emirate

noun emir·ate \ ˈe-mə-rət , -ˌrāt \

|Updated on: 29 Jun 2018

Definition of emirate

: the state or jurisdiction of an emir

See emirate defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of emirate from the Web

The foundation for the 2026 bid was built in the wreckage of a similar effort in 2010, when 14 of 22 members of FIFA’s executive committee rejected a U.S. bid and awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, a tiny desert emirate with no soccer tradition.

— kevin baxter, latimes.com, "Sunil Gulati deserves an assist for bringing 2026 World Cup to North America," 22 June 2018
One small issue: The two are allies in an aggressive economic blockade against the Gulf emirate.

— motez bishara, CNN, "World Cup: Is Russia 2018 the last chance for Messi and Ronaldo?," 13 June 2018
Traditionally, Gulf leaders frowned on contact with Israeli government officials, but Otaiba’s boss, Mohammed bin Zayed, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, the most politically important of the emirates, took a different view.

— adam entous, The New Yorker, "Donald Trump’s New World Order," 11 June 2018
Located along key trade routes between East and West, the emirate has maritime access to the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean via its Persian Gulf coastline.

— afshin molavi, CNN, "Is Dubai a model for economic diversification in the Persian Gulf?," 4 June 2018
Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Zayed was instrumental in the formation of the UAE in 1971 and is credited with transforming the emirates into a modern progressive state.

— mia galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, "UAE President Sheikh Zayed Biopic in the Works From STX," 31 May 2018
To finance that expansion and entice lenders and investors to the emirate, Adnoc in 2017 sold bonds for the first time as well as a sliver of equity—a 10 percent stake—in its gas station unit.

— Bloomberg.com, "A Mideast Energy Giant Seizes New Energy Future," 10 May 2018
The emirate decided to issue $12 billion in debt, the person said.

— nicolas parasie, WSJ, "Qatar, Under Pressure from Saudi Arabia, Raises Billions in Foreign Debt," 12 Apr. 2018
Both Brookfield and the Qatar Investment Authority, the sovereign fund of the oil-rich Middle Eastern emirate, said the Investment Authority had no knowledge of the deal.

— New York Times, "Kushners Near Deal With Qatar-Linked Company for Troubled Tower," 17 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'emirate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.