Flag of Saudi Arabia

A green field with the shahada, the Muslim declaration of faith, written in white Arabic script above a white horizontal sword.

What the flag means

The shahada reads 'There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God'. Article 3 of the 1992 Basic Law of Governance describes the flag with this inscription and a sword beneath it. Green is usually linked with Islam and the sword with justice.

History

The Al Saud family's religious movement used flags bearing the shahada from the 18th century. Abdulaziz Al Saud added a sword in 1921, and versions with two swords or a white stripe were common. By 1938 the flag had roughly its present form, with a more curved blade. It was standardised on 15 March 1973, when a royal decree approved Cabinet Decision 101. The King Abdulaziz Foundation (Darah) says the Shura Council finalised the design.

The flag is made with identical faces so that the shahada reads correctly from either side. Because of the inscription, it is never flown at half-mast.

Flags of Saudi Arabia's neighbours

Sources

Wikipedia: Flag of Saudi Arabia
Flags of the World: Saudi Arabia

Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Read how we research flags in our editorial policy, or report a mistake.