11 Facts About Rula Ghani

Rula F Saadah Ghani is a former first lady of Afghanistan and wife of former president of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani.

In 2015, Rula Ghani was named to the Time 100, a list of the world's most influential people, by Time magazine.

Rula Ghani was born Rula Saade or Roula Saade and raised in Lebanon, in a Lebanese Maronite Christian family.

Rula Ghani received a diploma from Sciences Po, France, in 1969.

Rula Ghani completed a master's degree in Political Studies from the American University of Beirut in 1974, where she had met her future husband, Ashraf Ghani.

Rula Ghani earned another master's degree in journalism from Columbia University in New York City in 1983.

Rula Ghani holds citizenship in Afghanistan, Lebanon, and the United States.

Rula Ghani reportedly speaks Arabic, English, French, Pashto and Dari.

At his presidential inauguration in 2014 Rula Ghani publicly thanked his wife, acknowledging her with an Afghan name, Bibi Gul.

On 15 August 2021, Rula Ghani fled from Afghanistan with her husband, children, and two close aides as the Taliban captured Kabul; the Arg, the Afghan presidential palace, was captured a few hours later by the Taliban.

On 18 August 2021, the government of the United Arab Emirates said that the Rula Ghani family were in their country.