Sheikh Hamad ibn ʿIsa Al Khalifah

Sheikh Hamad ibn ʿIsa Al Khalifah (born Jan. 28, 1950, Rifāʿ, Bahrain) is the king of Bahrain from 2002, previously emir of Bahrain (1999–2002). Hamad became head of state as the emir of Bahrain after the death of his father, Sheikh ʿIsa ibn Salman Al Khalifah, and then proclaimed himself king in 2002. Hamad’s childhood was spent in Bahrain, then a British protectorate. Following his designation as crown prince in 1964, he completed his education...