emír

Emír, also rendered emir or amir, is a title of Arabic origin used to denote a ruler, prince, or commander in various Islamic states and communities. It derives from the Arabic أمير (amīr), meaning “commander” or “leader.” In many languages the term has multiple transliterations, and in some contexts it appears as emír with an accent to reflect pronunciation in different orthographies.

Historically, an emir could be a military commander, a provincial governor, or the ruler of a local polity. In several Islamic kingdoms and emirates, the title evolved into a dynastic designation, with certain families governing semi‑independent territories or states. The term has appeared in diverse settings—from medieval Iberian Muslim principalities to Gulf and Central Asian polities—often reflecting varying degrees of sovereignty and local custom.

In contemporary usage, emirs remain the heads of state or government in several Gulf and surrounding regions. In Kuwait and Qatar the sovereign title is emir; in the United Arab Emirates, each of the seven emirates is ruled by its own emir, and the federation is traditionally led by rulers drawn from these families, with ceremonial roles and constitutional functions within the union. The title is also encountered in other Muslim-majority areas and among diaspora communities, where it may denote leadership within communities or historical titles in former polities.

The feminine form is emira or amira, and the plural is emirs (or amirs). The term sits alongside other titles such as sultan, king, or caliph, reflecting a range of governance structures across history and regions.