History
The origin of the Saudi national flag dates back to the historic banner utilized by the imams of the First Saudi State in 1727. Following the unification of the territories, King Abdulaziz officially approved the design of the flag on 11 March 1937 to represent the nation internationally. The design remained in official use for 36 years until 1973, when King Faisal issued the Saudi Flag Bylaw to standardize its exact dimensions and visual layout. Recent official guidelines have introduced minor updates to the standardized design, adding vowel diacritics (tasheekl) and hamzas to the Shahada, alongside subtle artistic enhancements to the grip of the ceremonial sword.
On 1 March 2023, King Salman issued a royal decree designating 11 March as Flag Day, establishing it as an annual national observance to honor the flag's heritage and strengthen civic pride. King Salman emphasized the significance of the event, stating:
The celebration of Flag Day is an affirmation of our pride in our national identity, its historic symbolism that has great connotations and profound implications, which embodies our constants, and a source of pride in our history.
The inaugural observance in 2023 was marked across the country by three days of public cultural exhibitions and theatrical shows organized by the Ministry of Culture.
