Future monarchs of the Middle East

The Middle East has several monarchies, with the most well-known being Saudi Arabia and Jordan. However, five other countries have monarchies. We look at the future rulers below:

Bahrain

DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Madelyn Keech

The Crown Prince of Bahrain is Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who was born on 21 October 1969. He is the eldest son of King Hamad and Princess Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa. Crown Prince Salman became the heir apparent on 9 March 1999 and has served as the Prime Minister of Bahrain since 11 November 2020. 

The Crown Prince was married to Sheikha Hala bint D’aij Al Khalifa from 1989 to 2005. They had four children together. She died in 2018. 

Jordan

Picture by Toby Shepheard / Kensington Palace

Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan is the oldest child and first son of King Abdullah and Queen Rania. He has studied in Jordan and the United States and underwent military training at Sandhurst in the UK. The 31-year-old represents Jordan on the global stage and regularly steps in as Regent when his father is out of the country. 

Hussein married Saudi-born Rajwa Al Saif in 2023. They have one daughter, Princess Iman, who was born in August 2024. 

Kuwait

By Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών – Συνάντηση Αντιπροέδρου της Κυβέρνησης και ΥΠΕΞ Ευ. Βενιζέλου με Πρώτο Αντιπρόεδρο της Κυβέρνησης και ΥΠΕΞ Κουβέιτ Σεΐχη Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah has been the Crown Prince of Kuwait since 1 June 2024. Born on 3 March 1953, he is the son of Khalid bin Hamad Al Sabah and Mouza bint Ahmad Al Sabah. His maternal grandfather was Ahmad bin Jabir Al Sabah, the Ruler of Kuwait from 1921 to 1950.

The Crown Prince has served in the Kuwaiti government for many years and was Prime Minister from 19 November 2019 to 19 July 2022. 

He is married to Aida Salim Al Ali Al Sabah and has two children. 

Oman

By الصلت alsalt@uptophoto.com – أرسلها لي شخصيًا وطلب مني رفعها ومنح حقوقها alsalt@uptophoto.com, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said (b. 21 August 1990) is the Crown Prince of Oman, as the eldest son of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and Sayyida Ahad. He studied in Oman and the United Kingdom and underwent military training at Sandhurst. The Crown Prince has been the heir since January 2021 and served as the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs since January 2026. 

Crown Prince Theyazin married his first cousin on 11 November 2021, but divorced early in 2022. He married for a second time in April 2025 to Sayyida Alia. At present, he does not have any children. 

Qatar

By M.adaoui – Own work, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

The unofficial heir presumptive, Deputy Emir Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, 37, is the son of Emir Hamad and his third wife, Sheikha Noora. He is the younger half-brother of the reigning Emir of Qatar. 

He is married to Al Maha bint Muhammad Al Attiyah, and they have two sons, Sheikhs Hamad and Tamim. 

While currently serving as the unofficial heir, reigning Emir Tamim is expected to one day replace his younger brother with one of his sons as the heir to the throne. 

Saudi Arabia

Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok

One of the most well-known heirs in the Middle East, Mohammed bin Salman (famously dubbed MBS), is the first child of King Salman of Saudi Arabia and his third wife, Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain. MBS was born on 31 August 1985 in Riyadh and has been the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia since 2017. 

His time as the heir has brought changes to Saudi Arabia, with women given more freedoms; however, he still leads an authoritarian government that punishes dissidents. He has been blamed for the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, with the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence claiming he ordered the assassination. 

MBS has been married to his first cousin, Sara bint Mashour, since 2008. They have five children. 

United Arab Emirates

The UAE is split into six ruling families in seven emirates. Each royal family leads a different emirate. 

• Abu Dhabi

By Prime Minister’s Office (GODL-India), GODL-India, Wikimedia Commons

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi is Sheikh Khaled, the eldest son of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the UAE.  He has served in government for years and was made Crown Prince in 2023.

The 44-year-old has been married to Fatima bint Suroor Al Nahyan since 2008. They have four children. 

• Dubai

By Ministry of Eternal Affairs – https://www.flickr.com/photos/meaindia/54452163462/, GODL-India, Wikimedia Commons

Sheikh Hamdan has been the Crown Prince of Dubai since 2008. He is the third son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Ruler of Dubai and Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE. The Sheikh publishes poetry under the nickname “Fazza” and is popular on social media. 

At present, he is the Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Defence. He has represented the UAE in the World Equestrian Games, winning gold in 2010 and 2014. He has also undergone military training at Sandhurst. 

He is married to Sheikha Shaikha bint Saeed. They have four children. 

• Sharjah

By Arabiceditor95 – Own work, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

The heir presumptive of Sharjah is Sultan bin Muhammad bin Sultan Al Qasimi, who has held the role since 1999. He also serves as the Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Executive Council. 

As the son-in-law of the Ruler of Sharjah, he worked as chairman of the board of the Sharjah Islamic Bank for close to 18 years.

Not much else is known about the heir presumptive. 

• Ras Al Khaimah

By Richter Frank-Jurgen – H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah presiding over the award panel, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Born on 9 February 1987, Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasimi is the Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah, the son of the Ruler of the emirate, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi. He studied in the UAE and the United States before beginning to work in his father’s government. 

He was appointed as Crown Prince on 6 December 2010. 

Sheikh Mohammed is married to Sheikha Shaikha, with whom he has four children. 

• Ajman
  

  By UAE Saif – https://www.flickr.com/photos/189102799@N08/50844706676/, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Born in 1969, Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi is the Crown Prince of Ajman. He is the son of the current Ruler of Ajman, Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi III. 

He is married to the sister of the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Asma bint Saqr Al Qasimi. 

• Umm Al Quwain

Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla is the Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain. He has held the role since 2009, upon his father’s ascension to the throne. 

• Fujairah

By President.az, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi (born 1986) has been the heir to the throne of Fujairah since 2007. He is the eldest son of the ruler of the emirate, Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi.

He was primarily educated abroad and married the daughter of the Ruler of Dubai in 2009. He and Sheikha Latifah have five children.