Flag of Bahrain

What the flag looks like

A red field with a white vertical band at the hoist, separated from the red by a serrated edge forming five white triangular points.

What it means

The five white points represent the Five Pillars of Islam; red is the traditional color of the Gulf states and white stands for peace.

How to remember it

Bahrain has five white zigzag points on bright red (Five Pillars); Qatar's flag is maroon, much longer and has nine points.

Fun facts

• The number of points was reduced from eight to five in 2002.
• Red-and-white Gulf flags trace back to an 1820 treaty with Britain that required friendly Arab vessels to fly red flags with a white border.
• Bahrain is an archipelago of over 30 natural islands, joined to Saudi Arabia by the 25 km King Fahd Causeway.

Bahrain at a glance

Capital

Manama

Region

Western Asia

Population

1.6 million

Area

765 km²

Languages

Arabic

Currency

Bahraini dinar (.د.ب)

Flag adopted

2002

Flags often confused with Bahrain

• Qatar: Bahrain and Qatar both have a white hoist band with a zigzag edge. Bahrain is bright red with five points; Qatar is maroon with nine points and a much longer flag.