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The King of Jordan is going to fund $1.5 billion for a Star Trek amusement park in the Hashemite Kingdom. A major Trekkie himself, King Abdullah II has teamed up with American and Mideast investors to build the theme park in the Gulf of Aqaba in southern Jordan.
 Click here for more King Abdullah II images The park will called the Red Sea Astrarium and will feature a large “space-flight adventure” ride based 2009′s “Star Trek” film remake. There’s also a chance for some non-Star Trek rides and attractions.
At the same time, there are plans to invest in the entire Aqaba area because of this project. Hotels, restaurants, theaters, and shopping centers are on the list, as well as tours that will give people a chance to learn about Jordanian history. Aqaba is described by AOL Travel as “a fairly quiet place, but it has the makings of a resort town.”
Rubicon Group Holdings is the company overseeing the development of this theme park.
His Majesty once made a non-speaking cameo appearance on Star Trek in the mid-90s, back when he was simply Prince Abdullah.
Jordan has a struggling economy and high unemployment rate. It was one of the many countries that witnessed protests during the Arab Spring.
Sources: TIME, AOL Travel
 Click here to see more photos! The cousin of the King of Jordan got married Friday in a ceremony attended by Arab and European royals alike. Prince Rashid Al Hassan, the son of King Abdullah II’s uncle, 31 year old Prince El Hassan, married Zeina Shabban, age 23 and a former athlete. The couple got engaged about a year ago.
The ceremony took place at Basman Palace in the presence of the King, Queen Rania, Prince El Hassan and his wife, Princess Sarvath, plus the bride’s extended family.
Royals in attendance were King Hamad of Bahrain, Queen Sofia of Spain, Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, and the Duke of Edinburgh.
The groom’s father was once heir to the Hashemite Kingdom for decades. But in 1999, on his deathbed, Prince Hassan’s brother, King Hussein, changed the succession and gave the throne to his son, Abdullah. If King Hussein had not made that historic change. Prince Rashid would be heir to the Jordanian throne now, and Princess Zeina, the next Queen.
Source: Ammon News
The King and Queen of Jordan went to Qatar Tuesday for a one day working visit, which is like a state visit minus all the pageantry. King Abdullah II and Queen Rania were welcomed in Doha by Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al thani and Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al Missned.
The point of the King’s visit was to discuss with the Emir about forging closer ties between Jordan and Qatar, as well as talk about the latest developments in the Middle East.
Joining the heads of state during this meeting was the King’s half brother, Prince Ali, and Qatar’s Crown Prince Tamim.
In the afternoon, the Emir and Sheikha Mozah hosted a lunch banquet for Abdullah and Rania.
Source: Petra News Agency
As part of their whirlwind visit to the Mideast, Spain’s Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia stopped by Jordan on Wednesday. They were welcomed by King Abdullah II and Queen Rania, whom held a lunch banquet in their honor. The meal consisted of Mansaf – a traditional Jordanian dish made of lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented dried yogurt and served with rice – and hummus.
Afterward, Prince Felipe took time to meet with the King to discuss stronger bilateral ties between Jordan and Spain. He had a similar meeting with Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit, whom praised Spain’s support of the kingdom’s education, training and energy fields.
Bakhit also briefed the Prince on the political changes Jordan is going through. Jordan, like so many other Arab nations, is looking to reform after months of protests by its people.
As always, the subject of the Mideast Peace Process and establishing a Palestinian state was talked about.
Later on Wednesday, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia did some touring of Amman, with Prince Mohammed bin Talal and Princess Gheida accompanying them. They went to the Martyr’s Memorial, where they were received by Deputy Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Major General Zeyad Majali.
The Spanish royals also went to the University of Jordan and opened the Spanish pavilion in one of its buildings.
Sources: Zawya, Hello! Magazine
On Monday, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and his son and heir, Crown Prince Hussein, went to the Southern Badia region to meet with the Al Hweitat tribal leaders. They went to discuss development projects in the region but also to praise the Al Hweitat for their support of the monarchy during the protests from the past three months.
- Click here to see more pics at Daylife
King Abdullah told the 2,000 representatives of the Al Hweitat that Jordan will move ahead with reform and modernization in line with a clear vision to build the best future that citizens deserve and provide a decent living for all.
The King said he was aware of the struggles the Jordanians were facing but said he was confident in his people and their loyalty to the monarchy. “Jordan will remain stronger than any challenges with the determination of its people and through preserving national unity any confronting any attempts to harm the Kingdom or tamper with its security and stability.”
Stressing allegiance to the King and the country, tribal leader Sultan Feisal Al Jazi said the Southern Badia tribes will not allow those who seek to harm the country to do so.
“We all want a hereditary monarchy and no one is allowed to violate this. We accepted this and grew up with this situation and this is the opinion of the majority,” he said.
“We also want to preserve the security, stability and resources of the country,” he said, noting that the region is witnessing fast-paced developments.
“Those on the other side should believe this, and that we in the Southern Badia never had to renew our allegiance as we never gave up this allegiance,” Jazi added.
Sources: Jordan Times, Jordanian Prime Ministry
The King of Jordan made his first public remarks regarding the demonstrations in Amman Tuesday. He referred to Friday’s violent protests in which one person was killed and 120 were injured during clashes between native Jordanians and Jordanians of Palestinian origin.
 Click here for more King Abdullah II pics King Abdullah II said he supports the freedom of expression but warned that he will not tolerate “vandalism and chaos.”
He said this to a national dialogue committee who are drafting laws for greater public freedoms, as a way to reduce the three months of protests. Like many in the Arab world, people in Jordan are demanding more political freedom and jobs.
At the same time, Jordan will be banning government supporters from rallying in Amman.
“From now on protests by loyalists can only be held outside Amman to avoid clashes with the opposition,” an official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“The opposition can demonstrate in certain areas in Amman,” he said without elaborating.
Mustafa Rawashdah, a member of the dialogue committee, told AFP that during the committee meeting, King Abdullah “stressed that Jordan will not allow anybody to ‘sabotage’ the reform drive”.
“He told us that only two percent of Jordanians do not want reforms. He said that ‘those who do not want reforms are not loyalist and loyalists must be reformist’.”
“The king called for opening a new chapter and working as one team,” Rawashdah said.
“You have a key role in transforming Jordan into a new era of reform, modernisation and development. I will be the guarantor of your dialogue results. There is no alternative for dialogue,” the palace statement quoted King Abdullah as telling panel members.
Sources: AFP, Arab News, The Canadian Press
The Prime Minister of Jordan told lawmakers Thursday that stripping King Abdullah II’s powers violates the constitution. Marouf al-Bakhit gave a speech saying so in Parliament, where the opposition has been calling for a constitutional monarchy for Jordan, and make the King a ceremonial figure.
 REUTERS/Yousef Allan “The constitution is clear and gives the king absolute powers,” al-Bakhit said. He also rebuffed demands for a transition to a constitutional monarchy, saying it is “a violation of the constitution and bypasses political reforms.”
Jordanians have been protesting like many of their fellow Arabs, demanding for political reform for weeks. One of the reforms they wish to see is having the King’s powers, such as appointing prime ministers, be relinquished.
Jordan’s 1952 constitution says that the country’s system of government is “parliamentary with a hereditary monarchy.”
The constitution also says that the people are the “source of all powers,” but gives the king absolute authority to ratify laws, appoint Cabinets, dissolve parliaments and rule by decree. It also confers immunity from all liabilities.
Even though King Abdullah said he wanted to see a constitutional monarchy when he ascended to the throne in 1999, he has yet to make any moves towards that. Al-Bakhit is his appointed premier.
However, al-Bakhit did tell parliament about being open to political reform. In one case, the election of a prime minister could come once Jordan’s many political parties – there are 34 of them – fuse into two or three. Upon that, the premier would come from a majority in the elected lower house of parliament.
Source: The Canadian Press
This Sunday, Jordan’s King Abdullah II held a meeting with his new government, urging them to do “real and quick reform” which would lead to more power to lawmakers and root out corruption. This meeting came as anti-government protests across the Arab world continued to grow.
 AP Photo/Jordan Royal Palace, Yousef Allan “We need hard work, and we need a continuous process of assessment and evaluation to correct errors and failures,” Abdullah said after meeting with new government ministers, members of parliament and judges.
But he added, “Reform is our unwavering will.”
“Because without genuine reforms, the situation will remain as it was, when many officials wasted opportunities because of reluctance to move forward and fear of change.”
“We also want economic reform that improves people’s standards of living, ensures justice and creates jobs and opportunities for our youth, who will endure all difficulties if they are confident that they are moving towards a better future,” the King said.
Abdullah also highlighted the need to tackle corruption.
“If you suspect corruption, start an investigation immediately. If you find out that the corruption accusations are untrue, make this clear… irresponsible talk harms the country,”
King Abdullah swore in his new government on February 9th, with Marouf al Bakhit as prime minister, plus several opposition leaders in the cabinet.
This past Friday saw clashes between pro and anti-government demonstrators with several people injured.
Like many other Mideast nations, Jordan is dealing with high unemployment and a struggling economy. But, says its monarch, all is not dismal.
“Thank God, no one in this country has disappeared and not a single drop of blood has been shed for reasons related to politics or opinion, as the situation is in some countries,” he said.
But he added, “I want to make it clear to everyone that I will not allow, nor will Jordanians allow, anybody to spread division or harm the country’s stability and achievements or the unity and cohesion of our people.”
Sources: CNN, AFP
In an unprecedented move Sunday, 36 leaders of Jordan’s tribes released a statement criticizing Queen Rania and demanding political reform so the country won’t suffer the unrest seen in Egypt and Tunisia.
 YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty Images/FILE The Bedouin tribes make up nearly 40 percent of Jordan’s population and are seen as the bedrock of the monarchy.
In the statement, the tribal leaders criticized Rania’s “interference in executive decisions by those who have no constitutional powers,” and added that the “sycophants and the power centers that surround her” are dividing Jordanians and “stealing from the country and the people,” the letter states.
“The Queen is building centres to boost her power and serve her interests, against the will of Jordanians and Hashemites,” the leaders said, comparing her to Leila Ben Ali, wide of ousted Tunisian president.
“We refuse the squandering of public money and aid to polish her own personal image at the expense of the nation,” the figures said, referring to the Queen’s lavishness.
The tribal figures went on to say that if corruption was not prosecuted and reform was did not take place, “similar events to those in Tunisia and Egypt and other Arab countries will occur.”
Finally, the leaders called for a “trial of the corrupt who have looted the country and public funds, regardless of who they are and irrespective of their rank and importance” – which is a further attack on Queen Rania.
Criticism of the royal family is illegal in Jordan, especially that of the King, so these tribal leaders attacking the Queen is a major development in the anti-government movement hitting Jordan.
The statement was originally posted on the popular Jordanian news website, Ammon News, which claimed to have been hacked and then removed the statement.
The royal family has yet to respond the criticism by the Bedouin leaders.
Source: CNN, AFP
After weeks of tensions and increasing protests in his country, King Abdullah II of Jordan fired his cabinet Tuesday. The King dismissed Prime Minister Samir Rifai and called for a new government under the eye of Maarouf Al Bakhit, a career military man with a reputation for maintaining order and stability.
 Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP/File But this is nothing new for Abdullah. He has done this eight times during his 12 year reign, and he does so when there is either scandal or low confidence in the government.
“The government has really two roles,” says prominent political blogger Naseem Tarawnah. “One is to implement an agenda, the other is to be a scapegoat in case things go wrong.”
However, this is the first time the King has dissolved his government amid civil unrest, not only in Jordan, but across the Middle East region. Besides Egypt, anti-government demonstrations have been seen in Yemen and Syria is expected to be next.
For the three past Fridays, there has been protests in the Hashemite Kingdom against rising food costs and severe unemployment. Some of the demonstrators wave the green flag of Muslim Brotherhood. These rallies have been crucial for King Abdullah, who has never had to deal with such problems before.
Because direct criticism of the King is forbidden in Jordan, the protesters criticized instead his government. Upon learning of its dismissal and of a new prime minister, the reactions were mixed. Some were please while others, particularly the Islamic Action Front, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, saw the move as insufficient due to the need for greater political freedom.
“This is a sad day for Jordan,” says Mustafa Hamarneh, a policy analyst and chairman of the board of the independent magazine As-Sijil. The Bakhit government, he says, represents the “securitization of the state.”
“This is not a reform government,” he says. “This is the government that gave us the worst elections in history, this is the government that buried the [National] Agenda,” Jordan’s last blueprint for comprehensive liberal reforms.
Ali Habashneh, a retired general who had participated in public protests, said the appointment was “wise,” adding, “He is the right man to lead the country at this time.”
Maarouf Al Bakhit, age 63, served as prime minister once before, from 2005 to 2007. He is said to be close to King Abdullah and was deeply involved with the Mideast peace process.
While no Jordanians are calling for the end of the monarchy, some analysts say it is difficult to predict what may happen in the coming days as calls for government change in the Middle East spreads.
Sources: New York Times, Christian Science Monitor
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