Emirate of Sharjah

From 1820 Britain imposed treaties or truces with the ruling sheikhs of what was called the and all Gulf Sheikhdoms were required by the British to include the colour white in their plain red flags in order to signify that they had signed the Anti-Piracy Treaties. The ruling Qawasim dynasty of Sharjah then adopted the “No. 2” flag with a white border, but in rectangular proportions. The Kalba Emirate (independent from 1936 to 1952) on the east coast was also ruled by a branch of the Qawasim dynasty and used the same flag; it is now part of Sharjah.