Oman Flag: Meaning, Colors, History & Facts
Oman’s national flag combines horizontal white, red and green bands with a vertical red panel carrying the country’s white khanjar-and-swords emblem.
What does the Oman flag look like?
The flag has three horizontal bands—white, red and green—and a vertical red band at the hoist. Oman’s national emblem appears in white near the top of that vertical panel.
What do the colors mean?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs gives clear official meanings: white represents peace, red the country’s old flag tradition and battles against foreign invaders, and green the fertility and greenery of Oman.
Explore the official color meanings →
What is the emblem?
The emblem consists of a sheathed khanjar and belt over two crossed swords. The khanjar is a traditional curved dagger still worn with formal Omani national dress.
Where did the emblem come from?
It originated as the royal crest of the Al Bu Said dynasty in the eighteenth century and later became the national emblem.
How did the flag develop?
Oman historically used a red national flag. The modern white-red-green design was adopted by Royal Decree on December 17, 1970, during the early reign of Sultan Qaboos, and was updated in 2004.
Read the full Oman flag history →
How can you identify Oman’s flag?
The vertical red hoist band is the quickest clue. Among red-white-green Arab flags, Oman stands out because the khanjar and crossed swords appear in white at the upper hoist.
Oman flag facts
| Colors | White, red and green |
|---|---|
| Emblem | Khanjar, belt and crossed swords |
| Modern flag adopted | December 17, 1970 |
| Updated | May 22, 2004 |
Why is Oman’s flag different from other Arab tricolours?
Several Arab states use red, white and green, but Oman adds a full vertical red panel at the hoist and places its national khanjar-and-swords emblem there. That asymmetric structure makes it easy to distinguish from horizontal Pan-Arab tricolours.
What does the khanjar represent culturally?
The khanjar is more than a heraldic device. It remains part of formal male national dress in Oman, so the emblem connects the flag directly with a living ceremonial tradition rather than only with historical warfare.
Oman flag FAQ
What weapon is shown on Oman’s flag?
A traditional khanjar dagger with a belt over two crossed swords.
When was the modern flag adopted?
December 17, 1970.
What does green mean?
The fertility and greenery of the land.
