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# Umm al-Quwain (United Arab Emirates)

## Umm al-Qaywayn

Last modified: 2026-08-01 by rob raeside
Keywords: umm al-quwain | united arab emirates |
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1:2 image by Željko Heimer
Flag adopted 9th March 1961

- Description
- Flag until 1961

See also:

- Umm Al Quwain Chamber
- UAE - Subnational Flags (Constituent Emirates Flags)
- United Arab Emirates

## Description

A red flag with a white border at the hoist, centred on the fly a white star and crescent, the latter with points to hoist. A variant of the no. 1 flag described in the General Maritime Treaty 1820
Santiago Dotor, 18 April 2001

Until recently Umm al-Qaiwain used a red flag with a white stripe at the hoist. (...) Recently a white crescent and star were added to this flag in Umm al-Qaiwain. The proportions and design as shown below are based on information supplied by HM political agency.

Picture shows a flag 31:64. White hoist is 12 between 64. The red part is 52. [At] 17 from the white band beguin the star and follow the half moon (pointed to the hoist). Star and crescent occupy 12. Rest, until to fly is 22. In high crescent is from 9 to lower edge and to 7 from upper edge and star occupying 16. Source: The Flag Bulletin issue 2.
Jaume Ollé, 17 April 2001

These dimensions were not explicitly written on The Flag Bulletin, rather Jaume Ollé measured them out. If I understood them correctly, the construction sheet would look something like this:

            12                 52
        ________________________________________
       |          |                             |
       |          |             7               |
       |          |                             |
       |          |             )               |
       |          |     16  *    )              | 31
       |          |             )               |
       |          |                             |
       |          |             9               |
       |__________|_____________________________|
            12     <  17  >< 12 ><     22      >

I find these dimensions quite asymmetrical (for instance the crescent is not vertically centred). The overall ratio 31:64 looks like a mistaken approximation to 1:2. Also, some of them do not add up (for instance, 17+12+22=51 instead of 52).
Santiago Dotor, 18 April 2001

Red flag with white hoist stripe and crescent and star in the middle. Source: Album des Pavillons 2000. From the image in Album des Pavillons 2000, it seems that the hoist stripe is 1/6 of the flag length, the crescent is formed by a circle centered on the flag, its diameter 2/3 of hoist, and another circle that makes the crescent only on fly half of the flag and of width (where widest) about half the hoist stripe. The star is inscribed in a circle centered on the flag, its diameter 1/6 of the flag length. A note to the image explains that the flag is flown together with the Union flag.
Željko Heimer, 31 July 2001

## Flag until 1961

1:3 image by Santiago Dotor

The 1820 Treaty regulated their relationships (British and sheikhdoms) and stipulated that the flag to be used by them was red with a white border and square in shape. Until recently Umm al-Qaiwain used a red flag with a white stripe at the hoist. This is still flown at neighbouring states of Ajman and Dubai in proportions varying from 2:1 to 4:1. Recently a white crescent and star were added to this flag in Umm al-Qaiwain. (...) Source: The Flag Bulletin issue 2.
Jaume Ollé, 17 April 2001

Do we know when did that change take place? What date was The Flag Bulletin issue 2.
Santiago Dotor, 19 April 2001

Santiago Dotor asked, "when did Umm al-Qaiwain add the crescent and star?". On 9th March 1961 (source: Whitney Smith).
Ralf Stelter, 20 April 2001