Prime Minister and Defence Minister
Marouf Bakhit

Born in 1947, Bakhit holds a BA in public administration and political sciences from the University of Jordan, an MA in public administration from the University of Southern California and a PHD from London University. He joined the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) in 1964, graduating from the Royal Jordanian Military College in 1966 with the rank of second lieutenant. He retired from the army in 1999 with the rank of major general. Bakhit has served a professor of political science at Muta University and vice president for military affairs at the university. He was also director of studies, development, and procurement and personnel affairs at the JAF. Bakhit, a former ambassador to Turkey and Israel, was recently appointed as head of National Security acting director of His Majesty King Abdullah’s office. He is the recipient of 14 Jordanian medals.

• Letter of Designation to His Excellency Dr. Ma'rouf Al-Bakhit
• H.E. Dr. Ma'rouf Al-Bakhit's Response to Letter of Designation

Minister of Finance
Hamad Kasasbeh

Born in Karak in 1956, Kasasbeh obtained a PhD in economics from Columbia University in 1990. He worked as an economic researcher and adviser at the Central Bank until he was appointed as general manager of the Cities and Villages Development Bank in 1996. Kasasbeh, the author of 14 different publications in the field of finance, also taught at the University of Jordan. In 1999, he was appointed secretary general of the Accounting Bureau. Until his appointment as minister yesterday, Kasasbeh served as the secretary general of the Ministry of Finance, a post he assumed in 2003.

Minister for Political Development
Dr. Mohammad Al Ouran

Born in Tafileh in 1945, Oran studied medicine in St. Georges Hospital Medical School in London. He served with the Royal Medical Services until 1974 after which he returned to England for his MRCP (membership of the Royal College of Physicians) specialisation and went into private practice. Oran, who was a member of the Lower House between 1997 and 2001, also served as president of the Jordanian Medical Association. He was secretary general of the Arab Land Party, a nationalist grouping founded in 1996, and a member of the National Coalition of Opposition Parties.

Minister of Foreign Affairs
Abdel Ilah Khatib

Born in Salt in 1953, Khatib is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, holding a masters degree in international economics and development. He also obtained a masters degree in international communications from the American University in Washington DC, and holds a BA in political science from the School of Political Science in Athens, Greece. Khatib served as chairman of the board of Jordan Cement Factory, where he was managing director, from 1996-1998, before serving as foreign minister between 1998-1992. Prior to that, he served as minister of tourism and antiquities from 1995-1996. Khatib also served as the coordinator of the Kingdom’s negotiating team during the Arab-Israeli peace talks, head of the Social Bureau of the Foreign Ministry as well as political officer at the Embassy of Jordan in Washington DC. He is married and has three children.

Minister of Planning and International Cooperation
Suhair Al Ali

Upon a Royal Decree to assign a new government under the premiership of Dr. Adnan Badran, Ms. Suhair Al-Ali was sworn in on April 7, 2005 as Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, to succeed Dr. Tayseer Smadi.

Previous to her current appointment, Ms. Al-Ali held the positions of General Manager and Country Officer of Citigroup in Jordan since 1996, and General Manager of the Saudi American Bank Representative Office in New York since 1993.

Ms. Al-Ali joined Citibank in Jordan after obtaining a Masters Degree in Development Economics from Georgetown University in the United States. She began her career at Citibank as an Executive Trainee and then was entrusted with a number of varied responsibilities in the bank before moving to New York in 1993.

Ms. Al-Ali assumes a number of eminent memberships on a large number of vocational, business and academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations in Jordan, among which are:

• Member of the Board of Trustees of the Hashemite Fund.

• Member of the Board of Trustees of the King Hussein Cancer Center.

• Member of the Board of Trustees of Princess Sumaya University for Technology.

• Member of the Board of Trustees of the Microfund for Women.

• Member of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Society for Fine Arts.

• A member of “UNICEF's Friends of Jordanian Children”.

• Founding member of the International Women's Forum (IWF) - Jordan Chapter.

• Founding member of the Jordanian American Business Association (JABA).

Furthermore, Ms. Al-Ali has served, by appointment of His Majesty King Abdullah II, as a member of His Majesty's Economic Consultative Council as well as a member in the “Jordan First” Campaign Committee. In her banking capacity, she also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the King Hussein Fund for Excellence, and the Association of Banks in Jordan.

Minister of Justice
Sharif Al Zu'bi

Born in Amman in May, 1963, H.E. Sharif Ali Zu'bi was appointed Jordan's Minister of Industry & Trade in April, 2005. He completed both his undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B Honours) in 1984 and his Master of Laws degree in Commercial Law (LL.M Honours) in 1985. Following an internship with Clifford Chance, a prominent UK law firm, His Excellency then became Managing Partner of one of Jordan's leading law firms, Ali Sharif Zu'bi & Sharif Ali Zu'bi Advocates & Legal Consultants.

Over the last twenty years, Minister Zu'bi gained wide experience in general civil and commercial law practice, specializing mainly in government contracts, international trade, joint ventures, foreign investment and privatization.

Prior to his ministerial tenure, His Excellency was a member of the Board of Governors of the Central Bank of Jordan, a member of the Board of Directors of Royal Jordanian Airlines PLC, a member of the International Bar Association and Chairman of the Council of the Arab Regional Forum of the International Bar Association. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of New Generation Telecommunications Company and a member of the Board of Directors of Jordan Micro Credit Company.

Due to his ministerial position, Minister Zu'bi is a non-practicing member of the Jordanian Bar Association. Currently, he is a member of the Board of Directors of Royal Jordanian Investments, a member of the Royal Jordanian Executive Privatization Committee, a member of the Board of Trustees and Board of Directors of the King Hussein Cancer Center, a non-governmental organization. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees and Board of Directors of the International Academy – Amman and a member of the International Chamber of Commerce.

Minister Zu'bi is fluent in both Arabic and English. He has participated as a speaker at various conferences relating to legal and judicial reform in the Arab World. He has also supervised and co-authored a number of publications that include the following:

• Business Legislation & Incentives. This is a general guidebook on the business and investment laws of Jordan, and is one in a series of books prepared in association with Allied Accountants/Arthur Anderson for the Middle East – North Africa Economic Summit held in Amman in 1995.

• Companies' Registration Guide. This guidebook was commissioned by USAID and prepared in association with Allied Accountants/Arthur Anderson.

• Inviting Investment. This article was published in International Corporate Law in February, 1995.

• Expected Developments in Jordanian Investment Laws. This was published in the Arab Regional Forum News, an International Bar Association publication, in August, 1995.

• Getting Ready for Peace Dividend. This was published in the Middle East Executive Reports in November, 1995.

Minister of Interior
Eid Fayez

Fayez received a BA in economics and political science from Beirut Arab University in 1970. Fayez was appointed director-general of the Jordanian-Iraqi transport company in 1983,director-general of the Ports Corporation in 1986 and secretary general of the Ministry of Youth in 1990. He assumed the post of an advisor at the Royal Court in 1993. Fayez, who was minister of labour in 1999, also served as minister of youth and state.

Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and
Scientific Research
Khalid Touqan

Born in Amman in 1954, Touqan obtained a BSc from the American University of Beirut, and MA from Michigan State University, and a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US. He worked as head of the nuclear engineering department and as dean of the department of engineering and technology at the University of Jordan. Touqan was president of Al Balqaa Applied University. He was the minister of education in the last Cabinet and is married with two sons and a daughter.

Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs
Abdul Fattah Salah

Born in Maan in 1946, Salah holds a BA in Islamic Sharia from Damascus University and has held several official posts, the most recent of which was secretary general of the Awfaq Ministry. He also served as the vice president of the Awfaq and Islamic Affairs Council and deputy chairman of the board of trustees of the Dawaa and Usul College ( a state-run Islamic community college). Salah, who was awarded Al Istiklal Medal, served on the committee concerned with the reconstruction of Aqsa Mosque and other Islamic sites in Jerusalem.

Minister of Water and Irrigation
Mohammad Shatnawi

Born in Irbid in 1945, Shatnawi was teaching in the University of Jordan (UJ) until his appointment as minister yesterday. He headed the department of soils and irrigation at UJ and taught water resources and irrigation. Shatnawi has 25 years of experience in water resource management, water and agriculture policy, irrigation systems design, hydrology of arid areas and environmental impact of water and irrigation projects. A civil engineering PhD holder from the University of California, he majored in hydraulics, with irrigation and engineering analysis as minors. Shatnawi, who worked for FAO as an expert in water and irrigation in Egypt (1989-1991), is involved with several applied research topics related to water and environment. He has more than 50 publications in irrigation modelling and management, water resources planning and policy.

Minister of Labour
Basem Al Salem

Born in 1956, Salem earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of London in 1979. He held several posts in the private sector, serving as chairman of the board of several industrial companies. He also served as chairman of the board of the Central Bank of Jordan. Salem is married with a son. He retains his portfolio as labour minister, having served in the previous government.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities
Osama Al Dabbas

Dabbas served as general manager of the Aqaba Inter.Continental Hotel until his appointment as minister. He also was a member of the Jordan Tourism Board.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources
Dr. Khaled Shreidah

Shraideh served as secretary general of the Higher Council for Science and Technology until his appointment as minister. The council was established in 1987 to build a national science and technology base to contribute to the achievement of developmental objectives through increasing awareness of the significance of scientific research and development. He was also project director of Scenarios 2020, a panel of experts from different fields who attempt to foresee the state of Jordan by the year 2020 in the light of three different conditions (or scenarios).

Minister of Social Development
Suleiman Tarawneh

Tarawneh, who was born in Al Khaldeh village in Karak, holds a BA degree in military sciences and an MA degree in the same specialty. He also obtained a masters in military and administrative sciences from Muta University, another MA in strategic and defense studies from Pakistan and a PhD from Baghdad. Tarawneh joined the Jordanian Armed Forces(JAF) in 1965 and assumed several posts, including chairman of the Guidance Commission at the Royal War College, director of personnel affairs at the General Army Headquarters and military commander. Tarawneh is the recipient of several medals in the field of leadership, training and administration.

Minister of Public Works and Housing
Hosni Abu Gheida

Abu Gheida, who was born in Haifa in 1944, obtained his BA in architecture from the University of Aleppo in Syria,1972. He worked in the private sector in the fields of engineering, architecture, administration and planning from 1972-1999. He has served as president of Jordan Engineers Association, lecturer of architectural design at the universities of Jordan and Aleppo, board member of the Jordanian Arbitrators Association and member of the Arab Chamber of Arbitrators. Abu Gheida, who is a recipient of the Al Kawkab Medal of the First Order, served as minister of public works and housing in the cabinet of former Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb.

Minister of Municipal Affairs
Nader Thuheirat

Born in North Shuneh in 1942, Thuheirat obtained a BA in history from Damascus University and worked as a teacher and supervisor in the Ministry of Education for 16 years. He was elected as mayor of North Shuneh for three consecutive terms and was a deputy in the 11th and 12th parliaments. Thuheirat has served as minister of municipal and rural affairs and was appointed senator twice.

Minister of Culture
Adel Tweisi

Born in Mafraq in 1953, Tweisi obtained his masters and PhD from Michigan University in 1984 and 1987 respectively, and a BA in English Literature from the University of Jordan in 1978. He served as professor of English Literature in Al Hussein Ben Talal University and Muta University, and prior to that was dean of student affairs (1997-1999), and dean of the faculty of art (1992-1997) at Muta University. Tweisi has been a board member of the Higher Education Council since 1999. He was president of Al Hussein Ben Talal University from 1999 till 2004. Tweisi is married and has four sons and one daughter.

Minister of Health
Salah Mawajdeh

Born in Amman in 1957, Mawajdeh received his PhD in health policy and management from Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1983, Mawajdeh has assumed several positions in the health sector. He has published more than 20 scientific books and papers and participated in several scientific seminars around the world. In 1994, he received the WHO Gender and Tropical Diseases Award for his scientific paper entitled “The Assessment of the Quality of Parental Care in Irbid, North Jordan: Women’s Perspective. Mawajdeh, who was director general of the Jordan Food and Drug Administration, also served as regional coordinator of the reproductive health working group in the population council in Cairo.

Minister of Industry and Commerce
Salim Khaza'la

Minister of Environment
Khalid Al Irani

Born in 1964 got his BSc in soils from the University of Jordan in 1986 and his MSc in arid land use from University of Jordan in 1989. Since 1996, he has served as director general of the Royal Society for Conservation of Nature (RSCN) and project coordinator for the Dana GEF Project. His previous positions include manager of protected areas department at the RSCN (1989-1996), research assistant at the University of Jordan (1986-1989) and land-use planner at the Ministry of Agriculture. He was a member of the board of trustees of King Hussein Foundation, the National Committee of Small GEF grant projects, the World protected areas’ commission for the Middle East (WCPA, IUCN), Friends of the Earth Middle East and a member of the Birdlife Global Council board of directors. Irani is married with two sons. He served as environment minister in the previous government.

Minister of Information and Communications Technology 
Basim Al Rousan

Holder of a masters degree in electrical engineering from S.M.U. University in the United States, Roussan served in the Royal Jordanian Air Force Communications Department. He joined Fastlink in 1997, where he served as director of the engineering department until March 2002. Roussan was the deputy chief executive officer of Fastlink prior to his appointment as minister.

Minister of Transportation
Soud Nsairat

Nseirat was born in 1950 in Natfeh, in Irbid Governorate. Following high school, he joined the Royal Jordanian Air Force and was trained as a pilot. From 1992 to 1994, he served as Jordan’s military attaché to Paris. While serving in the army, he earned a masters degree in military affairs management. A career officer, Nseirat became Air Force commander in the Jordan Armed Forces in 1999, serving until 2002, when he was appointed as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He retired on October 1, 2004. He is married and has two sons and one daughter. Nseirat has retained the portfolio of transport minister, a post he has held since October10, 2004.

Minister of State for Developing Public Sector
Salem Khazzaleh

Born in Dajania in Mafraq in 1963, Khazzaleh holds a bachelor’s degree in law and a masters degree in philosophy from the University of Jordan. After working as a lawyer for several banks and companies for 13 years, he assumed the post of companies’ comptroller for five years. Over the past two-and-a half years, he served as Chairman of the Audit Bureau.

Minister of Agriculture
Dr. Mustafa Qurunfilah

Born in Jaffa, Palestine in 1944, Qurunfleh obtained his BA from Cairo University in 1969, MA from California-Davis 1979 and a PhD in horticulture from Kansas State University in 1982. He served as the vice dean of the University of Jordan’s faculty of agriculture and was appointed dean of the faculty in 2003. Qurunfleh, who has been a professor since 1993, also served as chairman of the Department of Plant Production. Until his appointment as minister yesterday, he was vice president for administrative affairs at the University of Jordan.

Minister of State for Legal Affairs
Dr. Khaled Samara Al Zu'bi

Born in Ramtha in 1944, Zu’bi studied law in Egypt, where he also obtained a PhD in general law. He held the portfolio of state minister for legal affairs in the government of Abdul Salam Majali twice in 1995 and 1998. In the latter, he also handled the parliamentary affairs portfolio.

He was also president of the private Al Zaytoonah University. Until his appointment as minister, Zu’bi was serving as a professor at the Amman Arab University and practising law.

Minister of Public Performance and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs
Mohammad Thneibat

Thuneibat, who served as minister of administrative development in the Cabinet of former prime minister Ali Abul Ragheb in 2000, was nominated by His majesty King Abdullah in April 2001 to serve on the restructured Economic Consultative Council. In October 2001, he took on a second portfolio of culture minister in the second reshuffle of Abul Ragheb.

Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs
Dr. Muhiddin Touq

Born in Amman in 1944, Touq holds a BA from the University of Jordan. He obtained his masters and PhD in educational psychology from the US in 1972, serving as a professor in the University of Wisconsin and the University of Jordan faculty of education. He held the posts of the UJ president’s adviser and the dean of students affairs and served as dean of the United Arab Emirates University education faculty from 1984-1990. A former minister of administrative development, Touq was also president of Al Zaytoonah University and director of higher education and technical training and development at UNESCO/UNRWA.