Bahrain Flag

Description

The Bahrain flag is available from Flags Online in full-size and desk formats, printed on both sides and made to last outdoors.

About the Bahrain Flag

The Bahrain flag is immediately recognisable by its serrated edge, a row of five white triangular points cutting into a red field along the hoist side. Few national flags use this kind of jagged boundary between colours, and the device gives the Bahrain flag a distinctive silhouette even when only partly visible or fluttering at a distance. It is a simple two-colour design, but the serration carries specific meaning and sets Bahrain apart among the flags of the Gulf states.

Colours and Symbolism

Red has long been associated with the Kharijite Muslims of the Gulf and was historically used by several states in the region, including Bahrain, to mark their vessels and territory. White, forming the five points on the Bahrain flag, represents peace and stands in sharp contrast against the red field. The five points themselves are usually explained as a reference to the five pillars of Islam: the declaration of faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting and pilgrimage, giving the design a religious as well as a national dimension.

History of the Bahrain Flag

Bahrain’s flag has changed several times since the nineteenth century, when an 1820 treaty with Britain required Gulf rulers to fly a plain red flag with a white border to distinguish their ships from those of pirates. Over time the straight white border evolved into a serrated edge, and the number of points varied between different rulers and periods. The current version, with exactly five white points, was formally adopted in 2002, replacing an earlier flag that had used eight points. This 2002 change to the Bahrain flag coincided with the country’s transition from emirate to constitutional kingdom under King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Flying and Displaying the Flag

The Bahrain flag is flown across government buildings, schools and public institutions throughout the kingdom, and appears prominently during national celebrations such as Bahrain National Day each December. As with the flags of neighbouring Gulf states, it is treated with formal respect: it should not be flown upside down, allowed to touch the ground, or reproduced in altered colours or proportions. Ships registered in Bahrain fly a similar red-and-white ensign at sea, continuing the maritime tradition that shaped the flag’s original design.

Bahrain Flag Sizes and Pricing

• 180 x 120cm — R860
• 22 x 15cm Desk Flag (10 units) — R800
• 10 x 15cm Desk Flag (10 units) — R650
• 90 x 60cm — R400

Material and Construction

Made from 100% polyester bunting material and digitally printed on both sides. Hemmed all around with two rows of stitching and finished with a polyester webbing heading. Rope and toggle for hoisting included.

Supplied in packs of 10. Printed on both sides onto polyester and supplied with a black plastic stick and removable base — take the base off and it doubles as a hand waving flag.

Ordering and Delivery

Every Bahrain flag is printed to order and dispatched from our Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and Johannesburg branches, with courier delivery nationwide. Bulk and school orders are welcome — contact us for volume pricing on quantities of 10 or more.

Additional information