Sharif Hussein bin Ali was born in Istanbul and received his early education there, before returning to Mecca and being raised in line with Arab and Islamic values. Therefore, he aimed to rid the Arabs of foreign rule and achieve independence. Sharif Hussein was exiled to Istanbul twice, and he returned as Emir of Mecca after his first exile.

When the time was right to launch the Great Arab Revolt, Sharif Hussein fired the Revolt’s first shot on 10 June 1916, heralding the beginning of military operations led by his sons Ali, Abdullah, Faisal, and Zeid. Their armies advanced and achieved victory, which led to the establishment of an Arab state in Syria, followed by Iraq, and then in Jordan.