🇧🇭 The colours of Bahrain

Bahrain’s flag features a red field with a white band, separated by five pointed triangles. The red recalls past conflicts and those who died in them, while the white stands for peace. The five triangles are linked to the Five Pillars of Islam, a central part of the faith.

Where no official value is given, the swatch shows the colour family, not the exact shade.

• Five triangles on the flag represent the Five Pillars of Islam.
• Red and white are the only two colours used.
• The flag’s serrated edge was added in 1932.
• White covers about a third of the flag’s area.
• The flag’s design is protected by law.

The colours of the flag of Bahrain

Bahrain’s flag is made up of two main colours: red and white. A white vertical band sits on the left, while the rest of the flag is red. The two areas are separated by a jagged line made up of five triangles. Each triangle is said to represent one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which are key acts of worship in the religion. The red section is a reminder of Bahrain’s history of conflict and those who died in battle. The white section symbolises peace. These meanings are officially recognised.

How the colours were chosen of Bahrain

Bahrain’s earliest flags were plain red. In 1820, after agreeing to a treaty with Britain, a white stripe was added to show the new alliance and to make the flag distinct from those flown by pirates. In 1932, the jagged edge was introduced to further set Bahrain’s flag apart from those of nearby countries. The number of points on the serrated line changed over time: it started at twenty-eight, dropped to eight in 1972, and was set at five in 2002 to match the Five Pillars of Islam.

Official shades and rules of Bahrain

The flag’s proportions are fixed: white covers 32.5% and red 67.5% of the area. The five-pointed serrated line is required. Laws state where and when the flag can be flown, including on government buildings and ships, and forbid its use for commercial purposes. Breaking these rules can lead to fines or jail.