Flag of Bahrain

The flag of Bahrain (Arabic: عَلَم الْبَحرَيْن) has a white band on the left side and a red area on the right side. Between these two parts are five white triangles that form a serrated line. These five triangles stand for the five pillars of Islam, which are important beliefs in the religion.

The red color on the flag shows the blood of the martyrs and the battles that happened in Bahrain. The white color stands for peace. Sometimes people think the flag of Bahrain looks like the flag of Qatar, but they are different. The Qatari flag is maroon, has nine points, and is usually much longer and narrower than the Bahraini flag.

In the Bahraini flag, white takes up 13⁄40, or 32.5%, of the space, and red makes up 27⁄40, or 67.5%, of the flag.

Design

The flag of Bahrain has a white band on the left side and a red area on the right side. Between them are five white triangles that make a serrated line. The white triangles stand for the five pillars of Islam, the red color represents the bravery of people who fought for their country, and the white stands for peace.

Construction sheet

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  Flag construction sheet

Use

The flag of Bahrain is used both on land and at sea as a national symbol. In 2002, the King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa made rules about how the flag should be used:

• The flag is red and white in shape.
• The King has his own special flag.
• The flag is raised at important places like government buildings, embassies, and Bahraini ships.
• Ships from other countries must raise the Bahraini flag when entering Bahrain's waters until they leave.
• The flag is raised at government places on special days from sunrise to sunset.
• The flag is not raised on cars except for official vehicles.
• The flag is raised halfway down during times of sadness.
• The flag cannot be used for business purposes.
• If the flag is used in the wrong way, there can be a punishment of up to one month in prison, a fine, or both.

Other flags

The Bahrain flag has several special designs used by different groups and areas.

Royal Standard

Flag of the Bahrain Defence Force

Flag of the Bahrain Navy

Flag of the Bahrain Air Force

Flag of the Bahrain Army

Flag of the Royal Guard of Bahrain

Flag of the Bahrain Defence Force Royal Medical Services

Flag of the National Guard of Bahrain

Flags of Governorates

Capital

Muharraq

Southern

Northern, although its mistakingly written as "Southern Governorate" in Arabic.

Former Governorates

Central

History

The earliest known flags of Bahrain were plain red. In 1820, Bahrain signed a general maritime treaty with the British Empire, so a white stripe was added to the flag. This helped make it different from flags used by pirates. In 1932, a serrated edge was added to the flag to make it stand out from nearby countries.

Over time, the number of white points on the flag changed. It started with twenty-eight points, then was reduced to eight in 1972. Finally, on 14 February 2002, the number of points was reduced to five. Each point now represents one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Changing flags of Bahrain

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  1:3 Flag used from 1783 to 1820.

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  1:3 Flag used from 1820 to 1932.

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  Flag used from 1932 to 1972.

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  3:5 Flag used from 1972 to 2002.