Khalifa bin Harub

{{Short description|Sultan of Zanzibar from 1911 to 1960}} {{Multiple issues| {{one source|date=November 2025}} {{refimprove|date=November 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}}} {{Infobox royalty | name = Sir Khalifa bin Harub<br><small>{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCB|GCMG|GBE|size=90%}}}}</small> | image = Khalifa_bin_Hareb_(cropped).jpg | succession = Sultan of Zanzibar | reign = 9 December 1911 – 9 October 1960 | predecessor = Ali bin Hamud | successor = Sir Abdullah bin Khalifa | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1879|8|26|df=yes}} | birth_place = Muscat, Oman | death_date = {{Death date and age|1960|10|9|1879|8|26|df=yes}} | death_place = Stone Town, Zanzibar | house = Al Bu Said | father = Harub bin Thuwaini | full name = Khalifa bin Harub bin Thuwaini Al-Busaidi | mother = Turkiya bint Turki Al Busaidi | spouse = Sayyida Matuka bint Hamud Al-Busaid (m.1900)<br>Sultana Nunu | issue = Abdullah bin Khalifa of Zanzibar | religion = Ibadi Islam }}

'''Sir Khalifa II bin Harub Al-Busaidi''' (26 August 1879 – 9 October 1960) ({{langx|ar|السيد خليفة بن حارب البوسعيدي}}) was the 9th Sultan of Zanzibar from 9 December 1911 until his death in 9 October 1960. His reign was around 48 years and 10 months long, making him the longest-reign monarch in Zanzibar history.

== Biography == === Early life=== Khalifa bin Harub was born in August 26, 1879 at Muscat, Oman. His father was Harub bin Thuwaini, a son of Thuwaini bin Said, Sultan of Muscat and Oman, and his mother was Turkiya bint Turki Al Busaidi.

In 1900, he married Sayyida Matuka bint Hamud Al-Busaid, daughter of the seventh Sultan of Zanzibar and sister of the eighth Sultan. He also married his second wife, Sultana Nunu. He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Sayyid Sir Abdullah bin Khalifa.{{cn|date=August 2020}}

=== Reign=== Khalifa ruled during a period in which Zanzibar had limited sovereignty. While he retained ceremonial authority and influence over religious and cultural affairs, foreign policy, defense, and major administrative decisions were controlled by Britain. Despite this, Khalifa maintained a pragmatic and cooperative relationship with the British, which ensured political stability and preserved the monarchy during turbulent decades, including World War I and World War II.

=== Social and Religious Affairs === Khalifa was a devout Muslim and a strong supporter of Islamic institutions. He patronized mosques, madrasahs, and Islamic courts (Qadi system). He promoted religious tolerance, as Zanzibar was home to Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and others.

=== Education === He also supported the expansion of formal education, including schools for Arabs and Africans. He encouraged both Islamic education and modern secular learning, helping Zanzibar transition into the modern era.

Under his reign, Zanzibar saw expansion of roads and ports, improvement of public health services, modernization of administrative institutions, and growth of clove plantations, which remained the backbone of Zanzibar’s economy.

Part of the museum of the Sultan's Palace in Zanzibar is dedicated to Sir Khalifa. He visited Makere University on a trip to Uganda on 30 April, 1954.<ref>{{Cite web |title=H.H. Sultan of Zanzibar Visits Makerere University {{!}} Makerere University History Timeline |url=https://timeline.mak.ac.ug/events/event-20 |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=timeline.mak.ac.ug}}</ref>

=== Death=== [[file: Stamp of Zanzibar - 1946 - Colnect 367270 - 1 - Sultan Khalifa bin Harub overprinted.jpeg|left|thumb|Portrait on a Zanzibar 1946 issue stamp]]

Sultan Khalifa bin Harub died on 9 October 1960, at the age of 81, after nearly half a century on the throne. He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Abdullah bin Khalifa, who reign from 1960 until his death in 1963.

==Honours==

*King George V Coronation Medal-1911 *Grand Cordon of the Saidi Order of Oman *King George V Silver Jubilee Medal-1935 *Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)-1935 (KBE-1919) ''(Honorary)'' *Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)-1936 (KCMG-1914) *King George VI Coronation Medal-1937 *Commander of the Order of the Shield and Spears of Buganda *Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal-1953 *Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB)-1956{{cn|date=August 2020}}

==Ancestry==

{{ahnentafel |collapsed=yes |align=center |boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc; |boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9; |boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc; |boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc; |1= 1. '''Khalifa bin Harub Al Said''' |2= 2. Harub bin Thuwaini Al Said |3= 3. Turkiya bint Turki Al Said |4= 4. Thuwaini bin Said |5= 5. Ghaliya bint Salim Al Busaidi |6= 6. Turki bin Said |7= 7. A daughter of Hamad bin Salim Al Busaidi |8= 8 Said bin Sultan (= 12) |10= 10. Salim bin Sultan |12= 12. Said bin Sultan (= 8) |14= 14. Hamad bin Salim Al Busaid }}

==See also== * Abdullah bin Khalifa * Sultanate of Zanzibar

==References== {{reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-reg}} {{succession box|title=Sultan of Zanzibar|before=Ali bin Hamud|after=Abdullah bin Khalifa|years=1911–1960}} {{S-end}}

Category:Al Bu Said dynasty Category:1879 births Category:1960 deaths Khalifa bin Harub Category:Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Category:Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Category:Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire Category:Zanzibari royalty Category:19th-century Arab people Category:20th-century Arab people Category:19th-century Omani people Category:20th-century Omani people Category:20th-century monarchs in Africa