for his contribution
to the adoption and development of a comprehensive national strategy
for integrity and the fight against corruption.

His Majesty also bestowed the Order of Al Istiqlal (Independence) of
the First Degree on the Speaking Eco-School project at Al Rajaa
School for the Deaf, affiliated with the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for
Human Development (JOHUD), in recognition of its role in empowering
deaf students to develop skills and actively participate in
environmental sustainability activities.

The King bestowed the King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein Order for
Distinction of the First Degree on the secretary-general of the
General Iftaa Department, Zaid Al Kilani, in recognition of his role
in promoting the values and principles of Islam, moderation, and
balance through his television and radio programmes, and through his
work at the General Iftaa Department and the Board of Iftaa, Islamic
Studies and Research.

His Majesty also bestowed the King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein Order
for Distinction of the First Degree on author Hazza Barari, in
recognition of his literary and theatrical contributions, which have
stood out over the decades and influenced the cultural scene both
locally and across the Arab world.

The King bestowed the King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein Order for
Distinction of the First Degree on Father Yousef Francis Yassa, in
recognition of his humanitarian and social work in caring for orphans
and serving the parish and shrine of Our Lady of the Mountain in
Ajloun.

His Majesty bestowed the King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein Order for
Distinction of the First Degree on the Jordan Relief Campaign, in
recognition of its active community-led role in providing relief and
shelter assistance to Gaza, and for implementing humanitarian
initiatives in partnership with the Jordan Hashemite Charity
Organisation.

The King bestowed the King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein Order for
Distinction of the Second Degree on architect Ammar Khammash, in
recognition of his distinguished career as an architect, painter, and
designer, and his efforts to highlight Jordan’s urban identity and
preserve national heritage.

His Majesty also bestowed the King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein Order
for Distinction of the Second Degree on Sahar Aloul, in recognition
of her role, through the Raya Foundation, to promote women’s economic
participation by expanding welfare policies that support women and
families in the workplace.

The King bestowed the King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein Order for
Distinction of the Second Degree on journalist Jomana Karadsheh, in
recognition of her distinguished career in media, during which she
covered wars, disasters, and humanitarian issues in conflict zones
and crisis areas around the world for more than twenty years.

His Majesty also bestowed the King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein Order
for Distinction of the Second Degree on Amjad Masad, in recognition
of his pioneering role on the global stage in the technology and
artificial intelligence sectors, and for his contributions to
supporting Jordanian start-ups and empowering young talent in
software development.

The King bestowed the King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein Order for
Distinction of the Second Degree on pianist and conductor Karim
Saeed, in recognition of his artistic contributions and efforts to
enrich Jordan’s music scene, and for representing the Kingdom on the
world’s most prestigious stages.

His Majesty also bestowed the King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein Order
for Distinction of the Second Degree on athlete Mohammad Al Jafari,
in recognition of his outstanding achievements on the world stage in
karate, and his winning of several gold medals at international
competitions.

//Petra// MF