Country profile: Bahrain

The flag of Bahrain was originally a plain red flag. In 1820, a treaty concluded with the United Kingdom required the Gulf emirates to add a white band to their flags, to signal peaceful ships.

The dividing line between the white and the red became serrated in the 20th century: it first had 28 points, then 8 from 1972.

On 14 February 2002, a royal decree reduced the number of points to five, when the emirate became the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The elements of the Bahraini flag have a well-established meaning:

• Red: the traditional colour of the region's flags, and courage.
• White: peace, in accordance with the 1820 treaty.
• Five points: the five pillars of Islam.

The flag of Bahrain is often confused with that of Qatar, which is darker (maroon), more elongated and has nine points.

The change from eight to five points in 2002 coincided with the adoption of a new constitution and the proclamation of the kingdom.

Since 2004, Bahrain has hosted a Formula One Grand Prix, one of the first held in the Middle East, where the red and white flag is everywhere in the stands.