The World's 50 Most Influential Arabs

gadarene,

I agree with you, however unlikely Genesis, I was not discussing "influence in Qatar", i was rather discussing "influence in the world".

Genesis,

We are discussing two different issues:

I am discussing "World's 50 Most Influential Arabs" - thus, global scale;

Whilst you are discussing "Qatar's most influential Arab".

I understood you don't care about the global scale, and I agree with you about Sheika Mozah's important role in the progress of Qatar's society (regardless her actual education).

I understand that it’s quite impossible for you as a Qatari, to agree with what I said and what the world thinks (that Queen Rania is more influential persona at a global scale than your Sheika), so just leave this way.

As for the courage to speak out the good and the bad, regardless what you said, you know that the average Qatari citizen would not dare to do so in public exposing their face and name, you know that, right? Qatar is not yet a Democracy!

The contribution that Her Highness has made toward progress of Qatari society & especially women's rights in this male-dominated society is unquestionable & that is a HUGE step in this country & this region,to go against the forces that be...we expats,especially non-Arabs wouldn't get to hear about or read about the opposition to her reforms but judging purely by the way the average Qatari male(no offence genesis,i'm not referring to you!) treats their women,it is obvious they would be fiercely opposed to Her Highness reforms because they are geared at putting Qatari women on par with their male counterparts & the difference is there to see without a doubt...

As genesis correctly put,a little knowledge of history in terms of Her Highness' family especially her father will put things in a better perspective...

Honestly, I don't care who's more influential in a global scale. I was stating my opinion as Qatari citizen. All my posts were in response to your OP where you claimed that "this society" never dared to say what they think of their leaders.

You can post whatever you like and I'm entitled to respond back;)

As for all the "enormous things that's not right", bring it on...no one is stopping you.

Too bad you see things that way.

You certainly agree with me that Queen Rania of Jordan has a great charisma and that can move mountains, don't you?

I could also list innumerous things that are not well in your own country in spite of all the free money that pours in on a continuous basis, but that’s not necessary nor is the OP’s topic.

I have no right to claim that I know the country? Did I claim that?! Or was that the OP topic?

I have the impression, that you just don't like the way I speak out what I think, am I right?

I do make an effort not to be personal, but sometimes it’s necessary to wake up those who are anesthetized by the Status Quo.

In my humble and personal opinion, I and many others in the world, think that Queen Rania of Jordan is more influential personality in the International scene when compared to the person described in the OP.

Do I have the right to think?

(just kidding, my friend!)

;)

What a joke!

So her achievements are limited to chairing some organizations and empty speeches?

How significant was that to the world or her country?

What was her contribution to end the plight of her own people in issues like honor killing (Jordan is of the highest rate of honor killing among other Islamic countries ), unemployment , and discrimination against Palestinians.

In the other hand, HH Sheika Mozah has many concrete initiatives on the ground like for instance Silatech

Www.silatech.com

Where Many Youth from Arab countries with high unemployment rate like Syria, Morocco and Yemen are given better chances for employment.

I have replayed in your intial comment, that not all has one opinion. And that was expressed in written media in the past few years. In fact a recent article by a Qatari salafi intellect questioned the need for having a Weill Cornell campus in Doha and speculates that QF is paying WCMC a 1 million $ daily just for the branding! This was published both locally and in a famous Pan Arab forum.

Just because the English local dailies has very limited freedom of expression,doesn't give you the right to claim to know the country

As you know nothing...

P

Genesis,

Just a minor correction of what you said:

If you listen to the Al Jazeera's interview (available in YouTube), you will see that when the interviewer asked Sheika Mozah what their parents thought about her being a women and proceeding with her studies, she replies that she studied and eventually graduated when she was already married with the Emir.

As for the amazing International work of Queen Rania of Jordan, here are a few achievements:

• In November 2000, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) invited Queen Rania to join its Global Leadership Initiative.

• At the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2007, Rania was named UNICEF's first Eminent Advocate for Children.

• In August 2009, Queen Rania was named Co-Founder and Global Co-Chair of 1GOAL.

• July 2009, the United Nations made Queen Rania Honorary Chairperson for the UN Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI).

• For their Global Action Week in April 2009, the Global Campaign for Education named Queen Rania their Honorary Chairperson.

• In early 2002, Queen Rania joined the Board of Directors of the International Youth Foundation, based in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States.

• In September 2002, Queen Rania became a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Foundation Board.[51] She is also on the Foundation Board of the Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGL) and has been the Chairperson for the Nominations and Selection Committee since July 2004, when the forum was established.

• In September 2006, Queen Rania joined the United Nations Foundation Board of Directors.

• Rania is a member of the Every Child Council for the GAVI Alliance.

• Rania is an Honorary Member of the International Advisory Council for the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW).

• Queen Rania is Co-Chair of the Arab Open University.

• She is Honorary Chairperson of the Jordanian Chapter of Operation Smile.

The despise shown in your comment above (Wed, 13/10/2010 - 8:52am) reveals either ignorance or jealousy.

However I understand your “rage”, as you are a Qatari and it’s acceptable to be biased towards your country.

All I wanted here was to experience how it is to openly discuss different opinions in Qatar about a topic that people can only have one say (in public). You proved my initial comment:

"Will this society ever dare to say what they think about their leaders? The good and the not so good.

It would be refreshing and it would build credibility, if different opinions were welcome and allowed!"

noms,

it's all cool ;)

and by the way this guy really has an impressive collection of rankings!

She is a delight and very down to earth.

alrite Nic, probably u took my post the other way. should you see my initial post where i posted this extract from this guy's profile, I'v mentioned "if its just about Ranking".

noms,

O_o

The whole OP is about one individual, not about the whole list.

My reference to another individual was to benchmark with the OP.

Yours has no relation with the individual described in the OP, thus my observation to your comment.

:)

Nic: So, you mean to say Wadah's achievements that lists him at the top of list arent international.

I never thought you to be that shallow, judging a person intellect level over her command of a language !!! Allow me to remind you that her highness is a QU graduate and one of the general public before marrying HH the prince.

If you think that Qatar foundation is her only achievement , you're mistaken.

Qatari women driving , working in any other field than teaching at girl's school or even appearing in a newspaper or TV was a taboo until the late 90's. She came and abolish all that, despite all the criticism. Only she would dare to challenge the local community with issues like acceptance of people with special needs, cousin marriages, medical checks before marriage and domestic violence against women. Being a daughter of renowned political activist in the 1960's, she's pushed qataris towards establishing civic organizations. All that wasn't done by money , but with her own determination. Despite the status quo, and other strong conservative influences on the power that be.

You still haven't name me one significant thing that Queen Rania accomplished. And don't tell me that UN initiatives , which are not much different than what most Hollywood celebrities humanitarian acts ;)

genesis,

Don’t get to emotional, it maybe be interpreted as signs of insecurity ;)

As for the language comment, I am not judging the language skills. It’s not about the command of a language - that is very good actually. It’s about the substance of the message…

As I said above, I am comparing two individual's influences in the world (not in Qatar or Jordan), as per the OP title.

No doubt that she did all that, and excellent job for Qatar, but we are talking about “World’s most influential people”, not “Qatar’s most influential people”.

noms

Queen Rania was dragged into it, to compare are benchmark with Sheika Mozah's achievements at an international level.

nic: i see the topic also states "top ten most influential Arabs in the world" ... & the relation comes the same way Queen Rania was dragged into this.

noms,

I thought we were discussing Sheika Mozah's ranks.

What's the relation between her rankings and those of Wadah Khanfar?

nope, the above one is for Mr.Wadah Khanfar - AJN Director General.

Are those rankings referring to Sheika Mozah (as per the OP)?

if its just about Ranking...go thru the profile of this diplomat in Qatar.

""Ranked as one of the most ‘Powerful People in the World’ by Forbes Magazine (2009), named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum (Davos), recognized as the 8th most influential Arab in the world by Arabian Business, and one of the most influential Muslims in the world (Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre), Wadah Khanfar is the Director General of the Al Jazeera Network.""

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadah_Khanfar

tinkerbell10,

I know what you mean, but unfortunately ranking people includes measurement and comparison.

;)

tinkerbell10,

I certainly agree with you but when it comes to ranks, we do have to measure and compare.

Certain societies are just not yet ready to do so, universally.

tinkerbell10,

It was not about the language.

I am not denying her great role in Qatar's progress (regardless if Qatari's want it or not).

I was just comparing two great ladies, evaluate them and rank them at an international level.

It's my opinion and that brings me back to my first comment:

"Will this society ever dares to say what they think about their leaders? The good and the not so good.

It would be refreshing and it would build credibility, if different opinions were welcome and allowed!"

Genesis,

I did know all what you wrote above.

My comments were not related to that at all.

Queen Rania's work impact on the world maybe just maybe much greater than what it is happening here in Qatar.

Remember that Queen Rania is not using money but wisdom and that sure inspires!

Listen to both speaking, measure the substance of their words and let me know what you think ;)

I agree with genesis, its coz of our Sheikha the Qatari women today are much ahead of what they were 5 years back. Its indeed a big change.

As per Frobes,

she was ranked #79 in world's most influencial women.

Name me one thing that Queen Rania did for her own people, just one thing. Aside from her "showy" appearances in Opera, Facebook & Twitter.

Do you even know what Jordanians say on their blogs, internet forums & facebook?

Although i also admire her fluency in English & her "Brangelina" alike humanitarian acts, i think she contributed very little to her own country. Not even compared to her predecessor, Queen Nour

Apparently, you know nothing about our country. Most of the criticism in the past 5 years over local internet forums & newspaper articles were towards Qatar foundation & the supreme education council's master plans (which Her highness chairs) and whether that's beneficial to Qataris!

Sadly, many have blamed her indirectly for as they claim westernizing the education , influx of westerners in the country & gender mixing at the workplace and education institutes

H.H Sheikha Mozah is the best thing ever happened to this country. If it wasn't for her, Qatari women would still be deprived of many of their rights.

As Robert Ménard stated while leaving DCMF,"Sheikha Mozah is too far ahead of her fellow citizens, too ’modern’ for political figures attached to the status quo, too aware of the challenges in this world for dignitaries concerned only with their own interests."

...repeated post

brywatch / gudone,

I disagree, have you listened to the level of her speech?

Go on YouTube and look for an interview (rare one) that she gave to Algeciras. The depth and substance of her answers as well as the great help from the interviewer will give you a hint of the true value.

At the same time, do you have an idea of the great work on education done by Rania Al-Abdullah, Queen of Jordan?

If you are interested is understanding better the facts, do a research and compare the results.

yup... u r rite brywatch

all projects and development goin on here

Arabian Business tells a different story:

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/power100-2010/list

Looks a bit out of date...

Surely the chairman of Emaar is no longer of such consequence and why is there an Egyptian amongst the Arabs ?

In a free society, there is always space for critical reviews. No one is always perfect.

Will this society ever dare to say what they think about their leaders? The good and the not so good.

It would be refreshing and it would build credibility, if different opinions were welcome and allowed!

...just some food for thoughts