Moza bint Nasser

HH Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned Sheikha Mozah speaking at the Third Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2010) Consort to the Emir of Qatar Tenure 27 June 1995 – 25 June 2013 Born Al Khor, Qatar Spouse Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Issue Jassim bin Hamad Tamim bin Hamad Al Mayassa bint Hamad Joaan bin Hamad Mohammed bin Hamad Khalifa bin Hamad Hind bint Hamad Father Nasser bin Abdullah Al Missned Religion Sunni Islam

Styles of Sheikha Mozah Reference style Her Highness Spoken style Your Highness Alternative style Sheikha

Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, DBE (Arabic: موزا بنت ناصر المسند‎), the daughter of Nasser bin Abdullah Al Missned, is the second of the three wives of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, former Emir of the State of Qatar.^[1]

Early life and education

Mozah married Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani in 1977, when he was heir apparent of Qatar.^[2] She received a BA in Sociology from the Qatar University in 1986, and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2003.^[3]

Career

Sheikha Mozah with her husband at the White House in Washington, D.C.. From left to right: Sheikha Mozah, Michelle Obama, the US First Lady, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, and Barack Obama, the US President.

Sheikha Mozah has been chairperson of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development since 1995, chairperson of Silatech since 2008, chairperson of the Arab Democracy Foundation, and president of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs since 1998.^[4] She has been vice-president of the Supreme Education Council since 2002 and was UNESCO's Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education in 2003.^[5] Currently, she serves as a member of the Board of Overseers for Weill Cornell Medical College. Besides this, she is chair of Sidra Medical and Research Center in Doha and the organisation "Your Link".

Unlike many other monarchical wives in the Middle East, Sheikha Mozah has been a high-profile figure in her nation's politics and society, actively involved in Qatar's government. She was a driving force behind Education City and Al Jazeera Children's Channel. She is the owner of Le Tanneur, a French leather-goods manufacturer.^[6] Additionally, she has been named as one of Forbes' 100 Most Powerful Women at #75.^[7][8]

As the public consort of the emir, she has represented Qatar alongside her husband and on her own at many international events, including state visits and royal weddings.^[9] She has become known for her personal style, customising haute couture designs to fit Qatari modesty rules.^[10]

Titles, styles, and honours

Titles and styles

Mozah may be styled as "Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser".^[11][12]

Honours

• Honorary Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) (2010, UK).^[13][14]
• Member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts (2009, France).
• Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (07/11/2007, Italy).^[15]
• Doctor of Humane Letters (D.H.L.) from Virginia Commonwealth University (2003, Richmond, Virginia).
• Doctor of Humane Letters (D.H.L.) from Carnegie Mellon University (2006, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania).^[16]
• Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (20 April 2011, Spain).^[17]
• Dame of the Order of the Smile (2012).^[18]

Children

Five sons and two daughters:

• Sheikh Jasim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (born 1978) – heir apparent of Qatar until 2003.
• Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Prince of Qatar (born 1980) – heir apparent of Qatar (2003–2013), current Emir of Qatar.
• Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani (born 1983).
• Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (born 1985).
• Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (born 1988).
• Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani (born 1991).
• Sheikha Hind bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani – director of the Emir's Office since 2009.

References

1. Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (2012). H.H. Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser Al-Missned. Retrieved 25 June 2013 from http://themuslim500.com/profile/h-h-sheikha-moza-bint-nasser-al-missned.
2. Danna Harman (5 March 2007). "Backstory: The royal couple that put Qatar on the map". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
3. "Biography of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Abdullah al Missned". UNESCO. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
4. "Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned". UNAOC.
5. "Her Highness Sheikha Mozah, UNESCO Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education, hosts Regional Conference on Literacy Challenges in the Arab Region in Doha, Qatar". UNESCO.
6. lexpress.fr: "Les vies secrètes de Dominique de Villepin", 28 May 2015
7. "Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned". Forbes.
8. marhaba.qa: "Who’s Who in Qatar: The People of Qatar You Should Know About", 10 Aug 2014
9. "Sheikha Mozah in Spain". Order of Splendor blog.
10. "Sheikha Mozah The Qatar first lady that makes Carlà tremble". Vogue.
11. "Biography". mozabintnasser.qa. Office of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, State of Qatar. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
12. "United Nations Goodwill and Honorary Ambassadors—Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasse". unesco.org. UNESCO. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
13. Dashing Duke is the perfect host to elegant Emir's wife on magnificent state visit - website Hellomagazine.com
14. "Noblesse et Royautés (French) : photos showing the decoration; see also : Medal of the World - Order of the British Empire
15. Sito web del Quirinale: dettaglio decorato
16. Carnegie Mellon University Honorary Degree Recipients
17. Boletín Oficial del Estado
18. The World of Energy

External links

• Official site of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser
• Backstory: Qatar reformed by a modern marriage