The King Of Bahrain's Abode: A Royal Residence

The King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, has lived in the Al-Sakhir Palace since he ascended to the throne on 14 February 2002. The palace is a large and eminent complex of palaces and residences, home to several members of the Bahrain Royal Family. The Al Khalifa family has ruled Bahrain since 1783.

The king's residence, Al-Sakhir Palace

Al-Sakhir Palace, also known as Sakhir Palace, is a large palace in the Sakhir desert region of western Bahrain. The palace is located off the Zallaq Highway, northeast of the Bahrain International Circuit, the town of Zallaq, and the University of Bahrain. It is one of the most eminent buildings in the country, built in the traditional Islamic fashion, with grand arches and columns, a dome, and an imposing minaret.

The Al-Sakhir Palace complex was once the residence of the ruler of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad, who moved into the palace around 1925. He lived there with his wife, Hosha, and frequently hosted prominent noblemen and political figures from the United Kingdom and other countries. Unfortunately, after Sheikh Hamad's death at the palace in 1942, the building was abandoned and remained locked for decades as a sign of respect.

The palace stood isolated for many years, but it underwent restoration in the mid-1990s, returning it to its former glory. Today, Al-Sakhir Palace is used for important occasions in Bahrain, hosting visits from foreign dignitaries and heads of state. It continues to be a significant location for official ceremonies and events.

The current King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, ascended the throne on February 14, 2002, and has resided in Al-Sakhir Palace since. He is the son of the late Emir of Bahrain, Isa ibn Salman Al Khalifah, and has continued the tradition of hosting notable guests at the palace. The king has a deep interest in preserving cultural heritage and actively participates in sports and hobbies such as falconry, golf, fishing, tennis, and football.

The king's powers and duties

The King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, is the monarch and head of state of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The current ruling family, the Al Khalifa dynasty, has been in power since 1783. The King enjoys wide-ranging powers, including:

• Appointing the Prime Minister and the Cabinet
• Holding supreme command over the Defence Force
• Chairing the Higher Judicial Council
• Appointing the upper house of Parliament
• Dissolving the elected lower house of Parliament

The King also has the power to pardon all political prisoners and detainees, as demonstrated by the current King's actions when he came to power in 1999.

The King's duties include preserving cultural heritage and representing Bahrain on the international stage. The King has a deep interest in Arabian horses and established the Amiri stables in 1977. The stables were registered with the World Arabian Horse Organization in 1978. The King also maintains good relations with the British Royal Family and hosts the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix annually.

The king's net worth

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa is the current King of Bahrain and has been since February 14, 2002. He ascended the throne after ruling as the Emir of Bahrain from March 6, 1999. The King's net worth is estimated to be around $5 billion.

The King lives in a large palace in Bahrain named Al-Sakhir Palace. It is one of the most eminent buildings in the country and is located in the Al-Sakhir region, near the Al-Sakhir Desert. The palace is actually a complex of palaces and residences, where other members of the Bahrain Royal Family live.

The King owns two motor yachts: the CRN Alwaeli and the 110-meter Lurssen yacht Al Raya, which was originally built for Alisher Usmanov. He also travels in two private Boeing 747 jets, with the registration A9C-HAK, which stand for Hamad al-Khalifa. The customized interior of the jet cost more than $100 million.

The history of the Bahraini monarchy

The Kingdom of Bahrain, or Mamlakat al-Bahrayn, meaning "Kingdom of the Two Seas," is a small island country situated in the Persian Gulf. The Middle Eastern country has been ruled by the Al Khalifa family since 1783.

The modern era of Bahrain began in 1783, after being conquered by "Ahmed Al Fateh". The Bahraini monarch held the title of hakim between 1783 and 1971, and from 1971 until 2002, the title was changed to emir. On February 14, 2002, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the emir of Bahrain, declared Bahrain a kingdom and proclaimed himself the first king.

Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa came into power in December 1961 and is considered one of the pioneer Arab leaders who built their countries based on justice and stability. Bahrain was declared independent from the United Kingdom on August 15, 1971, and from the British protectorate on December 16 of the same year. During the era of the modern state, Bahrain issued its first constitution in 1973.

When Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa came into reign in 1999, Bahrain entered a new era of reform and development within a constitutional monarchy. He instituted elections for parliament, gave women the right to vote, and released all political prisoners. A referendum on February 14-15, 2001, massively supported the National Action Charter, which was adopted on February 14, 2002. The first poll was the 2002 Bahraini general election, with MPs serving four-year terms; the second parliamentary election was held in 2006.

The current ruler, Hamad bin Isa, became the Emir of Bahrain in 1999. In 2002, he declared Bahrain a kingdom and installed himself as king. The king enjoys wide-ranging powers, which include appointing the prime minister and the cabinet, holding supreme command over the Defence Force, chairing the Higher Judicial Council, appointing the parliament's upper house, and dissolving its elected lower house.

The Al Khalifa ruling family

The Al Khalifas are a Sunni Muslim family from the Anizah tribe. Some members of this tribe joined the Utub alliance, which migrated from central Arabia to Kuwait, then ruled all of Qatar, specifically Al Zubarah, before settling in Bahrain in the 17th century.

The first ruler of the Al Khalifa family was Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Khalifa, who ruled Bahrain as hakim until 1796. He was based in Zubarah, Qatar, and spent summers in Bahrain. After his death, his two sons, Salman and Abdulla, co-ruled Bahrain as feudal estates, imposing taxes on the indigenous Baharnah population. Salman ruled from Bahrain Island, while Abdulla ruled from Muharraq Island. This co-rule led to the Al Khalifa family splitting into two branches: Al-Abdulla and Al-Salman, which engaged in open conflict from 1842 to 1846. The Al-Salman branch was victorious and enjoyed complete rule over Bahrain.

In 1869, British forces stepped in to end the fighting between the two branches and appointed Shaykh Isa bin Ali, a great-grandson of Sulman, as ruler. Treaties in 1880 and 1892 confirmed Isa's undisputed position. Around 1900, British officials demanded greater authority over Bahrain's internal affairs, and senior members of the Al Khalifa raised taxes on agricultural estates, sparking riots on the islands in 1923. This prompted Britain to exile Isa and replace him with his son, Hamad, who worked with British forces to restore order.

When Britain granted Bahrain independence in 1971, Shaykh Isa took the title of Emir and appointed his brother Khalifa as prime minister and his son Hamad as minister of defence. Other senior Shaykhs of the Al Khalifa headed key ministries, such as the interior, foreign affairs, and labour and social affairs.

In 1999, after four years of widespread popular unrest in the mid-1990s, Isa died and was succeeded by Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the current King of Bahrain. The new ruler introduced 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. Additionally, he allowed many Bahraini citizens to return after years in exile overseas.

The Al Khalifa family leads a large number of ministerial and governmental posts in Bahrain, including the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bahrain Economic Development Board, and the Supreme Council for Women. The vast majority of significant positions in the Bahrain Defence Force are held by Sunnis.

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