Saudi Flag Day is March 11 commemorating when late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud approved the Saudi flag on 27 Dhul-Hijjah 1355 AH (March 11, 1937).
Similar to Saudi Arabia’s Founding Day celebration which was first observed in 2022, the kingdom’s annual Flag Day commemoration on March 11 is a recent national holiday begun in 2023.
Saudi Flag Day is one of only three non-religious national holidays observed in the kingdom. The others being Saudi National Day and Saudi Founding Day.
According to the Saudi Gazette:
“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.
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.“
