King of Bahrain
monarch and head of state of the Kingdom of Bahrain
The King of Bahrain is the monarch and head of state of Bahrain. Between 1783 and 1971, the Bahraini monarch held the title of Hakim. From 1971 until 2002 the title was Emir. On 14 February 2002, the then-Emir of Bahrain, Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa, said Bahrain was a kingdom. He made himself the first king.
List of monarchs
changeHakims of Bahrain (1783–1971)
changeThe Arabic title of the Hakim was Hakim al-Bahrayn. The Hakim also held the honorific title of sheikh.
| Name | Reign | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Until | ||
| Sheikh Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Khalifa | 1783 | 1796 | |
| Sheikh Abdullah ibn Ahmad Al Khalifa | 1796 | 1843 | As co-regent |
| Sheikh Sulman ibn Ahmad Al Khalifa | 1796 | 1825 | As co-regent with Abdullah ibn Ahmad Al Khalifa |
| Sheikh Khalifah ibn Sulman Al Khalifa | 1825 | 1834 | As co-regent with Abdullah ibn Ahmad Al Khalifa |
| Sheikh Muhammad ibn Khalifah Al Khalifa | 1834 | 1842 | First reign as co-regent with Abdullah ibn Ahmad Al Khalifa |
| Sheikh Muhammad ibn Khalifah Al Khalifa | 1843 | 1868 | Second reign |
| Sheikh Ali ibn Khalifah Al Khalifa | 1868 | 1869 | |
| Sheikh Muhammad ibn Khalifah Al Khalifa | 1869 | 1869 | Third reign |
| Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abdullah Al Khalifa | September 1869 | 1 December 1869 | |
| HH Sheikh Isa ibn Ali Al Khalifa | December 1869 | 9 December 1932 | |
| HH Sheikh Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa | 10 December 1932 | 20 February 1942 | |
| HH Sheikh Salman ibn Hamad Al Khalifa | 20 February 1942 | 2 November 1961 | |
| HH Sheikh Isa ibn Salman Al Khalifa | 2 November 1961 | 16 August 1971 | Proclaimed himself Emir |
Emirs of Bahrain (1971–2002)
changeThe Arabic title of the Emir was Amir dawlat al-Bahrayn. The Emir also held the honorific title of sheikh.
| Name | Image | Reign | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | Until | |||
| HH Sheikh Isa ibn Salman Al Khalifa | 
|
16 August 1971 | 8 June 1998 | Previously ruled as Sheikh |
| HH Sheikh Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa | 
|
8 June 1998 | 14 February 2002 | Proclaimed himself King |
King of Bahrain (2002–Present)
changeThe Arabic title of the King is Malik al-Bahrayn. The King also holds the honorific title of sheikh.
| Name | Image | Reign | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | Until | |||
| HM Sheikh Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa |
|
14 February 2002 | Present | Previously ruled as Emir |