State Flag of the Sultanate of Oman (1983)

Following a palace coup d'etat by the son of the ruling Sultan in July 1970, the nation’s name, the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, was changed to the Sultanate of Oman and a new national flag was adopted on the 17th of December 1970.

It added white and green horizontal stripes and the country’s emblem on to the Sultanate’s previous all red flag.

The flag has undergone slight modifications since adoption; the last was to even up the width of the horizontal stripes, on the 18th of November 1995. 

The Symbolic Meaning

The upper hoist features the Sultanate’s emblem consisting of two crossed swords, a dagger, called a Khanjar and a belt.

Red is adopted from the previous Omani flag and represents the reigning Al Bu Said dynasty, which has been ruling Oman since the mid-18th century. Red also symbolises the difficulties Oman has overcome to become an independent nation.

White historically represents the imam, the Islamic religious leaders of the country and also connotes peace and prosperity.

Green is the colour of Islam and symbolises the fertility of Oman and represents Al Jabal al Akhdar (the Green Mountains) in the north-east of the country.