A brief overview of the meaning, history, and key facts about the national flag of Qatar.
Flag of Qatar
The national flag of Qatar consists of a horizontal rectangle divided into two colors: white at the hoist and maroon on the fly side. The two sections are separated by a serrated line forming nine white triangles that point into the maroon field. The white represents peace, while the maroon color symbolizes the bloodshed in Qatar’s past conflicts. The nine points of the serrated edge represent Qatar’s position as the ninth emirate of the Trucial States during the period of British protection.
Printable Qatar Flag (PNG Download)
Interesting facts about Qatar’s flag
1. The flag of Qatar is unique for its official 11:28 aspect ratio, making it the only national flag that is more than twice as wide as it is tall.
2. The maroon color, known locally as Al Adam, is a traditional color historically used in the region.
3. In 1949, Qatar officially changed the color of its flag from red to a darker maroon shade to distinguish it from the similar flag of Bahrain.
4. The maroon color may have developed from traditional red dyes that darkened in the intense desert sunlight.
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Evolution of Qatar’s flag
Plain red flag (18th century–1860)
Early flags used in Qatar were simple red banners.
Red flag with white hoist stripe (1860–1932)
A white vertical stripe was added at the hoist in the 19th century following agreements between Qatar and Britain.
Maroon flag with inscription (1936–1949)
The flag adopted a darker maroon color and included decorative diamonds and the word “Qatar” written in Arabic.
Standardized maroon flag (1949–1971)
The flag’s distinctive maroon color and serrated border with nine points were the defining features of the Qatari flag.
History of Qatar’s flag
Early flags
The earliest known flag used in Qatar was a plain red banner, reflecting the traditional red flags commonly used throughout the Arabian Gulf.
During the 19th century, a white vertical stripe was added to the hoist of the flag following agreements with Britain.
Development of the modern design
In the early 20th century, the design of the flag evolved further. In 1932, new features such as a serrated edge, diamonds, and the word “Qatar” were incorporated into the flag’s design.
The maroon color of the flag was officially standardized in 1936.
Simplification of the flag
During the 1960s, Sheikh Ali Al Thani simplified the design by removing the diamonds and the word “Qatar,” leaving the serrated white band and maroon field that closely resemble the modern flag.
Adoption of the current flag
The modern flag of Qatar was officially adopted on 9 July 1971, shortly before the country gained independence from the United Kingdom on 3 September 1971.
In 2012, Law No. 14 concerning the Qatari flag established detailed regulations for the flag’s design, colors, proportions, and proper use.
Browse all Middle Eastern flags or explore more Asian flags. You can also test your knowledge with our Flags of Asia Quiz.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. With seven years of teaching experience and a background in educational content, she specialises in creating clear reference resources about countries, geography and global topics.