King of Bahrain

The king of the Kingdom of Bahrain (Arabic: ملك مملكة البحرين Malik Mamlakat al-Baḥrayn) is the monarch and head of state of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The House of Khalifa has been the ruling family since 1783. Between 1783 and 1971, the Bahraini monarch held the title of hakim, and, from 1971 until 2002, the title of emir. On 14 February 2002, the emir of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, declared Bahrain a kingdom and proclaimed himself the first king.^[1] The king enjoys wide ranging powers, which include appointing the prime minister and the cabinet, holding supreme command over the Defence Force, chairing the Higher Judicial Council, appointing the parliament's upper house and dissolving its elected lower house.^[2]

King of the Kingdom of Bahrain
ملك مملكة البحرين Malik Mamlakat al-Bahrayn
Royal Standard of Bahrain
Incumbent
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa since 6 March 1999 as Emir since 14 February 2002 as King
Details
Style	His Majesty
Heir apparent	Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
First monarch	Ahmed bin Muhammad bin Khalifa (Hakim) Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah (King)
Formation	1783 (Hakimmiyah) 16 August 1971 (Emirate) 14 February 2002 (Kingdom)
Residence	Riffa Palace

List of rulers

Hakims of Bahrain (1783–1971)

Further information: History of Bahrain (1783–1971)

The Arabic title of the Hakim, as transliterated, was Hakim al-Bahrayn (English: Caretaker/Ruler of Bahrain). The Hakim also held the honorific title of sheikh.

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Reign	Notes
	Sheikh Ahmed bin Muhammad bin Khalifa	1783 – 18 July 1795	Leader of the Bani Utbah invasion of Bahrain
	Sheikh Salman bin Ahmad Al Khalifa	1795–1825	As co-regent
	Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmad Al Khalifa	1795–1843	As co-regent
	Sheikh Khalifa bin Sulman Al Khalifa	1825–1834	As co-regent with Abdullah bin Ahmad Al Khalifa
	Sheikh Muhammad bin Khalifa Al Khalifa	1834–1842	First reign as co-regent with Abdullah bin Ahmad Al Khalifa
	Sheikh Muhammad bin Khalifa Al Khalifa	1843–1868	Second reign
	Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa	1868–1869
	Sheikh Muhammad bin Khalifa Al Khalifa	1869	Third reign
	Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdullah Al Khalifa	September – 1 December 1869	Deposed and exiled to India. Confined at Asirgarh Fort, but later removed to Chunar Fort, near Benares, where he died in 1877.
	Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa (1848–1932)	1 December 1869 – 26 May 1923	Abdicated
	Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (1872–1942)	27 May 1923 – 20 February 1942
	Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (1894–1961)	20 February 1942 – 2 November 1961
	Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (1931–1999)	2 November 1961 – 16 August 1971

Emirs of Bahrain (1971–2002)

Further information: State of Bahrain

The Arabic title of the Emir, as transliterated, was Amir dawlat al-Bahrayn (English: Chief of the State of Bahrain). The Emir also held the honorific title of sheikh.

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa عيسى بن سلمان آل خليفة	(1931-06-03)3 June 1931 – 6 March 1999(1999-03-06) (aged 67)	16 August 1971	6 March 1999[3]	Son of Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Mouza bint Hamad Al Khalifa	Khalifa
Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa حمد بن عيسى آل خليفة	(1950-01-28) 28 January 1950 (age 75)	6 March 1999	14 February 2002 (title changed)[1]	Son of Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa and Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa	Khalifa

King of Bahrain (2002–present)

The Arabic title of the King, as transliterated, is Malik al-Bahrayn (English: King of Bahrain). The King also holds the honorific title of sheikh.

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa حمد بن عيسى آل خليفة	(1950-01-28) 28 January 1950 (age 75)	14 February 2002	Incumbent	Son of Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa and Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa	Khalifa

See also

• House of Khalifa
• Succession to the Bahraini throne
• Prime Minister of Bahrain