Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia is celebrating Tuesday, Ramadan 11, corresponding to March 11, 2025 its Flag Day, reinforcing the state’s strength and sovereignty and symbolizing its cohesion, harmony, and national unity.

The Saudi Flag Day marks the day on which King Abdul Aziz, founder of modern Saudi Arabia, approved the flag with its great connotations that refer to monotheism, justice, strength, growth and prosperity, on Dhul Hijjah 27, 1355 AH, corresponding to March 11, 1937.

Saudi Arabia started celebrating this historic moment as its Flag Day in 2023 when Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman issued a royal decree on March 1 that year designating March 11 every year as a special day to celebrate the national flag.

On this day, the value of the national flag extends throughout the history of Saudi Arabia ever since the foundation of the first Saudi state in 1727. For nearly three centuries, the flag has been a beacon, banner, and testimony of the unification campaigns that the Saudi state has undergone. The citizens of this country have taken it as a lofty banner of pride that will never be lowered.

The national flag represents an eternal value and a symbol of pride and loftiness, and an indication of feelings of solidarity, love and loyalty emanating from the spirit of belonging and loyalty to the leadership and the country. It carries the meanings of belonging and citizenship, and the connotations of unification, strength, justice, growth and prosperity, and embodies the concept of the state, and expresses national unity, and the historical depth of the country.

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 until the era of King Abdul Aziz when two crossed swords were added to the flag at a pivotal phase when he led the campaign for the unification of the country and to ensure its security and welfare of its people.

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 Abdul Aziz, who approved the final design on March 11, 1937. The Saudi Flag bylaw was adopted in 1973.

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 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. 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.

Emanating from the belief of the government of King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman 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 March 1, 2023, dedicating March 11 of every year to be a special day to commemorate the flag under the name “The Flag Day."