Emirate

2007 Schools Wikipedia Selection. Related subjects: Politics and government

Etymologically an emirate or amirate (Arabic: إمارة‎ translit: , plural: إمارات Imarat) is the quality, dignity, office or territorial competence of any Emir (prince, governor etc.).

As monarchies

Generally speaking, an emirate designates a political territory that is ruled by a dynastic Islamic Monarch styled emir (see that article). 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.

An example of this use persists in the United Arab Emirates, a federal nation that comprises seven federal emirates, each administered by a hereditary emir, these seven forming the electoral college for the federation's President and PM.

As provinces

Furthermore, in Arabic (usually styled Sheikh) of the royal family, as in Saudi Arabian governorates.

List of former and integrated traditional emirates

• Bahrain
• Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
• Islamic Emirate of Waziristan
• Kuwait
• Qatar
• Az Zubayr