Treaty 1820

In 1820 the British imposed a General Marine Treaty of Peace on all nine Sheikhs of what was called the “Pirate Coast” in the Gulf area and prescribed them to fly a square “white pierced red” flag instead of the plain red flags they were using on their vessels. The white in the flag would signify they had abandoned piracy. That flag was however not acknowledged by all tribes, who changed the designs and proportions.