Amman, Jan. 30 (Petra)– Hiba Ramadan – Jordanians on January 30 celebrate the 64th birthday of His Majesty King Abdullah II, as the Jordanian success story continues to shine as a living example of how visionary leadership, combined with the determination of youth, can drive national progress.

The King’s steadfast approach in supporting entrepreneurship and excellence remains a guiding compass for young energies, a clear testament that achievement has no ceiling and that investing in Jordanians is the nation’s true wealth and the cornerstone of building the future Jordan.

His Majesty places Jordanian youth at the heart of national priorities, stemming from his deep belief that they are the engine of progress and the future of the country. This commitment is reflected in his continuous efforts to empower young people and channel their energies into comprehensive modernization pathways.

The King has repeatedly emphasized the importance of benefiting from youth ideas and proposals in the development process and in overcoming economic challenges, stressing that Jordanian youth continue to present inspiring success stories through entrepreneurial projects and developmental initiatives. This vision is translated into action through encouraging outstanding models and linking their creative ideas with available opportunities to build a more prosperous Jordan.

On the occasion of His Majesty’s 64th birthday, the Jordan News Agency (Petra) highlighted several Jordanian role models who embody the impact of royal support and motivation in empowering persons with disabilities and transforming their ideas and aspirations into tangible achievements on the ground.

Among these is engineer Hadeel Abu Soufa, General Manager of Al-Muassiroun Factory for Woven Bags, who participated in a royal meeting with a group of Jordanian industrialists in 2025. Her participation underscored the importance of empowering women particularly women with disabilities and strengthening their presence in the industrial sector.
Abu Soufa told Petra that her meeting with His Majesty marked a pivotal milestone in her professional and personal journey. She described it as more than an honor, but rather a genuine motivation to shoulder greater responsibility. She noted that His Majesty sees potential before challenges and focuses on what youth can contribute to the nation regardless of disability or circumstances.

Professionally, she said the meeting reinforced her belief that the industrial sector can be more inclusive and equitable, and that women especially women with disabilities are not merely support elements, but leaders and decision-makers. She explained that her vision has become clearer toward developing an inclusive industrial environment that invests in competence and commitment, and opens the door for women and persons with disabilities to be active contributors to production, not marginalized participants.

Abu Soufa added that the meeting strengthened her determination to transform her personal experience into a practical model proving that true empowerment begins with trust and ends with tangible achievements. She emphasized that women’s presence in senior leadership positions makes a real difference and contributes to increasing exports.

She also noted that the support and encouragement provided by His Majesty to youth and industrialists is the cornerstone for turning ideas into real economic achievements. This support, she said, goes beyond funding and initiatives, carrying a clear moral message that the state stands behind everyone who works, strives, and innovates.

“When young people or industrialists feel that the leadership believes in them, ideas transform from dreams into projects, from projects into job opportunities, and from job opportunities into added value for the national economy,” she said, noting the positive impact on reducing unemployment, enhancing local production, and empowering the most vulnerable groups, particularly women and persons with disabilities.

She added that during the meeting she presented a proposal to His Majesty regarding solutions to reduce land shipping costs to help industrialists enter neighboring markets at competitive prices.

Another inspiring Jordanian success story reflecting the impact of royal support in empowering youth is that of Mohannad Al-Suyouf, one of the most widely followed digital content creators in the Arab world. Royal recognition served as a major boost to his career, as His Majesty King Abdullah II awarded him the Silver Jubilee Medal in 2024 an example of how such support enables youth, including youth with disabilities, to transform their experiences into influential success stories.

Al-Suyouf said that receiving the Silver Jubilee Medal was a moment of immense pride, not only for him personally, but for everyone who believed in themselves despite challenges. He stressed that the honor reinforced his conviction that effort is never wasted and that a journey which begins from zero can indeed reach its goals.

He added that the medal placed a greater responsibility on him to continue producing deeper, more honest, and people-centered content, considering it a trust and an honor he must live up to. He noted that royal support sends a clear message to youth: the state recognizes their abilities and believes in their potential, and that circumstances or difficult beginnings do not define their endings. Such support, he said, opens the door for young people to transform their challenges into impactful achievements that inspire others and encourage perseverance.

Al-Suyouf emphasized that digital content creation has become the language of the era and a powerful tool in shaping awareness. It is no longer limited to entertainment, but has evolved into a means of conveying messages, serving society, and shedding light on important issues in an authentic and relatable way. He added that content creators, through their values and style, reflect the image of their country, and that honest content can convey a positive and genuine image of the nation, often more influential than advertising because it reaches from heart to heart.

In another pioneering Jordanian example that reflects the impact of royal support in empowering youth, Rawan Barakat, founder of the “Raneen” initiative, was able thanks to this support to develop her project into an influential initiative at both the national and Arab levels. Her recognition in 2009 with the King Abdullah II Award for Youth Achievement and Creativity significantly boosted her journey and expanded the impact of her project, which aims to develop listening and communication skills among students and create an audio library of children’s stories in Arabic.

Barakat said that His Majesty’s continuous support for youth has been a key driver in unleashing their potential and transforming ideas into tangible projects. She explained that her personal experience with the lack of suitable educational resources for visually impaired children inspired her to launch “Raneen,” which provides audio libraries in a dramatic, interactive style to enhance learning and imagination skills among both visually impaired and sighted children.

She noted that winning the award was a true source of inspiration, helping her develop the project from an individual initiative into a community-based institution with wide-reaching impact. “Raneen” has since received numerous Arab and international awards, including the Synergos Award for Social Innovation, an Ashoka Fellowship for Social Entrepreneurship, and the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak International Arab Youth Award in the category of a pioneering, youth-supporting institution.

Barakat added that her journey also received continued royal recognition, as His Majesty King Abdullah II awarded her the Order of Al-Hussein for Distinguished Giving, Second Class, in 2015, in appreciation of her community contributions and pioneering role in serving issues related to childhood and persons with disabilities.

Speaking about “Raneen,” Barakat said the project has produced more than 52 audio stories and reached schools, educational centers, and even refugee camps, benefiting thousands of children. She emphasized that her experience demonstrates the profound impact of royal support in empowering Jordanian youth support that goes beyond symbolic recognition and translates into real opportunities for growth, creativity, and tangible achievements that benefit society as a whole.

She also highlighted that His Majesty’s continuous support for persons with disabilities has played a major role in strengthening their rights and empowerment in Jordan. In this context, she noted that His Majesty’s inauguration of the Third Global Disability Summit in 2025 reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the rights of persons with disabilities and enhancing their opportunities within society.

//Petra// MF
30/01/2026 21:25:51