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Bahrain: History of the National Flag

Before 1820
From 1820 to 1932
From 1932 to 1972

Standard of the Emir

From 1972 to 2002

Standard of the Emir

See also:

Bahrain: Index of all related pages

Before 1820

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

The pre-1820 flag of Bahrain may well have been solid red, but I'm skeptical of any connection to the Kharijites. The Kharijites were those who withdrew their support from Muhammad's son-in-law Ali after he agreed to accept arbitration with the Umayyads over the succession to the caliphate. Their modern successors are known as Ibadi Muslims, or Ibadites. The only significant Ibadi communities are found in Oman (where they dominate), some pockets in North Africa, and on Zanzibar as a legacy of past Omani rule there. The population of Bahrain is predominantly Twelver Shiite, while the ruling Al-Khalifa family--which has been in power in Bahrain since the 18th century--is Sunni of the Maliki school. No Kharijites or Ibadites. It would make sense to attribute Oman's traditional all-red flag to Kharijite symbolism, but why Bahrain's?
Joseph McMillan, 22 January 2004

The Ibadite dinasty of Oman dominated the Arab part of the Persian Gulf (and the African coast) in the 18th century. Bahrain was under rule of Nasr al Madhkur of Bushehr, but ca. 1750 the Persian domination ended and Omani influence was extended in the zone. In 1783, Ahmad ben Khalifa from the Banu Utba (a tribe originating in Nejd which had moved to Kuwait and then to Zubara in Qatar) established himself in the islands and later tried to dispute the hegemony of Muscat. For 45 years the Al Khalifa disputed supremacy with the Ibadites (1802-1847). The Al Saud family was on the side of Bahrain, but this was short lived, as the Malikite tendency of the Al Khalifa was not in agreement with the Hanbalism of Muhammad bin Abd el Wahhab. In 1820, the Al Khalifa signed an agreement with the British. Another treaty was concluded in 1914 when Bahrain was pushed fully under British control. From 1820 to 1847 the Ibadite influence decreased in the same proportion that the British increased, and ended oficially in 1847. It seems that until 1820 the supreme suzerainty (at less officially) can be attribued to Muscat. (Sources: R. Algrain ("Arabie"), J. Aubin ("Les princes d'Ormuz"), and others, quoted in Enciclopedie de l'Islam (Ibadite dinasty of Oman dominated the Arabic part of the Persian Gulf (and the African coast) in the XVIII century. Baharain was under rule of Nasr al Madhkur of Bushahr but c. 1750 the persian domination finished and Omani influence was extended in the zone. In 1783 Ahmad ben Khalifa from the Banu Utba (tribe originated in Nedj, moved to Kuwait, then to Zubara in Qatar) stablished in the islands, and later tryed to dispute the hegemony to Mascate. During 45 years the Al Khalifa disputed the supremacy with the Ibadites (1802-1847). Al Saud was at side of Bahrein, but this was short lived, and the Malakite trend of the Al Khalifa was not in agreement with the Hambalism of Muhammad ben Abd el Wahhab. In 1820 Al Khalifa signed an agreement with British. More treaties, later, finished in 1914 when Bahrain was push fully under british control. From 1820 to 1847 the Ibadite influence decreased in same proportion that increased the british one, and finished oficially in 1847. Seems that until 1820 the supreme sovereignity (at less officially) can be attribued to Mascate.
Source: R. Algrain ("Arabie"), J. Aubin ("Les princes d'Ormuz"), and others, quoted in Enciclopedie de l'Islam, Vol I, pages 971 and 1973.
Jaume Ollé, 22 January 2004

From 1820 to 1932

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

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, 1932-1979

9:13 | image by Ivan Sache

Source: Flaggenbuch [neu92]
Ivan Sache, 16 March 2001

From 1972 to 2002

by Željko Heimer

Source: Album des Pavillons [pay00]

by Željko Heimer

Source: W. Smith [smi80]

The flag was adopted on 19 Augsut 1972.

Standard of the Emir, 1972-2002

3:4 | image by Željko Heimer

Same as the national flag, but with two white stripes in chief and base and proportions 3:4.
Source: W. Smith [smi80]

Variant Standards of the Emir

by Jarig Bakker

Barraclough [bar71] stipulates that "The personal Standard of the Emir is white, with a scarlet inset in the fly; the serrated edge has eight white points."
Jarig Bakker, 10 February 2001

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