The flag of Qatar is one of the most distinctive national flags in the world.
Basic Description
- Colors: Maroon and white
- Design: A vertical white band on the hoist side separated from a maroon field by a serrated line with nine white triangles.
- Ratio: 11:28, making it one of the longest national flags in proportion.
Meaning of the Elements
- Maroon color: Represents the bloodshed in historical wars fought by Qatar. The color appears darker than red because traditional dyes faded under the strong Gulf sun.
- White band: Symbolizes peace.
- Nine points: Qatar was the ninth member of the “reconciled emirates” in the Gulf after a British–Qatari treaty in 1916.
Unique Features
- Qatar’s flag is often confused with that of Bahrain, but:
- Qatar uses maroon instead of red.
- Qatar has 9 points, Bahrain has 5.
- Qatar’s flag is much longer horizontally.
Adoption
The current design was officially adopted in 1971, the year Qatar gained independence from the United Kingdom protectorate.