Khalifa, Sheikh Isa bin Sulman al- (1933–1999)

Emir of Bahrain 1961–99. Using the country's oil wealth, he improved transportation, housing, and education. His younger brother, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa (1935– ) became prime minister in 1970. However, despite a short-lived attempt 1973–75 at a popularly elected National Assembly, the al-Khalifa family proved wary of sharing power. During the 1990–91 Gulf War, Bahrain supported the UN-sponsored military action against Iraq, which had invaded Kuwait. However, in 1994–95 the moderate, pro-Western al-Khalifa monarchy was shaken by violent Shiite Muslim demonstrations in the capital, Al Manamah, calling for the restoration of the National Assembly. Shiite opposition to the regime has been growing since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Educated at the royal court by British and Arab tutors, Sheikh Isa was born into the Sunni Muslim al-Khalifa family that had dominated Bahrain since the late 18th century, enjoying British protection since 1820. He became heir apparent in 1958 and succeeded his father, Sheikh Sulman, as head of state in November 1961. The title Emir was assumed in August 1971, after Bahrain was established as an independent state, in the wake of the collapse of a short-lived federation with Qatar and the Trucial States (forerunners of the United Arab Emirates).

Sheikh Isa was succeeded by his son, Sheikh Hamad, on 6 March 1999.