The concept used in the design of the National Flag of Qatar resembles that of Bahrain, although the color is entirely different and the serrated edges contain nine points. The
Qatar flag is purple and with a broader white serrated edges at the hoist side.
The white color of the flag follows the internationally recognized symbol of peace; while the maroon color refers to the blood, shed during the several wars Qatar was involved, particularly on the later part of the 19th century; and the nine-point serrated line would only mean that Qatar is the ninth member of the "reconciled emirates" in the Persian Gulf after the conclusion of the Qatari-British Treaty in 1916.
Qatar had been under the al-Thani Dynasty since the middle of the 1800's, it evolved from a poor British protectorate, known for its pearl industry into an independent state with abundant reserves of oil and natural gas. During the late 80's and the whole of the 90's, the Qatari economy suffered due to the Amir's penchant for siphoning-off the petroleum revenues.
However to save his country from eventual political and economic ruin, the current Amir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and a son, overthrew the previous Amir in a bloodless coup in 1995. He instituted political reforms including allowing women the right of suffrage and to hold office; resolved its long-standing border disputes with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia; and redefined economic priorities. Then as of 2007, with oil and natural gas revenues, Qatar had established the highest per capita income in the world.
This rich nation saw its reserves in oil dwindling and has since turned to natural gas production, which is the largest single reservoir of natural gas in the world.
by:
The Flagman
