🇶🇦 The colours of Qatar

Qatar’s flag features maroon and white. The maroon stands for the country’s long history with purple dye production and its heritage, while the white symbolises peace. The nine serrated points mark Qatar as the ninth emirate to sign a key treaty.

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

• Qatar’s flag is the only national flag wider than twice its height.
• Maroon is officially Pantone 1955 C, known as 'Qatar maroon'.
• The nine points mark Qatar as the ninth reconciled emirate.
• White symbolises peace from anti-piracy treaties.
• Qatar has a centuries-old tradition of purple dye production.

The colours of the flag of Qatar

Qatar’s flag is mostly maroon with a broad white band at the side nearest the flagpole. The edge where maroon meets white is cut into nine points, each one marking Qatar’s place as the ninth emirate to sign the 1916 treaty with the British. The white area stands for peace, especially the peace that came from anti-piracy agreements. The maroon colour is linked to Qatar’s history of making purple dye, a craft that goes back to ancient times. These meanings are officially recognised by the Qatari government.

How the colours were chosen of Qatar

Qatar’s earliest flag was plain red, following a tradition from a local leader. In the 19th century, a white stripe was added to meet British requirements. Later, a purple-red and white flag was adopted, which evolved over time. In 1932, the flag gained its serrated edge and other features, but by the 1960s, only the maroon and white remained. The maroon shade was standardised in 1936, after earlier dyes faded to brown in the sun. The current flag, adopted in 1971, kept these colours and the unique 11:28 ratio.

Official shades and rules of Qatar

The maroon shade is officially defined as Pantone 1955 C, called 'Qatar maroon'. The flag’s proportions are set at 11:28, making it wider than most national flags. The nine serrated points are a fixed feature. The white and maroon areas must follow these specifications for official use.