Sheikha Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa
Encyclopedia
Sheikha Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa (born at Muharraq
in 1948) is Queen consort
and the first wife of the present King of Bahrain
, Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa, and the mother of the Crown Prince
, Salman ibn Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa.
in Bahrain, she has encouraged the expansion of women's political rights in Bahrain
, encouraging women to vote in the 2001 elections, and, in June 2005, hosted the first ladies
of the Arab world
in Bahrain for the second meeting of the Higher Council of Arab Women Organisation.
She is also the chief patron of the Society for Women and Children in Bahrain and has addressed the United Nations General Assembly
on topics such as Children - future action and Children - programme implementation.
Muharraq
Muharraq , is Bahrain's third largest city, and served as its capital until 1923. The city is located on Muharraq Island and has long been a centre of religiosity...
in 1948) is Queen consort
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
and the first wife of the present King of Bahrain
King of Bahrain
The King of Bahrain is the monarch and head of state of Bahrain. Between 1783 and 1971, the Bahraini monarch held the title of Hakim, and, from 1971 until 2002, the title of Emir...
, Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa, and the mother of the Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
, Salman ibn Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa.
Personal life
Sabika bint Ibrahim married her cousin, Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa, on 9 October 1968. She is a daughter of Sheikh Ibrahim bin Muhammad Al Khalifa, by his wife, Sheikha Fatima bint Salman Al Khalifa, daughter of HH Salman ibn Hamad Al Khalifa, the Hakim of Bahrain between 1942 and 1961. Queen Sabika and King Hamad have four children, three sons and one daughter:- HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince of Bahrain (born 21 October 1969)
- HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al KhalifaAbdullah Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-KhalifaSheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa is the second son of the present King of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah and his first wife, Queen Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa....
(born 30 June 1975) - HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Khalifa (born 4 June 1977)
- HH Sheikha Najla bint Hamad Al Khalifa (born 20 May 1981)
Public life
As the head of the Supreme Council for WomenSupreme Council for Women
The Supreme Council for Women is Bahrain’s advisory body to the government on women's issues. It is chaired by Sheikha Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the wife of Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa...
in Bahrain, she has encouraged the expansion of women's political rights in Bahrain
Women's political rights in Bahrain
Women’s political rights have been a cornerstone of the political reforms initiated by King Hamad with for the first time women being given the right to vote and stand as candidates in national elections after the constitution was amended in 2002...
, encouraging women to vote in the 2001 elections, and, in June 2005, hosted the first ladies
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
of the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
in Bahrain for the second meeting of the Higher Council of Arab Women Organisation.
She is also the chief patron of the Society for Women and Children in Bahrain and has addressed the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
on topics such as Children - future action and Children - programme implementation.
Titles and styles
- Sheikha Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa (1948–1968)
- Her Highness Sheikha Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa (1968–2002)
- Her MajestyMajestyMajesty is an English word derived ultimately from the Latin maiestas, meaning "greatness".- Origin :Originally, during the Roman republic, the word maiestas was the legal term for the supreme status and dignity of the state, to be respected above everything else...
Sheikha Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Queen consort (2002–present)