Bahrain has two official national flags. The most common flag is a 2:3 red flag with a white hoist covering 1/3 of the total field. The division between the the hoist and fly has a serrated boundary with seven white points. There is no special meaning to the serrated border. It is strictly decorative.

This flag is in common use throughout the State of Bahrain. The author of this page has seen it displayed over public buildings, in the streets in everday use, and on private buildings. The use of the flag in the early 1990s was general and widespread. This was very different that the seldom seen flag of Saudi Arabia. The second version of the national flag version is similar in proportions without the serrated division between hoist and fly. It is seldom used in practice.

The national flag is a variation of flags commonly used by Gulf states having treaties with Great Britain. These states were commonly called the Trucial States from the 1820s until the protectorates were terminated in the early 1970s.

The coat of arms was designed by the British resident advisor the the Sheik of Bahrain during the 1930s. Its basic design is from the flag and not the reverse. The shield and, indeed, the entire coat of arms is used throughout the State of Bahrain in various forms.

COMMONLY USED NATIONAL FLAG 2:3

COAT OF ARMS

SELDOM USED NATIONAL FLAG 2:3