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Bahrain: History of the national flag

Last modified: 2002-06-14 by ivan sache
Keywords: bahrain | serration | zig-zag | emir |
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Before 1820

[Red flag of Bahrain]by Santiago Dotor

The flag of Bahrain was initially plain red, originating from the color of the Kharidjite Muslim sect.

Jaume Ollé, 27 July 1999


From 1820 to 1932

[Flag of Bahrain, 1820]by Santiago Dotor

In 1820, following the General Maritime Treaty with Britain, a vertical white stripe symbolizing the truce was added at hoist ( but de facto the plain red flag remained in use until 1910).

Jaume Ollé, 27 July 1999


From 1932 to 1972

[Flag of Bahrain, 1932]by Ivan Sache

In 1933, to distinguish the flag from other flags in the area (current Ajman and Dubai flags, ancient Abu Dhabi flag) the stripe was serrated [i.e. limited with a zig-zag border], The specific meaning of the serration is unknown. The serration was made of 28 triangles. Proportion of the flag was 9:13.

Source: Flaggenbuch [neu92]

Jaume Ollé, Nozomi Kariyasu & Ivan Sache, 16 March 2001


Standard of the Emir

[Flag of the Sheikh of Bahrain, 1932]by Ivan Sache

Proportion of the flag was 9:13.

Source: Flaggenbuch [neu92]

Ivan Sache, 16 March 2001


From 1972 to 2002

[Flag of Bahrain, 1972]by Zeljko Heimer

Source: Album des Pavillons [pay00]

[Flag of Bahrain, 1972]by Zeljko Heimer

Source: W. Smith [smi80]

The flag was adopted on 19 Augsut 1972.


Standard of the Emir

[Standard of the Sheikh, 1972]by Zeljko Heimer

Same as the national flag, but with two white stripes in chief and base. Proportion 3:4.

Source: W. Smith [smi80]

[Variant of the royal standard]by Jarig Bakker

Barraclough [bar71] stipulates:
The personal Standard of the Emir is white, with a scarlet inset in the fly; the serrated edge has eight white points.

[Variant of the royal standard]by Jarig Bakker

Pedersen [ped80] has:
Flag of the Emir: mostly proportions 3:4, and the separation between the white bar (not the seam) has always six white points. The colored image has, as a matter of fact, proportions 3:5, and a small white vertical bar to the fly, c. half the width of the white bars along top and bottom.

Jarig Bakker, 10 February 2001