In April of 1932, the British Navy decided that Qatar should have its own flag. It was proposed that the new Qatari flag be in red color, but with nine points (Qatar was the 9th member in Trucial Coast Convention). Qatar, however, refused the use of the red color, and replaced it with the maroon color, being a symbol of its pride throughout history. The nine points were kept with the addition of diamonds with purplish red color separating each point, and also adding the name of Qatar in white color on the maroon background.

In 1960, the ruler of Qatar at the time, Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani made a slight change on the flag, keeping the white and purplish red colors, as well as the serrated points, but removing the word Qatar and the diamonds. Since then, Qatar has been flying the current flag.

The maroon color of the Qatari flag comes, therefore, in line with Qatar's history, environment, and civilization, hence the keenness of the Qatari people to keep it.

In 1971, Qatar joined the United Nations, in the wake of the abolition of British Protection, and the Qatari flag with its maroon and white colors was raised.