HRH Princess Haya Becomes First Recipient of Newly Created "FEI Order of Merit"

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FEI

-- FEI press release, edited by Eurodressage

HRH Princess Haya, who served as FEI President from 2006 to 2014 and is currently the organisation’s Honorary President, has been awarded the Order of Merit, the FEI’s highest distinction.

The award was presented for the first time on 21 December during the London International Horse Show.

“It is a great honour and a genuine pleasure to present the very first FEI Order of Merit to my predecessor, FEI Honorary President HRH Princess Haya,” said FEI President Ingmar De Vos.

FEI Order of Merit

The FEI Order of Merit is the highest distinction awarded by the FEI created in 2023. It is presented as a recognition for outstanding lifetime achievements, commitment and contributions towards the growth, development, promotion and success of equestrian sport.

Recipients are proposed by the FEI President and approved by the FEI Board.

HRH Princess Haya is the FEI Order of Merit’s first recipient.

"Visionary Leader"

“Princess Haya is a visionary leader who transformed the FEI into a modern, transparent, agile and highly respected international sports organisation. Through her energy and commitment as an IOC member and as a member of several IOC Commissions—including the influential IOC Athletes’ Commission—the FEI became a key stakeholder within the Olympic Movement.

“Her brainchild, the FEI Solidarity programme, inspired by the highly successful Olympic Solidarity model, has been instrumental in advancing equestrian sport worldwide. Under Princess Haya’s leadership, the FEI also secured major commercial partnerships, including the historic long-term agreement with Swiss watchmaker Longines.

“She introduced Athlete Representatives to the FEI Technical Committees, and since 2014, athletes themselves have been empowered to elect their representatives. In 2012, she also launched the FEI Sports Forum, creating an open platform for National Federations and stakeholders from across the globe to engage in wide-ranging discussions on the development of equestrian sport. The Forum has since become a flagship annual event.

“Princess Haya further strengthened the FEI by donating its state-of-the-art Headquarters in the Olympic Capital of Lausanne. Named in honour of her late father, HM King Hussein I, the building has enabled the FEI to expand its professional team and enhance services to the global equestrian community. In October, the headquarters was further enhanced with the opening of the new HRH Princess Haya Auditorium.

“Princess Haya showed us the path to success, leading the FEI with vision, honesty, integrity and in unity. Her contribution to equestrian sport is immeasurable, and she is a most deserving inaugural recipient of the FEI Order of Merit,” the FEI President concluded.

Princess Haya

HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan is the daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan and ex-wife of HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

She started riding internationally at the age of 13. In 1992 she won the individual bronze medal in Jumping at the seventh Pan Arab Games and the following year she was elected Jordan’s athlete of the year. After years of intensive training in Ireland and Germany, she took part in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2002 World Equestrian Games. She served as FEI President from 2006 to 2014 with Ingmar de Vos as her wingman in the role of FEI secretary-general. He succeeded her as FEI president.

Princess Haya has been living in London since her divorce from Al Maktoum.