The Al Khalifas: Bahrain's Long-Standing Rulers

The Al Khalifa family has ruled Bahrain for over two centuries. Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, who conquered Bahrain in 1783, was the first member of the Al Khalifa dynasty, which has ruled ever since. The current head of the family is King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who became the Emir of Bahrain in 1999 and proclaimed himself King of Bahrain in 2002.

The Al Khalifa family has ruled Bahrain since 1783

Shaikh Ahmed consolidated his position as Bahrain's ruler and began developing trade with other nations. However, subsequent generations of the Al Khalifa family were plagued by internal dissensions and faced continuing external threats.

In 1861, Bahrain signed the Treaty of Perpetual Peace and Friendship with Britain, which guaranteed British intervention in the case of external aggression. In 1869, Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa was named ruler, and his accession ushered in over half a century of peace and stability.

In 1923, Shaikh Isa abdicated in favour of his son, Hamad, during whose 19-year reign Bahrain entered the oil era. When Shaikh Hamad died in 1942, he was succeeded by Shaikh Salman, who negotiated the transfer of several responsibilities held by the British. Shaikh Isa bin Sulman Al Khalifa assumed power in 1961 on the death of his father.

Full independence from Britain came in 1971, and Shaikh Isa's 38-year reign saw Bahrain develop into a major regional banking and trade centre. Shaikh Isa died in March 1999 and was succeeded by his son, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who became emir of Bahrain. In 2002, Shaikh Hamad proclaimed himself King of Bahrain, and the country became a constitutional monarchy.

Since 2002, King Hamad has introduced a string of reforms, including holding elections and giving women the right to vote and run for office. However, the Al Khalifa family has also been accused of hoarding national wealth, with approximately a quarter of the nation's wealth going to the ruling family between 1925 and 1970.

The current head of the family is King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

The Al Khalifa family has ruled Bahrain since 1783. The current head of the family and leader of the country is King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who was born on January 28, 1950, in Riffa, Bahrain. He was designated as heir apparent by his father on June 27, 1964, and has held various military and governmental positions since 1968.

Hamad became the Emir of Bahrain on March 6, 1999, following the death of his father, Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa. As Emir, Hamad brought about several political reforms, including the release of all political prisoners, the dissolution of the State Security Court, and the abolition of the 1974 Decree on State Security Measures. He also permitted many Bahraini citizens to return home after years in exile.

In 2002, Hamad declared himself the King of Bahrain, becoming a constitutional monarch. As King, Hamad has wide-ranging executive powers, including the ability to appoint the prime minister and ministers, command the army, chair the Higher Judicial Council, and appoint the upper half of parliament while also being able to dissolve its elected lower half.

During Hamad's reign, Bahrain has seen the admittance of Shi'ites into government positions. However, there have been calls for a more equitable distribution of these positions, as the Al Khalifa family leads a large number of ministerial and governmental posts. Additionally, Hamad has focused on improving living standards and developing Bahrain as a financial hub.

In 2011, Bahrain experienced an uprising inspired by the Arab Spring. Demonstrators demanded that Hamad step down, and the government responded with a brutal crackdown on the protests, leading to violations of human rights. Hamad later enlisted the help of nearby Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who deployed troops to Bahrain.

In June 2011, Hamad commissioned the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, headed by human rights lawyer M. Cherif Bassiouni, to investigate the events surrounding the unrest. The establishment of the commission was praised by the international community, including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. However, critics argue that the Bahraini government has not done enough to address the issues raised by the protests and that any reforms have been piecemeal.

The Al Khalifa family took a quarter of Bahrain's wealth between 1925 and 1970

The Al Khalifa family has ruled Bahrain since 1783, when the islands fell under the control of Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Khalifa. Since then, the Al Khalifa family has taken a significant portion of the country's wealth.

Between 1925 and 1970, the Al Khalifa family received about a quarter of the nation's wealth. The amount given to the ruling family per year was the largest item of recurrent expenditure. Until 1941, the amount given to the ruler and those on the Civil List was greater than the sum of all other expenditures. This included the health sector, education sector, and public protection department.

The Al Khalifa family's wealth came primarily from oil royalties. In 1935, the Bahrain government set up a system where one-third of the oil royalty went to the Privy Purse of the ruler, one-third to non-recurrent capital expenditure, and the remaining third was invested. The amount of money received directly by the ruler depended on the revenue-sharing agreement between the government and the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO).

In 1952, a new 50-50 oil deal was struck, and the government received 50% of the profits from Bahraini oil and duty on oil imported from Saudi Arabia. However, due to Bahrain's limited oil reserves, a new deal was made in 1955, guaranteeing significant revenue from oil even when Bahrain's reserves were depleted. In this agreement, the government received 50% of the profits from any oil refined in Bahrain, and the ruler personally received one-third of all oil revenue accrued by the government.

The 1973 constitution included an article defining the amount received by the ruler. It stated that the Amir would have an annual privy purse determined by a special decree, which could not be revised during their reign. State budgets from 1974 onwards show that this sum was fixed at 6 million Bahraini Dinars per annum, which represented 5.8% of Bahrain's total oil revenue in 1974.

In addition to the direct payments, the Al Khalifa family also benefited from indirect sources of wealth. They secured lucrative land deals, property investments, and monopolies. They also received salaries and allowances for occupying positions in the government, such as magistrates, presidents of courts, and amirs.

The Al Khalifa family's accumulation of wealth has had significant implications for Bahrain's development and the well-being of its people. It has likely contributed to underinvestment in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

The Al Khalifa family profess Sunni Islam and belong to the Anizah tribe

The Al Khalifa family, the ruling family of Bahrain, are followers of Sunni Islam and are part of the Anizah tribe. The Anizah tribe originated in central Arabia, in a place called Najd. Some members of the tribe joined the Utub alliance and migrated to Kuwait, before ruling over Al Zubarah in Qatar. They eventually settled in Bahrain in the 17th century.

The Al Khalifa family took control of Bahrain in 1783, under the leadership of Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Khalifa. Ahmed ruled as hakim until 1796, but he was based in Zubarah, in modern-day Qatar, and only spent summers in Bahrain. After his death, his sons, Salman and Abdulla, moved to Bahrain and ruled it as feudal estates. They imposed taxes on the indigenous Baharnah population. Salman ruled over Bahrain Island, while Abdulla ruled over Muharraq Island, each ruling independently.

The Al Khalifa family split into two branches, Al-Abdulla and Al-Salman, which engaged in open conflict between 1842 and 1846. The Al-Salman branch emerged victorious and maintained control of Bahrain. During this period, Bahrain faced threats of occupation from external powers, including the Wahhabis, Omanis, Ottomans, Egyptians, and Persians. Despite these challenges, the Al Khalifa family retained control of Bahrain.

The Al Khalifa family has successfully thwarted revolutionary uprisings and maintained their rule over Bahrain, despite the country's Shia-majority population. They have implemented various tactics to consolidate their power and weaken the opposition. The current head of the Al Khalifa family is King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who became the Emir of Bahrain in 1999 and proclaimed himself King in 2002, becoming a constitutional monarch.

The Al Khalifa family has a history of thwarting revolutionary uprisings

The Al Khalifa family has ruled Bahrain since 1783, overseeing a long history of quashed revolutionary uprisings.

The Al Khalifa family is a Sunni Muslim family that has ruled over a Shia-majority country since the late 18th century. The family's rule began in 1783 when Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Khalifa defeated Nasr Al-Madhkur, who ruled Bahrain as a dependency of Persia. Ahmed ruled until 1796, after which two of his sons, Salman and Abdulla, co-ruled Bahrain as feudal estates, imposing taxes on the indigenous population.

The Al Khalifa family has faced numerous threats to its rule, including internal divisions and external pressures. The family split into two branches, Al-Abdulla and Al-Salman, which engaged in open conflict between 1842 and 1846. The Al-Salman branch ultimately prevailed and maintained control of Bahrain. During this period, Bahrain faced threats of occupation by external powers, including the Wahhabis, Omanis, Ottomans, Egyptians, and Persians. Despite these challenges, the Al Khalifa family successfully retained control.

In the 20th century, the Al Khalifa family continued to face challenges to its rule. In the 1920s, riots broke out in response to increased taxes on agricultural estates, leading to British intervention and the exile of the ruler, Isa. His son, Hamad, took over and worked with British forces to restore order. Hamad's successor, Sulman, faced intense popular challenges during the mid-1950s, but the family's position was bolstered by increasing oil revenues.

The Al Khalifa family has employed various tactics to maintain its rule and suppress opposition. They have been accused of disenfranchising the Shia majority, importing Sunnis from neighbouring countries, and granting them citizenship and preferential treatment in the military and security forces. Additionally, they have been criticised for shutting out critics and outside observers, including journalists, activists, and NGOs. The family has also been accused of imprisoning opposition leaders, using torture, and dispersing protests.

The Al Khalifa family has a history of adapting its strategies to maintain power. After 27 years without a parliament, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa held parliamentary elections in 2002 but also renamed himself King and Bahrain a Kingdom. This move weakened the parliament's power and increased the King's authority. The Al Khalifa family has also monopolised key ministries and utilised a Ruling Family Council to manage internal family disputes and control marriage choices.

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