Red, white, black, and green show up, in different arrangements, on the flags of Jordan, Palestine, Sudan, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, and several other Arab states. That shared palette is known as the Pan-Arab colors, and it traces back to a single design created during the Arab Revolt of 1916 against Ottoman rule.
The colors themselves are older than that revolt, though. A widely cited explanation ties each one to a historical Arab dynasty: black for the Abbasids, white for the Umayyads, green for the Fatimids, and red for the Hashemites or Kharijites, an association popularized by a verse credited to the medieval poet Safi al-Din al-Hilli describing 'white are our deeds, black our battles, green our fields, red our swords.'
Four Colors, One Poem
From the Arab Revolt Flag to National Flags
In 1917, Sir Mark Sykes designed the actual Arab Revolt flag using this four-color scheme: horizontal black, green, and white stripes with a red triangle at the hoist. It was meant to represent a unified Arab identity distinct from Ottoman rule, and it flew over forces led by Sharif Hussein bin Ali during the revolt.
As Arab states gained independence through the 20th century, many adopted flags built from that same four-color palette, rearranged into stripes, triangles, or stars specific to each country. It became a quiet visual signal of shared Arab identity even as each nation kept its own distinct national symbols and layout.
Sources
- Wikipedia — overview of the origin and use of the Pan-Arab colors
- Britannica — history of the Arab Revolt flag design
- Flags of the World — reference on Pan-Arab flag colors and their national variations
FAQ
Which countries use the Pan-Arab colors on their flags?
Jordan, Palestine, Sudan, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Syria, Yemen, and several other Arab states all use some combination of red, white, black, and green.
Who designed the original Arab Revolt flag?
It is generally credited to the British diplomat Sir Mark Sykes, working with Arab nationalist leaders, in 1917 during the revolt against Ottoman rule.
Do all four colors have the same meaning on every flag?
Not exactly — while the four-color palette is shared, individual countries have attached their own specific historical or symbolic meanings to how the colors are arranged on their national flag.
About the Author
We reference Wikipedia, Britannica, and Flags of the World to explain the background and current understanding of this topic.
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