Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025

Saudi Arabia marks Flag Day on Saturday

Saudi Arabia marks Flag Day on Saturday

Saudi Arabia will mark Flag Day on Saturday for the first time in its history.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman issued a royal decree on March 1 designating March 11 every year as a special day to celebrate the national flag.

The national flag of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been a symbol of strength, sovereignty, and national unity since the foundation of the Saudi state in 1727. For nearly three centuries, the flag has been a beacon, haven, banner, and testimony of the unification campaigns that the Saudi state has undergone.

The history of Saudi Arabia's flag dates back to the banner of Imams of the first Saudi state, who founded the state and unified its territories. The banner was green in color with the inscription "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah" and it was raised on a wooden pole.

The flag maintained these specifications throughout the first and the second Saudi states. Two crossed swords were added to the flag at a pivotal phase during King Abdulaziz's reign when he led the campaign for the unification of the country, its security and welfare.

At a later stage, the two swords were replaced by a single sword at the top. Subsequently, the sword was placed below the Islamic creed of "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah". The design of the flag finally settled to what it is today with the words of monotheism and a drawn sword under that.

The shape of the flag, its coordination, and its components were collectively inherited until the Shoura Council presented a recommendation to King Abdulaziz, who approved the final design on March 11, 1937 AD ( Dhul-Hijjah 27, 1355 AH). The Saudi Flag bylaw was issued in 1393 AH / 1973 AD.

The bylaw stipulates that the flag of Saudi Arabia be rectangular in shape, its width equal to two-thirds of its length, and its color green, extending from the mast to the edge of the flag. The creed “There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” is written in the middle. A drawn sword with its grip directed to the lowest part of the flag is placed below parallel to the words of monotheism written in Thuluth script. The creed and the sword are in white, clearly visible from both sides. The base of the flag is placed in the middle of the width of the word of monotheism and the sword is at a length equal to three-quarters of the the testimony of monotheism at an equal distance from both sides.

Each of the colors and slogans has deep connotations. Green symbolizes growth and fertile soil, white is a symbol of peace and purity, and the sword represents justice and security. This symbolism of the sword has Arab roots and represents Arab nobility and virility. The word of monotheism is proof of the Oneness of Allah and the application of His Shariah (Islamic law) on the sound methodology on which the Kingdom was founded and has followed through its three stages of formation.

The Saudi flag is unique among the flags of the world and has special characteristics that bestow on it an aura of awe, reverence, and glorification. It is prohibited to wrap the flag on the bodies of dead kings and leaders, nor is it lowered at half-mast on occasions of grief, and it does not bow to the guests who review the guard of honor. When it is necessary to do so in mourning, the flag is raised upside down by placing it in the middle of the column, devoid of the word of monotheism for a specified period. It is prohibited to be used as a trademark or for advertising as this would undermine its prestige.

Even on official holidays, the national flag is raised atop all government buildings and public institutions inside the Kingdom and its missions abroad. The flag can be flown only when in good shape and in accordance with international protocol. The flag is prohibited for use while in poor condition. If its color has faded or if the flag is about to be damaged, it is sent to the official authorities to burn in a specific manner.

The Saudi flag has always flown high and continues to do so today. It has a unique and special meaning that sets it apart from other flags because it symbolizes the fundamentals of the faith and the country, the environment and the land, and the unity that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia represents on the Arabian Peninsula.

Emanating from the belief of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince that the flag has great significance as a manifestation of the Saudi state, its strength, and sovereignty and is a symbol of cohesion, harmony, and national unity, a Royal Decree was issued on Sha'aban 09, 1444 AH corresponding to March 01, 2023, dedicating March 11 of every year to be a special day to commemorate the flag under the name “The Flag Day" because Dhul-Hijjah 27, 1355 AH, corresponding to March 11, 1937, was the day the Founder, the late King Abdulaziz, endorsed the flag in the form seen today fluttering with its great connotations that refer to monotheism, justice, strength, development, and prosperity.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Sam Altman sells the 'Wedding Estate' in Hawaii for 49 million dollars
Turkish car manufacturer Togg Enters German Market with 5-Star Electric Sedan and SUV to Challenge European EV Brands
World’s Longest Direct Flight China Eastern to Launch 29-Hour Shanghai–Buenos Aires Direct Flight via Auckland in December
New OpenAI Study Finds Majority of ChatGPT Use Is Personal, Not Professional
Kuwait opens bidding for construction of three cities to ease housing crunch.
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Big Oil Slashes Jobs and Investments Amid Prolonged Low Crude Prices
Social Media Access Curtailed in Turkey After CHP Calls for Rallies Following Police Blockade of Istanbul Headquarters
Did the Houthis disrupt the internet in the Middle East? Submarine cables cut in the Red Sea
Gold Could Reach Nearly $5,000 if Fed Independence Is Undermined, Goldman Sachs Warns
Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay Secure Places at 2026 World Cup
Trump Administration Advances Plans to Rebrand Pentagon as Department of War Instead of the Fake Term Department of Defense
Tether Expands into Gold Sector with Profit-Driven Diversification
Trump’s New War – and the ‘Drug Tyrant’ Fearing Invasion: ‘1,200 Missiles Aimed at Us’
At the Parade in China: Laser Weapons, 'Eagle Strike,' and a Missile Capable of 'Striking Anywhere in the World'
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
Israeli Airstrike in Yemen Kills Houthi Prime Minister
After the Shock of Defeat, Iranians Yearn for Change
YouTube Altered Content by Artificial Intelligence – Without Permission
Iran Faces Escalating Water Crisis as Protests Spread
More Than Half a Million Evacuated as Typhoon Kajiki Heads for Vietnam
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Cristiano Ronaldo Makes Surprise Stop at New Hong Kong Museum
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
High-Stakes Trump-Putin Summit on Ukraine Underway in Alaska
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Nine people have been hospitalized and dozens of salmonella cases have been reported after an outbreak of infections linked to certain brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
×