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Flag of Saudi Arabia

Asia

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Quick Facts

Capital
Riyadh
Flag adopted
1973
Population
35,300,280
Area
2,149,690 km²
Languages
Arabic
Currency
Saudi riyal (ر.س) — SAR
Demonym
Saudi Arabian
Government
absolute monarchy
Subregion
Western Asia
Driving side
Right
Timezones
UTC+03:00
Independence
1932

About This Flag

The flag of Saudi Arabia features a green field with the Shahada — the Islamic declaration of faith ('There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God') — inscribed in white Arabic Thuluth calligraphy, and a white horizontal sword (a traditional Arabian saber) beneath the text, with its hilt toward the hoist. The green represents Islam, the Shahada declares the nation's fundamental religious identity, and the sword symbolizes the House of Saud's military strength and the kingdom's founding through conquest by King Abdulaziz ibn Saud.

Because of the sacred text, the Saudi flag is never flown at half-mast and must never touch the ground. The current standardized design was adopted on March 15, 1973.

What the colors & design mean

Green is the traditional color of Islam. The Shahada (Islamic creed) affirms the nation's identity as the custodian of Islam's two holiest mosques. The sword represents the military prowess and justice of the House of Saud and the kingdom's unification.

green white

Pattern: Solid Field

Bordering countries (7)

🇮🇶 Iraq 🇯🇴 Jordan 🇰🇼 Kuwait 🇴🇲 Oman 🇶🇦 Qatar 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates 🇾🇪 Yemen

Fun Facts

  • Because the flag bears the Shahada (declaration of Islamic faith), it is never flown at half-mast — even during periods of national mourning — and extreme care is taken to prevent it from touching the ground.
  • Saudi Arabia's flag is one of the few national flags considered inappropriate for use on merchandise, clothing, or novelty items due to the sacred religious text it carries.
  • FIFA required special permission protocols for the Saudi flag's depiction on footballs during World Cup events, as stepping on the name of God was considered sacrilegious.
  • The sword on the flag points left (toward the hoist) on one side and right on the other, meaning the flag must be manufactured with the text and sword correctly oriented on both sides — one of the few flags requiring this.

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