Etymologically emirate or amirate (Arabic: إمارة imārah, plural: إماراتimārāt) is the quality, dignity, office, or territorial competence of any emir (prince, commander, governor, etc.). In English, the term is pronounced /ˈɛmərət,-ɪər-,-ɪt,-eɪt/ or /ɛˈmɪərət,-ɪt,-eɪt,iˈ-/ in British English and /ˈɛmərət/ or /ɪˈmɪərət/ in American English.[2]
As monarchies
The United Arab Emirates is a federal state that comprises seven federal emirates, each administered by a hereditary emir, these seven forming the electoral college for the federation's President and Prime Minister. 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.
As provinces
Furthermore, in Arabic the term can be generalized to mean any province of a country that is administered by a member of the ruling class, especially of a member (usually styled emir) of the royal family, as in Saudi Arabian governorates.
List of present emirates
A list of present independent emirates.
Kuwait (also called State of Kuwait), emirate since 1961
Qatar (also called State of Qatar), emirate since 1971
A list of emirates that have either ceased to exist, are not recognized and hold no real power, or were integrated into another country and preserved as "traditional states" arranged by location and in order of the date of the first leader styled "emir."
Europe
Iberia
Emirate of Córdoba, modern Spain and Portugal 756-929 (title changed to caliph in 929)
Emirate of Badajoz, modern Portugal and western Spain 1009-1151
Emirate of Almería, region of Almería and Cartagena in modern Spain off and on 1013-1091
Emirate of Jerez, towns of Jerez de la Frontera and Arcos de la Frontera in modern southern Spain 1145-1147
Emirate of Granada, modern southern Spain 1228-1492
Córdoba
Badajoz
Granada
Mediterranean region
Emirate of Crete, Crete, modern Greece, 824 or 827/828 to 961
Emirate of Bari, city of Bari in southern Italy 847-871