An emirate is a territory ruled by an
emir, a title used by monarchs or high officeholders in the
Muslim world. From a historical point of view, an emirate is a political-religious unit smaller than a
caliphate. It can be considered equivalent to a
principality
A principality (or sometimes princedom) can either be a monarchical feudatory or a sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a regnant-monarch with the title of prince and/or princess, or by a monarch with another title considered to fall under ...
in non-Muslim contexts.
Currently in the world, there are two emirates that are independent states (
Kuwait and
Qatar), and a state that consists of a federation of seven emirates, the
United Arab Emirates. The unrecognized
Taliban state in Afghanistan is also styled as an emirate. A great number of previously independent emirates around the world are now part of larger states, as can be seen in
Nigeria.
Etymology
Etymologically, emirate or amirate ( '
, plural: '
) is the quality, dignity, office, or territorial competence of any
emir (prince, commander, governor, etc.). In English, the term is pronounced or in British English and or in American English.
Types
Monarchies
The
United Arab Emirates is a federal state that comprises seven federal emirates, each administered by a
hereditary
Heredity, also called inheritance or biological inheritance, is the passing on of traits from parents to their offspring; either through asexual reproduction or sexual reproduction, the offspring cells or organisms acquire the genetic inform ...
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
Malik, Mallik, Melik, Malka, Malek, Maleek, Malick, Mallick, or Melekh ( phn, 𐤌𐤋𐤊; ar, ملك; he, מֶלֶךְ) is the Semitic term translating to "king", recorded in East Semitic and Arabic, and as mlk in Northwest Semitic duri ...
(Arabic for "king") or
sultan
Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
, such true emirate-states have become rare.
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

Current emirates with political autonomy are listed below:
Arabian Peninsula
* (since 14 May 1961)
* (since 3 December 1971)
* (since 2 December 1971):
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
Central Asia
* (since 15 August 2021; unrecognized)
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
North Africa
*
Emirate of Nekor
The Emirate of Nekor ( ar, إمارة بني صالح ''ʾImārat Banī Ṣāliḥ'') was an emirate centered in the Rif area of present-day Morocco. Its capital was initially located at Temsaman, and then moved to Nekor. The dynasty was of Himy ...
,
Rif region of modern
Morocco 710–1019
*
Emirate of Ifriqiya, Aghlabid
Ifriqiya
Ifriqiya ( '), also known as al-Maghrib al-Adna ( ar, المغرب الأدنى), was a medieval historical region comprising today's Tunisia and eastern Algeria, and Tripolitania (today's western Libya). It included all of what had previously ...
within modern
Tunisia,
Algeria,
Sicily,
Morocco, and
Libya 800–909
*
Emirate of Tunis, Hafsid
Ifriqiya
Ifriqiya ( '), also known as al-Maghrib al-Adna ( ar, المغرب الأدنى), was a medieval historical region comprising today's Tunisia and eastern Algeria, and Tripolitania (today's western Libya). It included all of what had previously ...
within modern
Tunisia,
Algeria, and
Libya 1229–1574
*
Zab Emirate
The Zab Emirate ( ar, امارة الزاب) was an emirate that ruled Biskra and the surrounding oases in the Zab region under the Banu Muzni family from mid 14th century to 1402 in the highlands and desert fringes of what is today eastern Algeri ...
, modern
Algeria circa 1400 (short-lived)
*
Emirate of Trarza
The Emirate of Trarza was a precolonial state in what is today southwest Mauritania. It has survived as a traditional confederation of semi-nomadic peoples to the present day. Its name is shared with the modern Region of Trarza. The population, a ...
, modern southwest
Mauritania
Mauritania (; ar, موريتانيا, ', french: Mauritanie; Berber: ''Agawej'' or ''Cengit''; Pulaar: ''Moritani''; Wolof: ''Gànnaar''; Soninke:), officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania ( ar, الجمهورية الإسلامية ...
1640s–1910s
*
Emirate of Cyrenaica, modern eastern
Libya 1949–1951 (became the
Kingdom of Libya
The Kingdom of Libya ( ar, المملكة الليبية, lit=Libyan Kingdom, translit=Al-Mamlakah Al-Lībiyya; it, Regno di Libia), known as the United Kingdom of Libya from 1951 to 1963, was a constitutional monarchy in North Africa which ca ...
)
File:Hafsid1400.png, Ifriqiya under the Hafsids
File:EthniesSénégal.jpg, Trarza (upper left)
File:Map of Cyrenaica.png, Cyrenaica in Libya
Sub-Saharan Africa
=Ethiopia
=
*Emirate of
Harar, eastern
Ethiopia 1647–1887
=Ghana
=
*
Zabarma Emirate
The Zabarma Emirate was an Islamic state that existed from the 1860s to 1897 in what is today parts of Ghana and Burkina Faso.
The leaders of the Zabarma Emirate, who belonged to the Zarma ethnicity from which the Emirate is named, originated in ...
, northeastern
Ghana 1860s–1897
=Niger
=
*
Emirate of Say
The Emirate of Say was an Islamic state founded in 1825 by Alfa Mohamed Diobo, a Qadiriyya Sufi leader who came to Say from Djenné (Mali) in 1810. Though Diobo was no conqueror, his control over Say was ensured by both his clerical renown and the ...
, southwestern
Niger 19th century– (integrated)
=Nigeria
=

*
Fika Emirate, northeastern Nigeria 15th century– (integrated)
*
Gwandu
Gwandu, also called Gando, is a town and emirate in Kebbi State, Nigeria. The seat of government for the emirate and district of this name is in Birnin Kebbi, which is the capital of Kebbi State and was capital of the historical Kingdom of Kebbi. ...
Emirate, northwestern Nigeria 15th century to 2005 (integrated and then deposed)
*
Kebbi Emirate
The Kebbi Emirate, also known as the Argungu Emirate is a traditional state based on the town of Argungu in Kebbi State, Nigeria. It is the successor to the ancient Hausa kingdom of Kebbi.
The Emirate is one of four in Kebbi State, the others bei ...
, northwestern Nigeria 1516– (integrated)
*
Borgu Emirate
The Borgu Emirate is a Nigerian traditional state with its capital in New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria. The Emirate was formed in 1954 when the Bussa and Kaiama emirates were merged. These emirates, with Illa, were formerly part of the Borgu state, ...
, 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
The Gombe Emirate (Fula: Lamurde Gombe 𞤤𞤢𞤥𞤮𞤪𞤣𞤫 𞤺𞤮𞤥𞤥𞤦𞤫) is a traditional state in Nigeria that roughly corresponds in area to the modern Gombe State.
Gombe state also contains the emirates of Dukku, Deba, ...
, 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
The Zazzau, also known as the Zaria Emirate, is a traditional state with headquarters in the city of Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The current emir of Zazzau is Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli who succeeded the former emir, late Alhaji Shehu Idris.
Ea ...
, northcentral Nigeria 1808– (integrated)
*
Potiskum Emirate
The Potiskum Emirate (or Pataskum Emirate) is a traditional state in Nigeria, with headquarters in Potiskum, Yobe State. The emir holds the title "Mai".
The emirate was founded in 1809 by the Ngizim people. In 1913 the British colonial rulers mer ...
, northeastern Nigeria 1809– (integrated)
*
Adamawa Emirate, eastern Nigeria and formerly into western
Cameroon 1809– (integrated where preserved)
*
Ilorin Emirate
The Ilorin Emirate is a traditional state based in the city of Ilorin in Kwara State, Nigeria. It is largely populated by the Yoruba-speaking people, though the kingdom is a hybrid state due to the influence of the many other tribes that make up ...
, southwestern Nigeria 1817– (integrated)
*
Muri Emirate, eastcentral Nigeria 1817– (integrated)
*
Kazaure Emirate
Kazaure is an Emirate and a Local Government Area of Jigawa State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the ancient city of Kazaure.
Early history
Kazaure was said to have been first settled by a group of Hausa (also known as Habe) hunter clan under ...
, northcentral Nigeria 1819– (integrated)
*
Lapai Emirate
The Lapai Emirate, today in Nigeria, is a traditional state that lies near the Gurara River, a tributary to the Niger River, formerly originally inhabited where Gbari People, and presently came under the power of Nupe people, covering roughly the s ...
, central Nigeria 1825– (integrated)
*
Suleja Emirate, central Nigeria 1828– (integrated)
*
Agaie Emirate, westcentral Nigeria 1832– (integrated)
*
Bida Emirate, westcentral Nigeria 1856– (integrated)
*
Kontagora Emirate
The Kontagora Emirate is a traditional state with the capital city of Kontagora, Niger State, Nigeria. The Kontagora Emirate is among the major emirates in Niger state like Kagara Emirate, Suleja Emirate and others
History
Kontagora is made up o ...
, northcentral Nigeria 1858– (integrated)
*
Borno Emirate
The Borno Emirate or Borno Sultanate is a traditional Nigerian state formed at the start of the 20th century. It is headed by descendants of the rulers of the Bornu Empire, founded before 1000. The rulers have the title Shehu of Borno (var. Shehu ...
, northeastern Nigeria 1900– (integrated)
*
Dikwa Emirate
The Dikwa Emirate is one of the successor states to the old Bornu Empire, a traditional state within Borno State, Nigeria. It was established in 1901 at the start of the colonial period after the Bornu empire had been partitioned between the Briti ...
, northeast Nigeria 1901– (integrated)
*
Biu Emirate
The Biu Emirate is a Nigerian traditional states, traditional state based in Biu, Nigeria, Biu in Borno State, Nigeria. Prior to 1920 it was referred to as the Biu Kingdom.
History
The rulers of Biu are numbered from Abdullahi, later known as Yam ...
, northeast Nigeria 1920– (integrated)
Asia
Arabia
*
Emirate of Mecca, Western Arabia 967–1916
*
Uyunid Emirate
The Uyunid Emirate () was an emirate centered in al-Hasa that ruled Eastern Arabia and Najd at its greatest extent. The emirate was ruled by the Uyunid dynasty, an Arab dynasty from the tribe of Banu Abd al-Qays. The emirate was established in ...
, the modern
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula, (; ar, شِبْهُ الْجَزِيرَةِ الْعَرَبِيَّة, , "Arabian Peninsula" or , , "Island of the Arabs") or Arabia, is a peninsula of Western Asia, situated northeast of Africa on the Arabian Plate ...
1076–1253
*
Jabrids Emirate, Eastern and center Arabia 1417–1524
*
Emirate of Al-Uyaynah central Arabia 1446–1760
*
Bani Khalid Emirate
Bani Khalid Emirate ( ar, إمارة بني خالد) or the Emirate of Al Hamid from the Bani Khalid tribe was a state that arose in the eastern region of the Arabian Peninsula in year 1669 after Emir Barak bin Ghurair made his capital in Al-Mu ...
, Eastern Arabia 1669–1796
*
Emirate of Beihan, modern southern
Yemen 1680–1967
*
Emirate of Diriyah, mainly in modern
Saudi Arabia and the
UAE 1727–1818
*
Emirate of Nejd
The Emirate of Nejd or Imamate of Nejd was the Second Saudi State, existing between 1824 and 1891 in Nejd, the regions of Riyadh and Ha'il of what is now Saudi Arabia. Saudi rule was restored to central and eastern Arabia after the Emirate of D ...
, center and 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
The Emirate of Nejd and Hasa was the second iteration of the Third Saudi State from 1913 to 1921. It was a monarchy led by the House of Saud.Madawi Al-Rasheed. (2002). ''A History of Saudi Arabia''. Cambridge, England, UK: Cambridge University P ...
, central Arabia 1902–21
*
Idrisid Emirate of Asir
The Idrisid Emirate of Asir () was a state located in the Arabian Peninsula. The Emirate was located in the geographical region of Asir and Jizan in what is now southwestern Saudi Arabia, and extending to Hodeidah, northwest of Yemen.
History
...
,
Jizan in modern southwestern
Saudi Arabia 1906–34
*
Emirate of Bahrain
The State of Bahrain ( ar, دولة البحرين ') was the name of Bahrain from 1971 to 2002.
On 15 August 1971, Bahrain declared independence and signed a new treaty of friendship with the United Kingdom. Bahrain joined the United Nations an ...
, 1971–2002 (before it was under a
hakim; after under a
malik
Malik, Mallik, Melik, Malka, Malek, Maleek, Malick, Mallick, or Melekh ( phn, 𐤌𐤋𐤊; ar, ملك; he, מֶלֶךְ) is the Semitic term translating to "king", recorded in East Semitic and Arabic, and as mlk in Northwest Semitic duri ...
)
*
Emirates of Saudi Arabia
The Provinces of Saudi Arabia, also known as Regions, and officially the Emirates of the Provinces of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (), are the 13 first-level administrative divisions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
History
After the unification ...
, the thirteen provinces of
Saudi Arabia
File:FederationOfSouthArabiaMap.jpg, Beihan and Dhala in South Arabia
File:First Saudi State Big.png, Diriyah
File:Second Saudi State Big.png, Nejd
File:Alrasheed hail english.png, Jabal Shammar
File:Sa mapa6.png, Asir at its height
File:LocationBahrain.svg, Bahrain
File:Saudi Arabia - province locator template.png, Saudi Arabian emirate divisions
Central Asia
*
Emirate of Bukhara
The Emirate of Bukhara ( fa, , Amārat-e Bokhārā, chg, , Bukhārā Amirligi) was a Muslim polity in Central Asia that existed from 1785 to 1920 in what is modern-day Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. It occupied the lan ...
, modern
Uzbekistan 1785–1920
*
Emirate of Afghanistan,
Afghanistan 1823–1929
*
Khotan Emirate
Hotan (also known as Gosthana, Gaustana, Godana, Godaniya, Khotan, Hetian, Hotien) is a major oasis town in southwestern Xinjiang, an autonomous region in Western China. The city proper of Hotan broke off from the larger Hotan County to become ...
, 1933 northwest China, merged into
First East Turkestan Republic
*
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001)
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ( ps, د افغانستان اسلامي امارت, '), also referred to as the First Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, was an Islamic state established in September 1996, when the Taliban began their gove ...
, first period of
Taliban rule in
Afghanistan (
overthrown)
*
Islamic Emirate of Kunar
The Islamic Emirate of Kunar () was a short-lived unrecognized Salafi quasi-state in Kunar Province, which was led by Jamil al-Rahman and established by his group, Jamaat al-Dawah ila al-Quran wal-Sunnah. The Islamic Emirate of Kunar was the fir ...
, southern Afghanistan 1991–1991
File:Bukhara1850.png, Bukhara
File:LocationAfghanistan.svg, Emirate of Afghanistan
File:First ETR in China.svg, Khotan in modern China
South Asia
*
Emirate of Multan
*
Habbarid Emirate
Near East
*Emirate of
Mosul (see
list of emirs for more), modern
Iraq 905–1096, 1127–1222, 1254–1383, 1758–1918
*
Emirate of Melitene
Malatya ( hy, Մալաթիա, translit=Malat'ya; Syro-Aramaic ܡܠܝܛܝܢܐ Malīṭīná; ku, Meletî; Ancient Greek: Μελιτηνή) is a large city in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey and the capital of Malatya Province. The city ha ...
, modern central Turkey mid-ninth century to 934
*
Emirate of Amida, modern
Eastern Turkey 983–1085
*
Karaman Emirate
The Karamanids ( tr, Karamanoğulları or ), also known as the Emirate of Karaman and Beylik of Karaman ( tr, Karamanoğulları Beyliği), was one of the Anatolian beyliks, centered in South-Central Anatolia around the present-day Karaman Pro ...
, south-central
Anatolia 1250–1487
*
Emirate of Aydin
The Aydinids or Aydinid dynasty (Modern Turkish: ''Aydınoğulları'', ''Aydınoğulları Beyliği'', ota, آیدین اوغوللاری بیلیغی), also known as the Principality of Aydin and Beylik of Aydin (), was one of the Anatolia ...
, state composed of
Oghuz Turks
The Oghuz or Ghuzz Turks (Middle Turkic languages, Middle Turkic: ٱغُز, ''Oγuz'', ota, اوغوز, Oġuz) were a western Turkic people that spoke the Oghuz languages, Oghuz branch of the Turkic languages, Turkic language family. In th ...
in modern Turkey from the early 14th century to 1390
*
Emirate of Dulkadir
The Anatolian beylik of Dulkadir (Turkish language, Modern Turkish: ''Dulkadiroğulları Beyliği''), was one of the frontier principalities established by the Oghuz Turks, Turkoman clans Bayat (name), Bayat, Afshar tribe, Afshar and Begdili af ...
, modern
Eastern Turkey 1337–1522
*
Emirate of Ramazan, modern
Eastern Turkey 1352–1608
*
Timurid Emirates
The Timurid dynasty ( chg, , fa, ), self-designated as Gurkani ( chg, , translit=Küregen, fa, , translit=Gūrkāniyān), was a Sunni Islam, Sunni Muslim dynasty or clan of Turco-Mongol originB.F. Manz, ''"Tīmūr Lang"'', in Encyclopaedia o ...
,
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
Az Zubayr ( ar, الزبير) is a city in and the capital of Al-Zubair District, part of the Basra Governorate of Iraq. The city is just south of Basra. The name can also refer to the old Emirate of Zubair.
The name is also sometimes written Al ...
, town in
Basra Governorate, Iraq during 16th century
*
Emirate of Transjordan, modern
Jordan 1921–46
*
Islamic Emirate of Byara
The Islamic Emirate of Byara was a short-lived unrecognized Kurdish Islamic state ruled by Sharia law which declared independence from Iraq in 2001 and ended in 2003.
Foundation
In September 2001, in the Byara District, located in the Avroman r ...
, modern
Kurdistan Region,
Iraq, 2001–2003
File:Anatolia1300.png, Ottoman emirate in 1300, labeled 'Osman'
File:Timurid Dynasty 821 - 873 (AH).png, Timurid Emirate under the leadership of Timur
File:Kurdish states 1835.png, Soran (at center)
File:PalestineAndTransjordan.png, Transjordan
Europe
Caucasus
*
The Emirate of Armenia
Arminiya, also known as the Ostikanate of Arminiya ( hy, Արմինիա ոստիկանություն, ''Arminia vostikanut'yun'') or the Emirate of Armenia ( ar, إمارة أرمينيا, ''imārat Arminiya''), was a political and geographic de ...
,
Caucasus 637–884
* Emirate of Darband,
Azerbaijan 869–1075
*
Emirate of Tbilisi, modern
Georgia 736–1080, nominally to 1122
*
North Caucasian Emirate,
Chechnya
Chechnya ( rus, Чечня́, Chechnyá, p=tɕɪtɕˈnʲa; ce, Нохчийчоь, Noxçiyçö), officially the Chechen Republic,; ce, Нохчийн Республика, Noxçiyn Respublika is a republic of Russia. It is situated in the ...
and
Dagestan
Dagestan ( ; rus, Дагеста́н, , dəɡʲɪˈstan, links=yes), officially the Republic of Dagestan (russian: Респу́блика Дагеста́н, Respúblika Dagestán, links=no), is a republic of Russia situated in the North C ...
in the
Caucasus 1919–1920
*
Caucasus Emirate
The Caucasus Emirate ( ce, Имарат Кавказ, Imarat Kavkaz, IK; russian: Кавказский эмират, Kavkazskiy emirat), also known as the Caucasian Emirate, Emirate of Caucasus, or Islamic Emirate of the Caucasus, was a Jihadist ...
,
Caucasus 2007–2017 (unrecognized)
File:Shaddadid.gif, Darband, Azerbaijan
File:81ArabAbbasidPeriod750-885.gif, Armenia
Iberia
*
Emirate of Córdoba, modern Spain and Portugal 756–929 (title changed to
caliph in 929)
*
Emirate of Badajoz
The Taifa of Badajoz (from ar, طائفة بطليوس) was a medieval Islamic Moorish kingdom located in what is now parts of Portugal and Spain. It was centred on the city of Badajoz which exists today as the first city of Extremadura, in Sp ...
, 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
Jerez de la Frontera (), or simply Jerez (), is a Spanish city and municipality in the province of Cádiz in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in southwestern Spain, located midway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Cádiz Mountains. , the c ...
, 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
File:Coras del Emirato de Córdoba.png, Córdoba
File:Location map Taifa of Badajoz.svg, Badajoz
File:Reino de Granada.svg, Granada
Mediterranean region
*
Emirate of Crete,
Crete, modern Greece, 824 or 827/828 to 961
*
Emirate of Bari, city of
Bari
Bari ( , ; nap, label= Barese, Bare ; lat, Barium) is the capital city of the Metropolitan City of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, southern Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy a ...
in southern Italy 847–871
*
Emirate of Malta
An emirate is a territory ruled by an emir, a title used by monarchs or high officeholders in the Muslim world. From a historical point of view, an emirate is a political-religious unit smaller than a caliphate. It can be considered equivalen ...
, 870–1091
*
Emirate of Sicily
The Emirate of Sicily ( ar, إِمَارَة صِقِلِّيَة, ʾImārat Ṣiqilliya) was an Islamic kingdom that ruled the island of Sicily from 831 to 1091. Its capital was Palermo (Arabic: ''Balarm''), which during this period became a ...
,
Sicily 965–1072
*
Emirate of QaTanSáar
An emirate is a territory ruled by an emir, a title used by monarchs or high officeholders in the Muslim world. From a historical point of view, an emirate is a political-religious unit smaller than a caliphate. It can be considered equivalen ...
,city of
Catanzaro in southern Italy 903-1050
File:Periferia Kritis.png, Crete within modern Greece
File:Italy 1000 AD.svg, Sicily (at bottom)
See also
*
Caliphate
*
Khanate
A khaganate or khanate was a polity ruled by a khan, khagan, khatun, or khanum. That political territory was typically found on the Eurasian Steppe and could be equivalent in status to tribal chiefdom, principality, kingdom or empire.
Mong ...
References
{{Authority control
Feudalism
Monarchy