Qatar's flag consists of two colours:  'Al Adam' (maroon) with a broad white serrated band (nine white points or isosceles triangles) on the hoist side.

In the past, the Qatari Burda (a cloak-like garment) was red in colour. Ibin Manzor in his book titled, "The tongue of the Arabs", stated that Qatari Burdas are "red in colour, coarse in texture and emblazoned with flags".

Some archaeologists believe that the "Bin Ghannam" Island (40 kilometres north of Doha) was the source of the maroon-red dye used in the colouring of textiles and Qatari Burdas.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani was the first to adopt maroon-red as the color of Qatar's flag in 1851.

During the reign of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatar's flag had nine points separated by diamond-shaped rhombus on the white side and the Arabic word "Qatar" emblazoned in white in the middle.

The flag took its present shape in 1960 during the era of Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani, the ruler of Qatar at the time.

During the reign of His Highness, The Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (then the Amir of the State of Qatar) the Law No. (14) of 2012 was issued, which stated that it must be respected and treated with dignity as a symbol of the State, and must not be subjected to disrespect in any way. The law also set forth in attached Annex specifications in terms of shape, design, colours, size, materials, flag-hoisting protocol, as well as punishment for contempt and disrespect.

Source:  Official Site of The Amiri Diwan, State of Qatar