The following is a list of flags, banners and standards used in Bahrain.

National flag FlagDateUseDescription 2002–present Flag of Bahrain Red with a white band at the hoist. The division between the two colors is a zigzag with five white points. 2002–present Flag of Bahrain (vertical)

Royal flag FlagDateUseDescription 2002–present Royal flag of Bahrain Similar to the national flag but with two narrow white stripes along the top and bottom edges and a golden crown placed in the canton.

Military flags FlagDateUseDescription 1968–present Flag of the Bahrain Defence Force A green field with the national flag in the canton defaced with the emblem of the defence force. 1979–present Flag of the Royal Bahrain Naval Force A blue field with the emblem of the royal naval force in the center. 1977–present Flag of the Royal Bahraini Air Force A grey field with the emblem of the royal air force in the center. 1969–present Flag of the Royal Bahraini Army A green field with the national flag in the canton defaced with the emblem of the royal army. 1968–present Flag of the Royal Guard of Bahrain A red field with a green triangle emerging from the upper edge, the emblem of the royal guard in the center, and Arabic text below. 1968–present Flag of the Bahrain Defence Force's Royal Medical Services A dark red field with the emblem of the royal medical services in the center. 1997–present Flag of the National Guard of Bahrain A green field with the emblem of the national guard in the center.

Governorate flags FlagDateUseDescription 2002–present Flag of the Capital Governorate A white field with the emblem of the Capital Governorate in the center. 2002–present Flag of the Muharraq Governorate A white field with the emblem of the Muharraq Governorate in the center. 2002–present Flag of the Southern Governorate A white field with the emblem of the Southern Governorate in the center. 2002–present Flag of the Northern Governorate A white field with the emblem of the Northern Governorate in the center. 2002–2014 Flag of the Central Governorate A white field with the emblem of the Central Governorate in the center.

Historical flags

Under Persian rule FlagDateUseDescriptionPre-Islamic Persia 559–529 BC Standard of the Achaemenid Empire Also called Derafsh Sahbaz, it was the standard of Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Empire. 225–651 Flag of the Sasanian Empire Called Derafsh Kaviani, it is the mythological and historical flag of Iran until the end of the Sassanid dynasty, which according to Ferdowsi's narration in the Shahnameh, this flag emerged with the uprising of Kaveh the Blacksmith against the tyrannical king Zahak and the beginning of Fereydon's kingdom and the Pishdadian dynasty.Islamic Persia 945–1055 Banner of the Buyid dynasty Four green sulde suspended on a staff. 1258–1432 Flag of the Ilkhanate A scarlet square on a golden field. 1384–1405 Flag of the Timurid Empire 1405–1502 Flag of the Timurid Empire 1502–1521 Flag of the Safavid dynasty 1602–1736 Flag of the Safavid dynasty 1736–1747 Standard of Nader Shah 1747–1751 Flag of the Afsharid dynasty 1751–1783 Flag of the Zand dynasty

Under Arab rule FlagDateUseDescriptionCaliphates 651–661750–934 Flag of the Rashidun and Abbasid Caliphates A simple black field. 661–750 Flag of the Umayyad Caliphate A simple white field.Emirates 1417–1520 Flag of the Jabrids Emirate A red field with a white symbol in the center and white Arabic text above. 1727–18181822–1891 Flag of the Emirate of Diriyah and the Emirate of Nejd A green field with a vertical white band at the hoist and Arabic text written in white in the center.

Under Portuguese rule FlagDateUseDescriptionKingdom of Portugal 1508–1521 Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal White field with the royal coat of arms in the middle. 1521–1578 Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal White field with the royal coat of arms in the middle. 1578–1640 Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal White field with the royal coat of arms in the middle. 1616–1640 Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal (putative) White field with the royal coat of arms in the middle. 1640–1650 Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal White field with the royal coat of arms in the middle.Iberian Union 1580–1640 Flag of the Iberian Union A red saltire resembling two crossed, roughly pruned (knotted) branches, on a white field. 1580–1640 Banner of arms of the Iberian Union The heraldry of the House of Austria (with the arms of Portugal). 1580–1640 Royal flag of the Iberian Union A red field with the royal arms in the center.

Under Omani rule FlagDateUseDescription 1670–1783 Flag of the Imamate of Oman A white field with the royal emblem in the canton. 1696–1783 Flag of the Omani Empire A white field with a red sword and red Arabic script below.

Independent Bahrain FlagDateUseDescription Pre-British rule 1783–1820 Flag of Bahrain A simple red field. 1820–1861 Flag of Bahrain A red field with a white band at the hoist. Post-British rule 1971–1972 Flag of Bahrain A red field with a white band at the hoist. The division between the two colors is a zigzag with 28 red points. 1972–2002 Flag of Bahrain Red with a white band at the hoist. The division between the two colors is a zigzag with eight white points.

Under British rule FlagDateUseDescription 1861–1971 Flag of the United Kingdom A superimposition of the flags of England and Scotland with the Saint Patrick's Saltire (representing Ireland). 1880–1947 Flag of British India A Red Ensign with the Union Jack at the canton, defaced with the Star of India emblem displayed in the fly. 1968–1971 Flag of the Council of Trucial Oman A horizontal triband of red, white, and red with a green seven-pointed star in the center. 1861–1932 Flag of Bahrain A red field with a white band at the hoist. 1932–1971 Flag of Bahrain A red field with a white band at the hoist. The division between the two colors is a zigzag with 28 red points.

See also

Flag of Bahrain Coat of arms of Bahrain

References