| Emblem of Qatar | |
|---|---|
.svg) | |
| Armiger | State of Qatar |
| Adopted | 2022 (current version) |
| Shield | A dhow sailing on waves, behind it two palm trees and all gules |
| Supporters | Two scimitars gules |
| Motto |
|
| Earlier version | .svg) |
Thenational emblem ofQatar (Arabic:شعار قطر) is one of the official symbols of the state ofQatar. The emblem was initially adopted six years after the termination of theBritish protectorate,[1] with the gained independence as a country under SheikhAhmad bin Ali Al Thani,[2] and was designed under the reign the Emir of QatarKhalifa bin Hamad Al Thani in 1976.[2]
The latest version of the national emblem was unveiled on 15 September 2022 at theNational Museum of Qatar. The new emblem also features the historical Qatari symbols found on the previous emblem: the founder's sword, palm trees, sea and the traditional boat, except all in the maroon colour placed against a white backdrop.[3]
The official interpretation published by theAmiri Diwan (the sovereign body and the administrative office of the Emir)[4] is as follows.[2]
The Coat of Arms of the State of Qatar depicts a variety of meanings and values of different geographical and cultural connotations. It reflects an interactive and harmonious interface between wild and marine lives. It also depicts the palm tree height and its sense of giving, recalling of Arab mightiest swords, the sense of dignity and safe haven.
— Amiri Diwan, Coat of Arms of the State of Qatar
The previous national emblem shows two crossed, white, curved swords in a yellow circle. Between the swords there is a sailing boat (Dhow) sailing on blue and white waves beside an island with two palm trees. The circle is surrounded by an additional circle, which is divided horizontally between the two colours of the flag. In the white section, the name of the state of Qatar is written in black and in Arabic, while in the maroon section, the country's official name is written in a whiteOld English font.
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The national colour of the state of Qatar, outlined in 2015 by the Qatari government as Pantone 1955 C Maroon,[5][6] is rooted in the origins of Qatar's history, and the factors that made it an independent nation. Being the first known place to mass-produce shellfish dye, where large amounts were known to be initially found in Khor Ile-Sud, modern day Qatar.[7] The current colour used in the emblem and flag is the same to the original purple dye that was sourced, and distributed in Khor Ile-Sud.[7] The dye was obtained from theMurex snail and was known as "Tyrian purple".[8] Before the state of Qatar's conception, the purple dye was a valuable commodity and the area surroundingAl Khor Island and was under contention of theSasanian Empire,[9] gaining control over much of the Persian Gulf.[10] In hisHistory of Animals,Aristotle described the shellfish from which Tyrian purple was obtained and the process of extracting the tissue that produced the dye.[11]
The adoption of this maroon began with SheikhMohammed bin Thani in 1932, when Qatar shifted from using a more traditional red, which was too similar to theflag of the neighbouring country Bahrain. This change allowed Qatar's flag to become more distinguished, and also gave national identity to the new colour maroon that was then adopted,[1] as by 1932, the area in thePersian Gulf surrounding the city ofAl Khor, referred to as Khor-Shaqiq,[7] was the largest source of the Tyrian purple shellfish dye in the world.[7]
The emblem of Qatar contains symbolic references to its history and culture, and each item in the emblem has some reference when looking at the inception of Qatar as an independent state. The emblem's design is primarily based on the trinity of sand, sea and sky—three elements that are closely associated with Qatar's history.[12]
Thedhow 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[13] thus making the state of Qatar financially reliant on the seas and their assets.[14]
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.[15] 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 ofTheodoor van Thulden inHercules' Dog Discovers Purple Dye.[16]
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.[17]
With dates being the mainly cultivated fruit by the countries of the Middle East and North Africa,[18] Qatar officially recognises the twodate 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] The edible fruits of date palms are popular local delicacies, especially duringRamadan and atmajlis gatherings. Date palm syrup manufacturing was also a traditional practice; with the syrup being popular due to its high-calorie content and nutrient density; it was a cheap and quick source of energy for the locals, particularly pearl divers.[19]
Qatar has also played a role in the research of thePhoenix dactylifera (date palm).[20] 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".[21] According to one of the researchers who had established the genomics laboratory in 2008[22]
"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 AmirSheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani in Al Ashra.[17]
Officially known as ascimitar, the curved sword 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 theEmblem 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 theArab peninsula.[18] The curved sword or "scimitar" was widespread throughout theMiddle East from at least theOttoman period until the age of smokeless powder firearms had relegated swords to dress and ceremonial function.[23]
Additionally, the Arabian Scimitar has presence in Islamic history, with the most famed being that ofAli Ibn Abi Talib, the first imam in the Shia school of thought and fourth Sunni Caliph.[24] WithZulfiqar being the name of the double bladed sword that was wielded by Ali, as depicted by Islamic scholars.[23][24]
On the new national emblem, the sword has been redesigned to be as close as possible to the original description of the Founder SheikhJassim bin Mohammed Al Thani's sword.[17]
The sea is a symbol of Qatari heritage. Sailing, fishing andpearl 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.[17]
The emblem of Qatar is used across departments of government and in official documents, its mark is a symbol of authority and power used by various bodies of government. The emblem carries presence in statutory and non-statutory authorities included. The current Qatar emblem can be found on the front of theQatari passport, birth certificates, some official university documents and other non-official documents used throughout the state.
Additionally, the emblem is printed onQatari riyal notes, and embossed on the Hamad and Tamim coins.[25]
Different parts of the emblem are occasionally used independently in different government branches. The two crossed scimitars are used in theQatar Armed Forces for the types ofMilitary ranks of the state.[26] As per the states rank insignia's, the highest-ranking officials in the Navy and Air Force are those with the two crossed scimitars taken from the emblem.[27][28]
In 2022, the Government Communications Office created a Government Brand Assets team dedicated to assisting all government entities in adopting the new government brand identity.[12]
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