A SYMBOL OF PRIDE AND DIGNITY: THE FLAG OF QATAR HIDES A SPECIAL MEANING

The Qatari flag is an unmissable sight at this year’s World Cup. This is not surprising considering that Qatar is the host of that sports competition, but did you know what it signifies?

The flag of Qatra is a symbol of pride and dignity of that country on the Arabian Peninsula. It is made in the proportions of 11:28 and includes two colors – a white and a maroon field separated by a vertical line with nine peaks.

The color white is an internationally recognized symbol of peace, and Qatar’s unique maroon color, also known as Pantone 1955 C, is a kind of reminder of the country’s past.

Namely, already in the second millennium BC near the island of Al-Khor, which is today located in the northeast of the Qatari coast, the Kassites produced purple-red dye from shells. Under the influence of the strong desert sun, the purple-red turned into a specific shade of maroon.

The maroon color was the trademark of the founder of the Qatari state, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, and today it adorns the flag of Qatar, which is also called AL-Adaam (Ladaam).

That color distinguishes the Qatari flag from the national pride of neighboring Bahrain. The flag of Bahrain is composed of a white field separated by five triangles from a bright red field.

The line with nine peaks on the flag of Qatra reminds that this country was the ninth member of the re-established Emirates by the agreement of 1916.

The Qatari flag was officially unveiled on July 9, 1971, shortly before the declaration of independence from the British protectorate.