Emirate

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For the United Arab Emirates airline, see Emirates Airline.

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.).

[edit] 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.

[edit] As provinces

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

[edit] List of former and integrated traditional emirates

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Arabic terms for country subdivisions

muhafazah ( محافظة ) • shabiyah ( شعبية‎ ) • daïra ( دائرة‎ ) • baladiyah ( بلدية ) • imarah ( إمارة ) • wilayah ( ولاية ) • liwa ( لواء‎ ) • qadaa ( قضاء ) • mintaqah ( منطقة ) • mudiriya ( مديرية‎ ) • nahiya ( ناحية )