🇧🇭

Flag of Bahrain

Asia

Download SVG

Quick Facts

Capital
Manama
Flag adopted
2002
Population
1,594,654
Area
765 km²
Languages
Arabic
Currency
Bahraini dinar (.د.ب) — BHD
Demonym
Bahraini
Government
constitutional monarchy
Subregion
Western Asia
Driving side
Right
Timezones
UTC+03:00
Independence
1971

Religions

  • Muslim 74.2%
  • Other 25.9%

About This Flag

The flag of Bahrain consists of a white band on the hoist side separated from a larger red area by a serrated line with five white triangular points. The white represents peace, while the red is the traditional color of the Kharijite Muslims of the Persian Gulf region.

The five points of the serrated edge represent the five pillars of Islam. The current design was adopted on February 14, 2002, when Bahrain transitioned from an emirate to a kingdom.

Earlier versions of the flag had more serration points — the number was reduced from 28 to 8 in 1972, and then to 5 in 2002 to specifically reference the five pillars.

What the colors & design mean

White symbolizes peace and the truce agreements historically made with neighboring states and the British. Red is the traditional color associated with Gulf Arab states and the Kharijite sect. The five triangular points represent the five pillars of Islam: faith, prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, and charity.

red white

Pattern: Vertical Stripes

Fun Facts

  • Bahrain's flag originally had a straight white-and-red divide; the serrated edge was added in the 19th century to distinguish it from similar-looking truce flags of the Persian Gulf.
  • The number of serration points has changed multiple times — from as many as 28 points down to the current 5 — with each change marking a political shift.
  • Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands in the Persian Gulf, making it the smallest Arab nation by land area.
  • The name Bahrain means 'two seas' in Arabic, referring to the freshwater springs that once bubbled up from beneath the seabed alongside the surrounding salt water.

Similar looking flags

These flags share similar colors and patterns:

🇧🇭 Malta 🇧🇭 Canada 🇧🇭 Peru 🇧🇭 Indonesia 🇧🇭 Singapore

More Asia Flags

🇦🇫 Afghanistan · 🇦🇲 Armenia · 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan · 🇧🇩 Bangladesh · 🇧🇹 Bhutan · 🇧🇳 Brunei · 🇰🇭 Cambodia · 🇨🇳 China

View all Asia flags →

Explore by Category

Flags with red Flags with white Vertical Stripes

Test Your Knowledge!

Think you can identify the flag of Bahrain?

Play Flag Quiz