Emblem of Qatar

The outer ring of the emblem is essentially the flag of Qatar This design was changed multiple times throughout Qatar’s history, and has been the same since 1960, when the final change happened under the rule of Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani.[5] This followed with the US recognition of Qatar’s independence in 1971.[6] Qatar became such a large producer of this dye that it was referred to in the middle east as “Qatari maroon”.[1] This same maroon is used in the emblem for the outer halo, dhow, and palm trees.

The flag of Qatar has nine points at the separation point between the white and maroon, and the emblem employs these nine points on each side of the outer halo.[2] These nine points signify Qatar’s introduction as the 9th member of the “Reconciled Emirates” in the wake of the Qatari-British treaty of 1916.[7] From 1972 to 2002, Bahrain's flag had eight points[8] and visually resembled the flag of Qatar, however Bahrain later changed theirs to have five points rather than eight, to symbolise the five pillars of Islam.[7] The original flag further resembled a shade of red, and the inclusion of the white stripe is believed to be a British directive during the time of the protectorate.[9]

• Evolution of the flag of Qatar.
• 
  18th century –1860
• 
  1860–1916, 1916–1932
• 
  1916
• 
  1932–1936
• 
  1936–1949
• 
  1949–1971
• 
  1971–present

Traditional Arabic dhows during a celebration of National Day (Qatar).

The dhow on the insignia is a reference to the pearling industry as the main factor in the stimulation of the economic and social growth of Qatar as a nation. [1] The boat played a large part in the creation of the state as an economically sound country and is to this day is a part of Qatar’s economic stability, with imports and exports in 2018 accounting for over 54% of the county’s GDP[18] thus making the state of Qatar financially reliant on the seas and their assets.[19]

During the ascendancy of the Abbasid caliphate in Baghdad, Qatar's surrounding bodies of water became famed for their riches, as the pearling industry grew larger, and the demand for Qatari pearl increased in the East, which extended as far as China.[20] These waters also became one of the main sources for the production of Tyrian Purple which had gained popularity throughout the East for its symbolic value in royalty and its artistic references from the likes of Theodoor van Thulden in Hercules' Dog Discovers Purple Dye.[21]

The dhow on the new national emblem is called Fath al-Khair, named after the first traditional wooden, motor-powered ship in Qatar's history. Built in 1900, the dhow was owned by Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani, and was usually used for pearl diving and trading trips.[22]

Long walkway shaded by palm trees during rainy day in Education City, Qatar.

With dates being the mainly cultivated fruit by the countries of the Middle East and North Africa,[23] Qatar officially recognises the two Date palms as a symbol of giving and the Arab dignity, with its height in the emblem being equal to that of the dhow, to reflect the state’s generosity in giving.[2] Qatar has also played a role in the research of the Phoenix dactylifera (date palm).[24] In 2009 a team of researchers from the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar published their findings on the Date palm Genome, by using "whole genome shotgun next generation DNA sequencing".[25] According to one of the researchers who had established the genomics laboratory in 2008[26]

"We have increased the publicly available knowledge of the date palm gene by about 1,000 fold."

— Weill Cornell Medicine, Qatar - Cornell University

The palm tree on the new national emblem is inspired by a tree on the farm of the late Grandfather Amir Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani in Al Ashra.[22]

Arabs with scimitars from Boulanger's painting of One Thousand and One Nights.

Officially known as a Scimitar, it is known to be a depiction of Qatar’s "might as an Arab country" and a “safe haven” for its people.[2] The two crossed scimitars are a feature shared with the Emblem of Saudi Arabia, as is the palm tree, likely due to the weapon’s role in Arabian history, and the date palm being the most cultivated fruit in the Arab peninsula.[23] The curved sword or "scimitar" was widespread throughout the Middle East from at least the Ottoman period until the age of smokeless powder firearms had relegated swords to dress and ceremonial function.[27]

Additionally, the Arabian Scimitar has presence in Islamic history, with the most famed being that of Ali Ibn Abi Talib, the first imam in the Shia school of thought and fourth Sunni Caliph. [28] With Zulfiqar being the name of the double bladed sword that was wielded by Ali, as depicted by Islamic scholars.[27][28]

On the new national emblem, the sword has been redesigned to be as close as possible to the original description of the Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani's sword.[22]

The sea is a symbol of Qatari heritage. Sailing, fishing and pearl diving are among the country’s richest traditions. History recalls a time that these traditions also formed the main sources of income in Qatar. Waves have been drawn using the nine-point serrated edges of Qatar's flag, which also symbolise the sea's strength. Three lines represent waves to symbolize Qatar's three-sided encirclement by water.[22]