However, his relationship with the Young Turks in control of the Empire increasingly became strained, and, in 1916, he became one of the leaders of the Arab Revolt against Turkish rule.

While Hussein's sons Abdullah and Faisal were made kings of Jordan and Iraq, respectively, Ali remained the heir to his father's lands in Arabia.

King Hussein soon found himself embroiled in fighting with the House of Saud, based in Riyadh.

Following military defeats by Abdulaziz ibn Saud, King Hussein abdicated all of his secular titles to Ali on 3 October 1924.

He had four daughters and one son, 'Abd al-Ilah, who went on to become the regent of the Kingdom of Iraq during the minority of King Faisal II.