His birth date and place are unknown. He was the grand son of the Khan of Crimea Devlet Giray II and he was the son of Ahmed Giray. Sahin Giray’s brother Sahib Giray II became Crimea Khan in 1772. Sahib Giray appointed Sahin Giray as the heir of the throne. Devlet Giray IV opposed the Kucuk Kaynarca Agreement that had been signed between the Ottomans and the Russians, in 1774. Due to the agreement Crimea should have been dominated by Russia. Devlet Giray IV ascended the throne in 1775.

Sahin Giray replaced Devlet Giray IV in January 1777, with the support of Russia. Ottomans did not accept his sovereignty and Selim Giray III was sent to Crimea as the Khan.

Sahin Giray repressed the revolt in 1778 and he became the only ruler of Crimea. The Ottomans accepted him as Khan by signing the Aynalikavak Tenkihname in 1779. He supported Russia. Hence, a revolt started in 1782. He escaped to Yenikale. His brother Bahadir Giray II replaced him. But, Russia sent General Potemkin to Crimea in July 1783. They declared that Sahin Giray was Crimea’s Khan, even if it was only for show. They included Crimea in the Russian lands. Sahin Giray demanded favour from the Ottomans, in 1787. But the Ottoman government sent him to Rhodes, the exile island of the Crimean Khans. He was sentenced to death in Rhodes (1787).

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