Khalifa bin Harub Al Busaidi

Sir Khalifa II bin Harub Al-Busaidi (26 August 1879 – 9 October 1960) was the 9th Sultan of Zanzibar from 9 December 1911 until his death on 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 on 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.

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.

Death

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

Ancestry