HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been elected as the 13th President of Federation Equestre Internationale, FEI. She has been elected for a term of four years, i.e. until 2010.

By getting elected to this office, Princess Haya becomes the first Arab woman to occupy the position in FEI, the governing body for all equestrian sports in the world, with his headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Princess Haya, addressing a Press conference at the Sunway Resort Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, after her triumph, said: "I promise to do everything in my power and to work tirelessly to serve the institution and the people who have done me the honour of placing their trust and belief in me. Our beautiful, noble sport is seeped in tradition, history and grace. I will do all I can to protect and advance it, in all its forms."

The elections to the FEI were held following a five-day General Assembly meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which was attended by over 100 representatives from different National Federations affiliated to the FEI. The outgoing FEI President, HRH The Infanta Doٌa Pilar de Borbَn, in office since 1994, had expressed her desire not to run for a fourth term.

The other two contenders for the presidency were HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark and Mr. Freddy Serpieri from Greece. HRH Princess Benedikte is the younger sister of HM Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. The voting took place in two rounds. In the first round Princess Haya received 68 votes, Mr. Serpieri 52 votes and Princess Benedikte 16 votes. In the decisive second round, Princess Haya got 82 votes and Mr. Serpieri received 52 votes.

Princess Benedikte is the current patron of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses, which is the key link between the breeders and international equestrian sport. Mr. Freddy Serpieri has been Chairman of Geographical Group I of FEI and its First Vice President since 1997. Greek national champion in Jumping at Junior and Senior levels, he won the Balkan championship in 1973.

His Excellency Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, while congratulating Princess Haya, said: "This is indeed a moment of glory and pride for the entire country. By winning the pivotal FEI presidency, Princess Haya has taken the country in general and the equestrian sport in particular to its highest level. Having herself been an equestrian sport lover, Princess Haya is certain to carry the sport to its pinnacle and will strive hard to bring laurels to the country at the international level."

HRH Princess Haya Al Bint Al Hussein is the daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan. She took part in the Games of the XXVII Olympiad in Sydney in 2000 and in the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain. Princess Haya is a member of the IOC Athletes' and Culture and Olympic Education Commissions and is the first Arab and first woman to ever become Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme. Her appointment was supported by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, making her the second Goodwill Ambassador ever for the WFP.

At age 13, Princess Haya was the first woman to represent her country internationally in Show jumping. She won an Individual Bronze Medal in the Pan Arab Equestrian Games in 1992, and is the only equestrian sportswoman to ever win a Pan Arab Medal.

In 2000, Princess Haya competed in the Sydney Olympics, riding her late father's mare 'Lucilla II', and was nominated by the delegation to be Jordan's Flag Bearer in the Opening Ceremony. In September 2001, Princess Haya qualified for World Championships in Jerez, Spain 2002, making her the first Arab woman to qualify and compete in an Equestrian World Championship.

Princess Haya has recently also entered the discipline of endurance riding and has qualified for the World Endurance Championship 2005 in Dubai.

Awards and Nominations

• Princess Haya won the Jordanian National Show jumping Championships in the years 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990 and 1992.
• Princess Haya was twice (1988, 1992) decorated by her late father King Hussein, for excelling in her sport internationally.
• Voted "Athlete of the Year" by the Jordanian Public in 1993, and nominated "Athlete of the Year" by The Arab BBC Radio in 1994, after winning numerous National and International Events in the Arab and Asian Region.
• In 1996, Princess Haya also received an award from the Spanish Equestrian Federation as the Equestrian Personality of the Year.
• In March 2000, Princess Haya became the youngest person to receive The International Golden Helm Award from the International Association of Golden Helmsmen of Tourism, after setting up a tourism campaign at the request of her late father during her time training in Germany 1997-1999.
• In February 2006, HM King Abdullah Bin Al Hussein II of Jordan bestowed the Bejeweled Grand Cordon of Al Nahda (Order of the Renaissance) on Princess Haya in recognition of her notable humanitarian efforts and her distinguished role as Goodwill Ambassador for the WFP. The Al Nahda is the highest decoration in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

In parallel with her Equestrian career, Princess Haya's main concentration is focused on humanitarian aid, with a core interest in promoting health, education, youth and sports. Princess Haya works closely with various regional and global charities and social organizations. She also represented Jordan in the FEI General Assembly and was Chairperson of the Middle East and Western Asian Sub Group from 1992-1996.