Her Majesty Queen Noor was born Lisa Najeeb Halaby on August 23, 1951, to a distinguished Arab-American family. She attended schools in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., New York City and Concord Academy in Massachusetts, before entering Princeton University in its first co-educational freshman class.

After receiving a B.A. in Architecture and Urban Planning from Princeton University in 1974, Queen Noor participated in several international urban planning and design projects in Australia, Iran, the United States and Jordan. In 1976, she traveled throughout the Arab world to research aviation training facilities for the preparation of a master plan for an Arab Air University to be established in Jordan. Subsequently, she joined 'Royal Jordanian' airline as Director of Planning and Design Projects.

Since 1978, Queen Noor has played a major role in promoting international exchange and understanding of Middle Eastern politics, Arab-Western relations and current global issues throughout the world

In 1979, Queen Noor chaired the National Committee for the International Year of the Child and actively launched a national immunization campaign, children's parks and literature programs and an initiative to establish Jordan's first children's hospital.

Also in 1979, the Queen established the Royal Endowment for Culture and Education (RECE), which conducted the first development research on the country's specific manpower needs. The RECE provides scholarships for students, with special emphasis on outstanding women, to pursue their graduate studies in fields vital to Jordan's future development.

In 1995, His Majesty King Hussein directed Queen Noor to establish and chair a National Task Force for Children to monitor and evaluate the condition and status of Jordan's children in accordance with Arab and international conventions on the rights of the child and the national plan of action for children and to ensure that the welfare of children is given priority in national development plans. In 1997, the NTFC established the National Coalition for Children as a forum to coordinate and promote partnership among specialists and public and private institutions and NGOs involved with children's affairs and a national Research and Database Unit.

The King Hussein Foundation, chaired by Queen Noor was established by Royal Decree, in 1999. The Foundation is a national and international non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to give meaningful expression to the late King's humanitarian vision and legacy with emphasis on democracy and peace, education and leadership, environment and health.

Queen Noor is an active patron or president of several national institutions that serve the Jordanian community. These include: the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, the Petra National Trust, the Royal Society of Fine Arts, the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, the National Committee for the Protection of the Environment, the SOS Children's Village Association the Queen Noor Technical College for Civil Aviation, the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, the Jordanian Physiotherapy Society, the Jordan Tennis Federation and the Women's Sports Club.