Every Claim to Bir Tawil: Kingdoms, Empires and Micronations

Because neither Egypt nor Sudan claims Bir Tawil, it is often described as the last unclaimed land on Earth. That reputation has drawn people who want to found a country of their own. Most claims have been announced online, some after a visit to the territory, and several have competed publicly with one another.

In June 2014, Jeremiah Heaton, a farmer from Virginia in the United States, travelled to Bir Tawil and planted a flag designed by his children, declaring the "Kingdom of North Sudan". He said he wanted to fulfil a promise to make his daughter Emily a real princess. The story received worldwide coverage, a film project was reported, and Heaton later proposed crowd-funding the new state with titles offered to supporters. A documentary, The King of North Sudan, premiered in 2021.

In November 2017, Suyash Dixit, a businessman from Indore, India, reported travelling to Bir Tawil, planting seeds, and declaring the "Kingdom of Dixit", with himself as King Suyash I. He announced a website for citizenship applications and wrote to the United Nations seeking recognition. Heaton disputed the claim publicly.

Shortly after Dixit's announcement, Dmitry Zhikharev, from Russia, announced a claim as the "Kingdom of Middle Earth", a name inspired by Tolkien. He said he had visited the territory in December 2014 and disputed both the Heaton and Dixit claims.

In 2019 a group calling itself the "Kingdom of the Yellow Mountain" announced a claim with a stated humanitarian purpose of resettling refugees. In 2021, a London barrister, Dwain Coward, was reported to have asserted a claim connected to stopping mercury pollution from gold mining in the area. Numerous smaller online claims have also been announced.

On October 21, 2026, the Sovereign Empire of Brendania was proclaimed by Declaration of Independence, claiming Bir Tawil as its sovereign territory. Its Imperial Constitution vests the Crown in His Imperial Majesty Brendan Smith I, and its Act of Ratification fixes his style as Emperor, King, and Supreme Leader of Brendania, Founder of the House of Smith, with hereditary succession.

Where earlier claimants announced kingdoms, Brendania constituted a state: a written constitution, a dynasty and line of succession, a public record of state acts and correspondence, and diplomatic engagement with Egypt and Sudan.

The earlier claims were announcements; none produced a constitution, a government, or a continuing record. Bir Tawil is today the sovereign territory claimed by the Sovereign Empire of Brendania, which is pursuing formal recognition from Egypt, Sudan, and other states.