Honorific-Prefix: | His Excellency |
Zaid al-Rifai | |
Birthname: | Zaid Sameer al-Rifai |
Office: | President of the Senate |
Term Start: | 8 June 1997 |
Term End: | 17 December 2009 |
Predecessor: | Ahmad al-Lawzi |
Successor: | Taher Nashat al-Masri |
Office1: | Prime Minister of Jordan |
Monarch1: | Hussein |
Term Start1: | 4 April 1984 |
Term End1: | 27 April 1989 |
Predecessor1: | Ahmad Obeidat |
Successor1: | Zaid ibn Shaker |
Monarch2: | Hussein |
Term Start2: | 26 May 1973 |
Term End2: | 13 July 1976 |
Predecessor2: | Ahmad al-Lawzi |
Successor2: | Mudar Badran |
Birth Date: | 27 November 1936 |
Birth Place: | Amman, Transjordan, British Empire |
Children: | Samir Rifai (son) |
Alma Mater: | Harvard University |
Profession: | Politician |
Native Name Lang: | ar |
Zaid al-Rifai (Arabic: زيد الرفاعي; 27 November 1936 – 12 August 2024) was a Jordanian politician who served as the 22nd prime minister of Jordan from May 1973 to July 1976, and again from April 1984 to April 1989.
Rifai served as prime minister and formed four different governments, the last of which was Jordan's longest lasting government in the history of the kingdom. It lasted for a term of 5 years and 23 days from 4 April 1984 to 27 April 1989. His father, Sameer al-Rifai, his father-in-law, Bahjat Talhouni, and his son, Samir Rifai, all served as Jordanian prime minister.
Rifai survived an assassination attempt on 15 December 1971 while he was serving as the ambassador of Jordan to the United Kingdom. The perpetrators were the members of the Fatah, and the reason for the attack was the Black September events which led to the departure of the Palestinians from Jordan in 1970.[1]
Rifai was the president of the Senate of Jordan from June 1997 to December 2009.[2] On 12 December 2009, he resigned from office.[3]
Rifai died on 12 August 2024, at the age of 87.[4]