Flag of Oman
Oman's flag has a white stripe on top and a green stripe below, joined by red in a sideways T shape, with the national emblem of a dagger and two crossed swords in the top corner.
At a glance
- Adopted
- October 18, 1995first raised on 17 December 1970; the stripes and proportions were adjusted in 1995; sources differ on the official ratio (1:2, or 4:7 after a 2004 decree)
- Capital
- Muscat
- Continent
- Asia
- Colours
- red
- white
- green
What it means
- Red: comes from the old plain red flag and recalls battles against foreign invaders
- White: peace and prosperity; it was also linked in the past to the Imam, the religious leader
- Green: the fertile land and the green Jebel Akhdar mountains
- Khanjar and swords: the national emblem, a badge of the ruling family since the 1700s
Where it came from
The flag was introduced after Sultan Qaboos bin Said came to power in 1970, and it was first raised on 17 December 1970. The emblem in the corner is the khanjar, a traditional curved Omani dagger, in its sheath with two crossed swords and a belt. It became the royal family's badge in the 1700s and later the national emblem.
History
Before 1970 the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman flew a plain red flag. The new flag kept red as its main colour.
In 1995 the white and green stripes were made equal in width and the flag got longer. A later decree in 2004 set the shape again, which is why sources give different ratios.
Fun facts
- The same emblem of dagger and swords is also Oman's national coat of arms.
- The emblem was once drawn in plain white; since 1985 it has been red with white edges.
- Oman also has a special ceremonial version of its flag for airports and events.
- Before 1970 Oman's flag was completely red.
Easy to mix up with
United Arab Emirates: The UAE uses the same colours plus black, with an upright red stripe at the hoist and no emblem
Questions
What does the flag of Oman look like?
Oman's flag has a white stripe on top and a green stripe below, joined by red in a sideways T shape, with the national emblem of a dagger and two crossed swords in the top corner.
What do the colours and symbols on the flag of Oman mean?
Red: comes from the old plain red flag and recalls battles against foreign invaders; White: peace and prosperity; it was also linked in the past to the Imam, the religious leader; Green: the fertile land and the green Jebel Akhdar mountains; Khanjar and swords: the national emblem, a badge of the ruling family since the 1700s.
When was the flag of Oman adopted?
The current flag of Oman was adopted on October 18, 1995. (first raised on 17 December 1970; the stripes and proportions were adjusted in 1995; sources differ on the official ratio (1:2, or 4:7 after a 2004 decree))
What colours are on the flag of Oman?
The flag of Oman uses red, white and green.
Which flag is easy to mix up with the flag of Oman?
It is easy to mix up with the flag of United Arab Emirates. The UAE uses the same colours plus black, with an upright red stripe at the hoist and no emblem
Famous landmarks in Oman
🎯 Play the flag quiz 🌍 Play the globe
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- crwflags.com
- Flag picture: flagcdn.com (Wikimedia Commons)