Flag of the United Arab Emirates

Flag of Abu Dhabi

The flag of Abu Dhabi is a red flag with a white rectangle at the top-left corner. According to the 1820 General Maritime Treaty with the British, in times of war a full red flag would be used by the Bani Yas (Abu Dhabi and Dubai).[7] Although per the 1820 General Maritime Treaty with Britain Abu Dhabi was supposed to fly the Truical States flag, the White Pierced Red flag, in practice Abu Dhabi continued to fly a plain red flag. Percy Cox, the British Colonial Office administrator in the Middle East, was unsuccessful in convincing Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan to adopt the Trucial States flag, which, Zayed argued, represented the Al Qawasim tribal federation.[8] Abu Dhabi later adopted a red flag with a top left white rectangle to distinguish it from the surrounding emirates.

Flag of Ajman and Dubai

The flags of Ajman and Dubai are identical. They are both plain red with a white bar at the hoist, i.e. closest to the flag staff.[9] The flag is known as the White Red Halved and was adopted as an alternative to the Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah White Pierced Red by the Emirate of Dubai and Ajman to distinguish their authority from the Al Qawasim in defiance of the bonds of the 1820 General Maritime Treaty with the British.[10] To the British, this flag was titled as Truical Coast Flag No.1 and Abu Dhabi and Umm Al Quwain were also expected to adopt it.[11] According to the 1820 General Maritime Treaty with the British, in times of war a full red flag would be used by the Bani Yas (Abu Dhabi and Dubai)[7] and a full white flag would be used by Ajman.[12]

The Shihuh of Musandam Peninsula (Ruus Al Jibal) also had a similar flag.[13]

Flag of Fujairah (1952–1961)

Before 1952, the flag of Fujairah was plain red. Fujairah did not sign the general treaty in 1820 with the British protectorate and therefore is still using its red plain flag.[5] From 1952 to 1961, the emirate's name was added to the flag and a red flag with a white Arabic calligraphy of the emirate name was adopted as an ensign to distinguish it from the surrounding emirates. From 1961 to 1975, the emirate used a plain red flag again. In 1975, the flag was replaced with the national flag of the United Arab Emirates.

The Fujairah flag before 1952 and again to 1961-1975.

Flag of Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah (Al Qawasim) after signing the 1820 General Maritime Treaty with the British Empire.

The flags of Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah are identical as they are both ruled by two branches of the same house. They show a red rectangle on a white background. The flag is known as the White Pierced Red and was the intended flag for all the Truical States according to the 1820 Maritime Treaty of the Truical States with the British. It was attributed to the Al Qawasim tribal federation. Percy Cox, the British Colonial Office administrator in the Middle East, was unsuccessful in convincing the rest of the emirates Sheikhs to adopt it.[14] To the British, this flag was titled as Truical Coast Flag No.2.[11] According to the 1820 General Maritime Treaty with the British, in times of war the original Al Qassimi flag (green, white and red flag) would be used by the Qawasim.[15]

Flag of Umm Al Quwain

The flag of Umm Al Quwain consists of a red background, a white bar at the hoist similar the flags of Ajman and Dubai, and a white star and crescent in the center as a symbol of Islam and representing allegiance to the Islamic world.[9] Umm Al Quwain flag was supposed to be the same flag used by Dubai and Ajman, the White Red Halved but a star and crescent was added to distinguish it from the surrounding emirates.[11]