# List of Sultans of Zanzibar

**Section:** Sultans of Zanzibar

| No. | Sultan | Full name | Portrait | Began rule | Ended rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Majid bin Said | Sayyid Majid bin Said Al-Busaid | A black-and-white photograph of a man with a dark beard wearing a turban and robes, sitting on a patterned chair, and looking at the viewer | 19 October 1856 | 7 October 1870 | Bargash bin Said attempted to usurp the throne from his brother in 1859, but failed. He was exiled to Bombay for two years. |
| 2 | Barghash bin Said | Sayyid Sir Barghash bin Said Al-Busaid | A black-and-white photograph of a man with a dark beard wearing a turban, a dark jacket, a shirt, and a belt, sitting in a chair, and looking at the viewer | 7 October 1870 | 26 March 1888 | Responsible for developing much of the infrastructure in Zanzibar (especially Stone Town), like piped water, telegraph cables, buildings, roads, etc. Helped abolish the slave trade in Zanzibar by signing an agreement with Britain in 1870, prohibiting slave trade in the sultanate, and closing the slave market in Mkunazini. |
| 3 | Khalifa bin Said | Sayyid Sir Khalifa I bin Said Al-Busaid | A black-and-white sketch of a man with a dark beard wearing glasses, a turban, a dark jacket, and a white shirt all in front of a white background | 26 March 1888 | 13 February 1890 | Supported abolitionism, like his predecessor. |
| 4 | Ali bin Said | Sayyid Sir Ali bin Said Al-Busaid | A black-and-white photograph of a man with a dark beard wearing a turban, a dark jacket, and a white shirt, sitting, and looking at the viewer | 13 February 1890 | 5 March 1893 | The British and German Empires signed the Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty in July 1890. This treaty turned Zanzibar into a British protectorate. |
| 5 | Hamid bin Thuwayni | Sayyid Sir Hamad bin Thuwaini Al-Busaid | A black-and-white photograph of a man with a dark beard wearing a turban, a dark jacket, and a white shirt, sitting, and looking at the viewer | 5 March 1893 | 25 August 1896 | - |
| 6 | Khalid bin Barghash | Sayyid Khalid bin Barghash Al-Busaid | A black-and-white sketch of a man with a dark beard wearing a turban, a dark jacket, and a white shirt and looking to the right of the viewer | 25 August 1896 | 27 August 1896 | Was a belligerent in the Anglo-Zanzibar War, the shortest war in recorded history. |
| 7 | Hamoud bin Mohammed | Sayyid Sir Hamoud bin Mohammed Al-Said | A black-and-white photograph of a man with a white beard wearing a turban, a dark jacket, a white shirt, and a belt and sitting on a chair | 27 August 1896 | 18 July 1902 | Issued the final decree abolishing slavery from Zanzibar on 6 April 1897. For this, he was knighted by Queen Victoria. |
| 8 | Ali bin Hamud | Sayyid Ali bin Hamud Al-Busaid | A black-and-white photograph of a man with a dark moustache wearing a turban and a dark jacket and sitting on a throne topped by two metal lions | 20 July 1902 | 9 December 1911 | The British First Minister, Mr A. Rogers, served as regent until Ali reached the age of 21 on 7 June 1905. |
| 9 | Khalifa bin Harub | Sayyid Sir Khalifa II bin Harub Al-Said | A black-and-white photograph of a man with a dark beard wearing a turban, a dark jacket, a white shirt, and several medals and looking to the right of the viewer | 9 December 1911 | 9 October 1960 | Brother-in-law of Ali bin Hamud. Oversaw the construction of harbor in Stone Town and tar roads in Pemba. |
| 10 | Abdullah bin Khalifa | Sayyid Sir Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Said | - | 9 October 1960 | 1 July 1963 | - |
| 11 | Jamshid bin Abdullah | Sayyid Sir Jamshid bin Abdullah Al Said | - | 1 July 1963 | 12 January 1964 | On 10 December 1963, Zanzibar received its independence from the United Kingdom as a constitutional monarchy under Jamshid. |