On the 93rd National Day
The Saudi Flag: A Story of Evolution Told Through Generations
Amlak - Special
The Saudi flag represents an enduring symbol in the Kingdom’s history, as its evolution throughout history has been linked to the stages our country went through as it moved toward its founding and took on the form of an organized state.
To affirm the flag’s status and its lofty position in shaping the state’s identity and symbolism, King Abdulaziz, may God preserve him, the flag’s design on March 11, 1937, to emphasize the flag’s profound significance, which signifies growth, generosity, and prosperity. The flag has undergone a number of design changes while retaining its essence: the green color and the phrase of Tawhid.
Stages of the Flag’s Evolution
First: The Flag of the Emirate of Diriyah
This period spanned from 1750 to 1818, during which the flag was green with a white crescent in the center.
Second: The Flag of the Emirate of Najd
Between 1902 and 1921, during the period when Saudi Arabia was known as the “Emirate of Najd,” and upon the founding king’s entry into Riyadh, the crescent was replaced with the phrase "There is no god but Allah" on a solid green flag.
Third: Green, the Shahada, and the Sword
In 1938, the flag’s width became two-thirds of its length, with a green color extending from the hoist to the tip of the flag, featuring the Shahada in white at its center, along with a drawn sword of the same color.
Fourth: The Alignment of the Sword and the Shahada
In 1973, during the reign of the late King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God preserve him, a new royal decree was issued stipulating that the flag should be green, bearing the word “Shahada” and a drawn sword beneath it and parallel to it.
Fifth: The Flag Must Not Be Lowered
In 1993, a royal decree was issued, stipulating in its third article that the flag of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shall be as follows: It is green in color, with a width equal to two-thirds of its length, bearing the phrase “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” in the center, with a drawn sword beneath it; the flag shall never be lowered (due to the presence of the two testimonies of faith).
Sixth: Flag Day
The Kingdom has designated March 11 of each year as Flag Day, a symbol of its unity and sovereignty from its founding to the present day.
