Emirate

This article is about the political term "emirate". For other uses, see Emirates (disambiguation).

"Imarat" and "Islamic emirate" redirect here. For places in Iran, see Imarat, Iran (disambiguation). For Taliban-run government of Afghanistan, see Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

An emirate (Arabic for princedom) is a territory ruled by an emir, a title used by monarchs or high officeholders in the Muslim world. There are three emirates that are independent states (Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Qatar), and the Taliban state in Afghanistan is also styled an emirate. A great number of previously independent emirates across the world are now part of larger states.

Etymology

Etymologically, emirate (princedom, principality, etc.) or amirate (Arabic: إمارة imārah, plural: إمارات imārāt) is the quality, dignity, office, or territorial competence of any emir (prince, commander, governor, etc.). It is derived from the verb Amara (Arabic: أمر) arabic for 'Ordered'.

In English, the term is pronounced /ˈɛmərət, -ɪər-, -ɪt, -eɪt/ or /ɛˈmɪərət, -ɪt, -eɪt, iˈ-/ in British English and /ˈɛmərət/ or /ɪˈmɪərət/ in American English.

As monarchies

The United Arab Emirates is a federal state that comprises seven federal emirates, each administered by a hereditary emir, these seven forming the electoral college for the federation's president and prime minister. As most emirates have either disappeared, been integrated in a larger modern state, or changed their rulers' styles, e.g. to malik (Arabic for king) or sultan, such true emirate-states have become rare.

As provinces

Furthermore, in Arabic the term can be generalized to mean any province of a country that is administered by a member of the ruling class, especially of a member (usually styled emir) of the royal family, as in Saudi Arabian governorates.

List of present emirates

Location of Kuwait (red), Qatar (green), and the emirates of the United Arab Emirates

The present independent emirates are:

• Afghanistan (the unrecognized Taliban state, since 15 August 2021)
• Kuwait (since 14 May 1961)
• Qatar (since 3 December 1971)
• United Arab Emirates (since 2 December 1971)

List of former and integrated emirates

These are the emirates that have either ceased to exist, are not recognized and hold no real power, or were integrated into another country and preserved as "traditional states". They are arranged by location and in order of the date of the first leader styled "emir."

Africa

Ghana

• Zabarma Emirate Northeastern Ghana 1860s–1897

Niger

• Emirate of Say South-western Niger 19th century– (integrated)

Nigeria

• Fika Emirate, northeastern Nigeria 15th century– (integrated)
• Gwandu Emirate, northwestern Nigeria 15th century to 2005 (integrated and then deposed)
• Kebbi Emirate, northwestern Nigeria 1516– (integrated)
• Borgu Emirate, westcentral Nigeria, formed from Bussa Emirate 1730–1954 and Kaiama Emirate 1912–54, unified 1954– (integrated)
• Gumel Emirate, northcentral Nigeria 1749– (integrated)
• Yauri Emirate, northwestern Nigeria 1799– (integrated)
• Gombe Emirate, northeast Nigeria 1804– (integrated)
• Kano Emirate, northcentral Nigeria 1805– (integrated)
• Bauchi Emirate, northeast Nigeria 1805– (integrated)
• Daura Emirate, northcentral Nigeria off and on 1805– (integrated)
• Katagum Emirate, northcentral Nigeria 1807– (integrated)
• Zaria Emirate, northcentral Nigeria 1808– (integrated)
• Potiskum Emirate, northeastern Nigeria 1809– (integrated)
• Adamawa Emirate, eastern Nigeria and formerly into western Cameroon 1809– (integrated where preserved)
• Ilorin Emirate, southwestern Nigeria 1817– (integrated)
• Muri Emirate, eastcentral Nigeria 1817– (integrated)
• Kazaure Emirate, northcentral Nigeria 1819– (integrated)
• Lapai Emirate, central Nigeria 1825– (integrated)
• Suleja Emirate, central Nigeria 1828– (integrated)
• Agaie Emirate, westcentral Nigeria 1832– (integrated)
• Bida Emirate, westcentral Nigeria 1856– (integrated)
• Kontagora Emirate, northcentral Nigeria 1858– (integrated)
• Borno Emirate, northeastern Nigeria 1900– (integrated)
• Dikwa Emirate, northeast Nigeria 1901– (integrated)
• Biu Emirate, northeast Nigeria 1920– (integrated)

North Africa

• Emirate of Nekor, Rif region of modern Morocco 710–1019
• Emirate of Ifriqiya, Aghlabid Ifriqiya within modern Tunisia, Algeria, Sicily, Morocco, and Libya 800–909
• Emirate of Tunis, Hafsid Ifriqiya within modern Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya 1229–1574
• Zab Emirate, modern Algeria circa 1400 (short-lived)
• Emirate of Trarza, modern southwest Mauritania 1640s–1910s
• Emirate of Harar, modern Ethiopia 1647–1887
• Emirate of Cyrenaica, modern eastern Libya 1949–1951 (became the Kingdom of Libya)

• 
  Ifriqiya under the Hafsids
• 
  Trarza (upper left)
• 
  Cyrenaica in Libya

Asia

Arabia

• Uyunid Emirate, the modern Arabian Peninsula 1076–1253
• Emirate of Beihan, modern southern Yemen 1680–1967
• Emirate of Diriyah, mainly in modern Saudi Arabia and the UAE 1744–1818
• Emirate of Nejd, eastern Arabia 1818–91
• Emirate of Dhala, modern southern Yemen early 19th century to 1967
• Emirate of Jabal Shammar, northcentral Arabia 1836–1921
• Emirate of Nejd and Hasa, central Arabia 1902–21
• Idrisid Emirate of Asir, Jizan in modern southwestern Saudi Arabia 1906–34
• Emirate of Mecca, Hejaz of modern Saudi Arabia 1916–24 (ibn Saud family, from when recognized by Allies as emir to when the royal style changed)
• Emirate of Bahrain, 1971–2002 (before it was under a hakim; after under a malik)
• The Al-Qaeda Emirate in Yemen in the interior of Yemen affiliated with Al-Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula (especially in Hadramaut Governorate)
• Emirates of Saudi Arabia, the thirteen provinces of Saudi Arabia

• 
  Beihan and Dhala in South Arabia
• 
  Diriyah
• 
  Nejd
• 
  Jabal Shammar
• 
  Asir at its height
• 
  Bahrain
• 
  Saudi Arabian emirate divisions

Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent

• Emirate of Bukhara, modern Uzbekistan 1785–1920
• Emirate of Afghanistan, Afghanistan 1823–1929
• Khotan Emirate, 1933 northwest China, merged into First East Turkestan Republic
• Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Taliban state in Afghanistan 1996–2001, 2021–present (re-established after Fall of Kabul)
• Islamic Emirate of Waziristan, western Pakistan 2004–2014 (Dissolved)

• 
  Bukhara
• 
  Emirate of Afghanistan
• 
  Khotan in modern China
• 
  Waziristan in Pakistan

Near East

• Emirate of Mosul (see list of emirs for more), modern Iraq 905–1096, 1127–1222, 1254–1383, 1758–1918
• Emirate of Melitene, modern central Turkey mid-ninth century to 934
• Emirate of Amida, modern Eastern Turkey 983–1085
• Karaman Emirate, south-central Anatolia 1250–1487
• Emirate of Aydin, state composed of Oghuz Turks in modern Turkey from the early 14th century to 1390
• Emirate of Dulkadir, modern Eastern Turkey 1337–1522
• Emirate of Ramazan, modern Eastern Turkey 1352–1608
• Timurid Emirates, Timur's empire and the minor emirates left behind after the fall of the Timurid dynasty in the Middle East, 1526-c.1550
• Soran Emirate, modern northern Iraq 1816–35
• Az Zubayr, town in Basra Governorate, Iraq during 19th century
• Emirate of Transjordan, modern Jordan 1921–46

• 
  Ottoman emirate in 1300, labeled 'Osman'
• 
  Timurid Emirate under the leadership of Timur
• 
  Soran (at center)
• 
  Transjordan

Europe

Caucasus

• The Emirate of Armenia, Caucasus 637–884
• Emirate of Darband, Azerbaijan 869–1075
• Emirate of Tbilisi, modern Georgia 736–1080, nominally to 1122
• North Caucasian Emirate, Chechnya and Dagestan in the Caucasus 1919–1920
• Caucasian Emirate, Caucasus 2007–present? (unrecognized)

• 
  Darband, Azerbaijan
• 
  Armenia

Iberia

• Emirate of Córdoba, modern Spain and Portugal 756–929 (title changed to caliph in 929)
• Emirate of Badajoz, modern Portugal and western Spain 1009–1151
• Emirate of Almería, region of Almería and Cartagena in modern Spain off and on 1013–1091
• Emirate of Jerez, towns of Jerez de la Frontera and Arcos de la Frontera in modern southern Spain 1145–1147
• Emirate of Granada, modern southern Spain 1228–1492

• 
  Córdoba
• 
  Badajoz
• 
  Granada

Mediterranean region

• Emirate of Crete, Crete, modern Greece, 824 or 827/828 to 961
• Emirate of Bari, city of Bari in southern Italy 847–871
• Emirate of Malta, 870–1091 870–1091
• Emirate of Sicily, Sicily 965–1072

• 
  Crete within modern Greece
• 
  Sicily (at bottom)

See also

• Caliphate
• Khanate