Saudi Arabia: Flag and Facts
Saudi Arabia's flag is green with the Shahada, the Muslim declaration of faith, written in large white Arabic letters above a white sword pointing to the left.
- Official name
- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Capital
- Riyadh
- Region
- Western Asia
- Population
- 37 million (2024)
- Languages
- Arabic
- Currency
- Saudi riyal
- Area
- 2,149,690 km² (830,000 sq mi)
- People
- Saudi Arabian
- Calling code
- +966
- Highest point
- As Sarawat range, 3,000 m
- Independence
- 23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
- National symbols
- palm tree over two crossed swords
About Saudi Arabia
Green is the traditional color of Islam. Because Arabic reads right to left, the flag is made with two different sides so the words read correctly and the sword points the same way on both. The Al Saud family is closely linked to the design, which dates from the early 20th century. A palm tree above two crossed swords is the national emblem.
Islam began here, and the two holiest shrines of the faith stand in Mecca and Medina. Ibn Saud spent 30 years uniting most of the Arabian Peninsula and founded the modern kingdom in 1932. When Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia sheltered the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees. Mostly sandy desert with fierce swings in temperature, the country covers a bit more than one fifth the area of the US.
Did you know?
- The king carries the title Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
- Saudi National Day, 23 September, marks the unification of the kingdom in 1932.
- Saudi Arabia shares borders with seven countries, including Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, and Yemen.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about Saudi Arabia
What is the capital of Saudi Arabia?
Riyadh, with roughly 7.7 million people. Jeddah is next at about 4.9 million.
What is the national anthem of Saudi Arabia called?
"Aash Al Maleek," which means Long Live Our Beloved King.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.