King 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

Hakims of Bahrain (1783–1971)

The 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)

The 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)

The 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