Saudi Arabia National Flag
Trivia
Technical Specifications
| Adopted | 15th March 1973 |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Design | A plain green field with the Shahada inscription and white sword in the centre. |
Brief History
One of the first major Caliphates in Saudi Arabia was the Umayyad Caliphate established in 661. Their flag was a plain white field. The Abbasid Caliphate was another major power in Saudi Arabia between 750 and 1517. The flag flown was a plain black field.
The Flag of the Umayyad Caliphate (661 – 750)
The Flag of the Abbasid Caliphate (750 – 1517)
In 1836 the Emirate of Al-Rashīd, also known as Ha’il, took control of part of Saudia Arabia. The flag was similar to that of the Ottoman Empire and featured a plain red field with a yellow crescent moon and eight-pointed star. From 1902 the Emirate of Riydh created the third Saudi State. The flag was a green field with white vertical stripe with white Arabic text.
The Flag of the Emirate of Ha’il (1835 – 1920)
The Flag of the Emirate of Riyadh (1902 – 1921)
Even though Hejaz has always seen itself as separate from Saudia Arabia most of the country was in the Saudi border. The Provisional flag of Hejaz was adopted in 1916 and is a plain red field. In 1917 a flag based on that of the Arab Revolt was adopted. A black-green-white horizontal tricolour with red triangle.
The Flag of the Emirate of Ha’il (1835 – 1920)
The Flag of Hejaz (1917 – 1920)
In 1920 the Emirate of Ha’il changed the flag to a black-green-yellow horizontal tricolour and Hejaz swapped the order of the tricolour to black-white-green.
The Flag of the Emirate of Ha’il (1920 – 1921)
The Flag of Hejaz (1920 – 1926)
A flag similar to the modern Saudi flag, including the green field with white sword, was adopted for Negj in 1921. The dagger was removed and a white border was added in 1926.
The Flag of Nejad (1921 – 1926)
The Flag of Nejd (1926 – 1932)
In 1926 the flag of Hejad became an elongated version of the 1920s Ha’il flag.
In 1932 Hejaz and Nejd joined together to become Saudi Arabia. A green flag with white vertical stripe, motto and sheathed scimitar sword was adopted.
The Flag of Hejaz (1926 – 1932)
The Variant Flag of Saudi Arabia (1932 – 1934)
The thickness of the white vertical stripe was reduced in 1934 and by 1938 it was removed completely.
The Variant Flag of Saudi Arabia (1934 – 1938)
The Variant Flag of Saudi Arabia (1938 – 1973)
The modern flag was adopted in 1973. It featured a plain green field with the Arabic shahada motto and a straight sword.
The sword is pointed to the left because the text is meant to be read from right to left. The text reads ‘THERE IS NO GOD BUT ALLAH, MUHAMMAD IS THE MESSENGER OF GOD”. It is considered blasphemous to hoist vertically or lower the flag at half-mast, even as a sign of mourning.
The Civil Ensign of Saudi Arabia is a plain green field with a white-bordered national flag in the top left corner.
The Flag of Saudi Arabia (1973 to Present Day)
The Civil Ensign of Saudi Arabia
The Emblem of Saudi Arabia
The Emblem of Saudi Arabia was adopted in 1950. It is two swords, representing Nejad and Hejaz, guarding a palm tree representing the people, heritage and history.
The Royal Standard of Saudi Arabia
The Royal Standard of Saudi Arabia is the national flag with a gold Emblem of Saudi Arabia in the lower right portion.
The Military Flag of Saudi Arabia
The War Flag of Saudi Arabia is a green triangular flag with the gold Emblem of Saudi Arabia.
Every other Military land flags contain the national flag in the top left corner and their specific emblem in the centre left.
The Flag of all the Saudi Armed Forces is a brown-light blue-blue-black-grey horizontal striped flag. The Royal Saudi Land force flag has a brown field, the Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force is grey, the Ministry of the National Guard is a white-brown-green horizontal tricolour, the Saudi Royal Guard Regiment flag is dark green and the flag of the Minister of Interior has a plain white field.
The Naval Flags of Saudi Arabia
The Flag of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces features a plain blue field with white-bordered national flag in the top right and emblem in the centre left. The Nava Jack is a blue field with the emblem in the centre. The Naval Ensign of Saudi Arabia is the national flag with a blue vertical stripe with emblem separated by a white border on the left side.
The Flag of Saudi Arabia Air Force
The Flags of the Royal Saudi Air Force is a sky blue field with white-bordered national flag with the emblem on one and a roundel on the other. The Flag of the Royal Saudi Air Defence Force features a brown field with national flag top right and emblem centre left.
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