Red, Black, Eagles, and Stars: A breakdown of flags in the Arab World

Published July 29th, 2016 - 11:24 GMT

Why does Oman have swords on their flag? Why does Qatar have the world’s widest flag? Why would Jordan put a five-sided star on theirs? Here’s a question: Why do so many Arab flags look the same? No disrespect to the proud states of the Maghreb, Mashreq, and Gulf, but if you take a combination of red, green, white, and black then toss in a falcon for good measure you’ve got all the ingredients you need to put together just about any of the region’s flags.

You won’t hear anyone deny the beauty of the Palestinian flag or regality of the Jordanian one - though only a star differentiates them. Nor will anyone deny the history of Egypt or Yemen’s national banners - but when you take out the hawk they’re the same.

So how did these colors and birds of prey make their way into these flags? We’ve put together a slideshow that breaks down the flags of each Arab nation - from Morocco to Yemen - that should make the picture a bit clearer.

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For many modern nations, this is where it began. The flag designed by infamous British diplomat Mark Sykes features colors from each Arab caliphate. Ummayad (white), Abbasid (Black), and Fatimid (green) are all featured in this flag which made its debut during WWI, as Arab irregulars battled the Ottomans and removed them from power.

Palestine officially used the flag of the Great Arab Revolt from 1948, however, the famous tricolor flag of the aspiring state we’ve come to know became official in 1964. Though it’s not entirely certain why the order of colors changed, Encyclopedia Britannica claims the white stripe was placed in the center to improve visibility.

Jordan’s flag has been in use since 1928 and is also a re-hash of the Great Arab Revolt flag. Jordan’s flag is almost identical to the Palestinian one, the only exception being the seven-pointed star added to the red triangle. According to the Jordanian embassy, this represents the 7 verses of al-Fatiha, the first sura in the Quran.

Egypt’s flag comes from another pan-Arab flag: the Arab Liberation Flag used by the Free Officers to overthrow the Egyptian monarchy in 1952. It stuck around in Egypt, who combined it with the Eagle of Saladin to become the nation’s banner. The Egyptian flag, after the Arab Revolt flag, has influenced many others throughout the region.

The current flag of President Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian Regime was adopted in 1958 when the nation became a member of the short-lived United Arab Republic under Jamal Abdel Nasser's Egypt. It keeps the black, white, and red of the Arab Liberation flag, and despite the UAR’s failure it kept two green stars - one for Egypt, the second for Syria.

Based on the Arab Liberation Flag, the Iraqi flag once featured three green stars for Egypt, Syria, and Iraq’s membership in the UAR as well as “God is Great” in Saddam Hussein’s own handwriting. Since 2008, the Iraqi Government has removed the stars, and the late Hussein’s imprint was removed and replaced with a more neutral script.

The current Yemeni flag was created in 1990 after the end of a bloody civil war between the North and South. The Arab Liberation colors were chosen to emphasize unity, and according to the Yemeni government the red represents the “blood of martyrs”, the white “the bright future”, and the black is Yemen’s “dark past".

Legend has it that Lebanon's flag is from an unlikely source - Austria! The red represents the blood of martyrs in liberating the nation, the white is peace and the snow-capped peaks of the mountains. The central cedar is most prominent, hearkening back to the cedars mentioned in the Bible that have grown in Lebanon for thousands of years.

Kuwait’s current flag dates back to 1961, just after it announced its independence from the UK. The flag puts all the Pan-Arab colors together, with each referring to the land, deeds, swords, and battles of the nation. Kuwait’s flag was also turned into the world’s largest kite in 2005, which no other Arab nation can boast of!

Bahrain was the first of the Gulf Sheikhdoms to become independent in August 1971, creating a unique flag with white and red portions meeting with a serrated edge. This edge was designed to distinguish the flag from pirate vessels in the Gulf. In the absence of pirates in 2008 the serrations were cut to five for the five pillars of Islam.

Qatar and Bahrain’s flags are often mistaken, but Qatar’s lengthy flag (the longest in the world!) and purple color make it easy to spot. Adopted in September 1971, the flag’s Maroon color hearkens back to its superior purple dyes dating back several centuries. The white represents peace with Britain and cessation of pirating British goods.

The United Arab Emirates was created in 1972 without participation from Qatar or Bahrain. Nevertheless, the flag stressed unity by choosing the Pan-Arab colors - but individual flags for each emirate in the union remain and express the history of each former Sheikhdom.

The Saudi flag bears no Pan-Arab symbols, just the Islamic profession of belief, a sword (symbolizing how the nation expanded) and the green color of Islam. The writing on the flag makes it holy, meaning it is never at half mast and comes with special rules. Once, FIFA tried to put the flag on a football - furious uproar changed their minds.

The Sultanate of Oman’s current came about in 1995 and is one of the most unique in the region. It features a crest of two swords and a “Khanjar”, an Omani traditional weapon in the upper left corner, as well as a red stripe symbolizing those local to the region. The green is for the “green mountains” of Oman, and the white is for peace.

Civil war and southern secession aside, the modern Sudanese flag was adopted in 1970 and uses the Pan-Arab colors for unity. Sudan put its own twist on the combination, the green triangle representing Islam and prosperity from the land, the white represents an optimistic future, the black represents Sudan and the struggle against colonialism.

Under Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan flag was a solid green banner designed by the late dictator himself. After he was toppled in 2011, the Libyan Unity Government reinstated the Republic of Libya flag - Pan-Arab colors representing a bright future, agriculture, and the dark past Libya escaped from - or at least is trying to escape from.

The Moroccan flag is the oldest of the current MENA flags. Adopted in 1915, the red background represents the bravery and valor of Morocco, the green star represents joy and happiness, as well as Islam. The star itself is allegedly the “Seal of Solomon”, a powerful symbol in Islamic mysticism taken from the ring King Solomon himself wore.

The Flag of Algeria dates back to the bloody independence war of 1962 - the red being for the blood of martyrs. The white is for the peace the nation strove for, and the green color and crescent represent Islam. The famous Algerian Emir Abdel Qader used the same banner in the 19th century, the only difference being the absence of the crescent.

The Tunisian flag is often confused for the Turkish flag - which is understandable considering they both represent a strong connection to their Ottoman past. The Tunisian flag's crescent and star are Islamic symbols, whereas the red - you guessed it - is for the blood of martyrs lost in the fight for independence.

Conflict is a prime force is the changing of national symbols. The flag of the Syrian opposition is actually the flag used under the French Mandate. Each color represents a different historical Islamic caliphate, and the three stars are for Damascus, Aleppo, and Deir ez-Zor. Will it one day become the official flag of Syria? Time will tell.

For many modern nations, this is where it began. The flag designed by infamous British diplomat Mark Sykes features colors from each Arab caliphate. Ummayad (white), Abbasid (Black), and Fatimid (green) are all featured in this flag which made its debut during WWI, as Arab irregulars battled the Ottomans and removed them from power.

Palestine officially used the flag of the Great Arab Revolt from 1948, however, the famous tricolor flag of the aspiring state we’ve come to know became official in 1964. Though it’s not entirely certain why the order of colors changed, Encyclopedia Britannica claims the white stripe was placed in the center to improve visibility.

Jordan’s flag has been in use since 1928 and is also a re-hash of the Great Arab Revolt flag. Jordan’s flag is almost identical to the Palestinian one, the only exception being the seven-pointed star added to the red triangle. According to the Jordanian embassy, this represents the 7 verses of al-Fatiha, the first sura in the Quran.

Egypt’s flag comes from another pan-Arab flag: the Arab Liberation Flag used by the Free Officers to overthrow the Egyptian monarchy in 1952. It stuck around in Egypt, who combined it with the Eagle of Saladin to become the nation’s banner. The Egyptian flag, after the Arab Revolt flag, has influenced many others throughout the region.

The current flag of President Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian Regime was adopted in 1958 when the nation became a member of the short-lived United Arab Republic under Jamal Abdel Nasser's Egypt. It keeps the black, white, and red of the Arab Liberation flag, and despite the UAR’s failure it kept two green stars - one for Egypt, the second for Syria.

Based on the Arab Liberation Flag, the Iraqi flag once featured three green stars for Egypt, Syria, and Iraq’s membership in the UAR as well as “God is Great” in Saddam Hussein’s own handwriting. Since 2008, the Iraqi Government has removed the stars, and the late Hussein’s imprint was removed and replaced with a more neutral script.

The current Yemeni flag was created in 1990 after the end of a bloody civil war between the North and South. The Arab Liberation colors were chosen to emphasize unity, and according to the Yemeni government the red represents the “blood of martyrs”, the white “the bright future”, and the black is Yemen’s “dark past".

Legend has it that Lebanon's flag is from an unlikely source - Austria! The red represents the blood of martyrs in liberating the nation, the white is peace and the snow-capped peaks of the mountains. The central cedar is most prominent, hearkening back to the cedars mentioned in the Bible that have grown in Lebanon for thousands of years.

Kuwait’s current flag dates back to 1961, just after it announced its independence from the UK. The flag puts all the Pan-Arab colors together, with each referring to the land, deeds, swords, and battles of the nation. Kuwait’s flag was also turned into the world’s largest kite in 2005, which no other Arab nation can boast of!

Bahrain was the first of the Gulf Sheikhdoms to become independent in August 1971, creating a unique flag with white and red portions meeting with a serrated edge. This edge was designed to distinguish the flag from pirate vessels in the Gulf. In the absence of pirates in 2008 the serrations were cut to five for the five pillars of Islam.

Qatar and Bahrain’s flags are often mistaken, but Qatar’s lengthy flag (the longest in the world!) and purple color make it easy to spot. Adopted in September 1971, the flag’s Maroon color hearkens back to its superior purple dyes dating back several centuries. The white represents peace with Britain and cessation of pirating British goods.

The United Arab Emirates was created in 1972 without participation from Qatar or Bahrain. Nevertheless, the flag stressed unity by choosing the Pan-Arab colors - but individual flags for each emirate in the union remain and express the history of each former Sheikhdom.

The Saudi flag bears no Pan-Arab symbols, just the Islamic profession of belief, a sword (symbolizing how the nation expanded) and the green color of Islam. The writing on the flag makes it holy, meaning it is never at half mast and comes with special rules. Once, FIFA tried to put the flag on a football - furious uproar changed their minds.

The Sultanate of Oman’s current came about in 1995 and is one of the most unique in the region. It features a crest of two swords and a “Khanjar”, an Omani traditional weapon in the upper left corner, as well as a red stripe symbolizing those local to the region. The green is for the “green mountains” of Oman, and the white is for peace.

Civil war and southern secession aside, the modern Sudanese flag was adopted in 1970 and uses the Pan-Arab colors for unity. Sudan put its own twist on the combination, the green triangle representing Islam and prosperity from the land, the white represents an optimistic future, the black represents Sudan and the struggle against colonialism.

Under Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan flag was a solid green banner designed by the late dictator himself. After he was toppled in 2011, the Libyan Unity Government reinstated the Republic of Libya flag - Pan-Arab colors representing a bright future, agriculture, and the dark past Libya escaped from - or at least is trying to escape from.

The Moroccan flag is the oldest of the current MENA flags. Adopted in 1915, the red background represents the bravery and valor of Morocco, the green star represents joy and happiness, as well as Islam. The star itself is allegedly the “Seal of Solomon”, a powerful symbol in Islamic mysticism taken from the ring King Solomon himself wore.

The Flag of Algeria dates back to the bloody independence war of 1962 - the red being for the blood of martyrs. The white is for the peace the nation strove for, and the green color and crescent represent Islam. The famous Algerian Emir Abdel Qader used the same banner in the 19th century, the only difference being the absence of the crescent.

The Tunisian flag is often confused for the Turkish flag - which is understandable considering they both represent a strong connection to their Ottoman past. The Tunisian flag's crescent and star are Islamic symbols, whereas the red - you guessed it - is for the blood of martyrs lost in the fight for independence.

Conflict is a prime force is the changing of national symbols. The flag of the Syrian opposition is actually the flag used under the French Mandate. Each color represents a different historical Islamic caliphate, and the three stars are for Damascus, Aleppo, and Deir ez-Zor. Will it one day become the official flag of Syria? Time will tell.

Red, Black, Eagles, and Stars: A breakdown of flags in the Arab World

The United Arab Emirates was created in 1972 without participation from Qatar or Bahrain. Nevertheless, the flag stressed unity by choosing the Pan-Arab colors - but individual flags for each emirate in the union remain and express the history of each former Sheikhdom.

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