Bahrain

3×5' nylon national flag of Bahrain.

Bahrain's flag is a lesson in how treaty law shaped a nation's colors. The red is the traditional color of the Gulf; the white was added because Britain required it.

Design

A red field with a vertical white band at the hoist, the two divided by a serrated line forming five white triangles.

History & Symbolism

Gulf vessels traditionally flew plain red. The General Maritime Treaty of 1820 with Britain required friendly Arab ships to add white, to set them apart from vessels Britain classed as pirates. The serrated edge first appeared in the 1930s with many more points. On 14 February 2002, as Bahrain became a kingdom, the points were fixed at five to stand for the Five Pillars of Islam.

Flag Specifications

• Adopted: current form 14 February 2002
• Official proportions: 3:5
• Colors: red and white
• Points: five, for the Five Pillars of Islam

Vexillographer's Note

Bahrain is often confused with its neighbor Qatar. Qatar's flag is maroon, has nine points, and at 11:28 is the longest national flag in the world. Count the points: five is Bahrain.

Humphrys Flag Company · Old City Philadelphia · Est. 1864