Sheikhdom

Sheikh Sattam de Haddadin of Palmyra, by Alexandr Evgenievich Yacovleff.

A sheikhdom or sheikdom (Arabic: مشيخة‎ [Mashyakhah]) is a geographical area or a society ruled by a tribal leader called sheikh (Arabic: شيخ‎).^[1] Sheikhdoms exist almost exclusively within Arab countries, particularly in the Arabian Peninsula.

Although some countries are ruled by a sheikh, they are not typically referred to as sheikdoms, but kingdom, emirate, or simply state, and their ruler usually has another royal title such as king or emir.