Middle East

Flag of Oman

Oman is located on the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula with coastlines on the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman, and is one of the oldest independent states in the Arab world with a seafaring and trading tradition stretching back 5,000 years. The Sultan of Oman has historically pursued a carefully balanced foreign policy, maintaining good relations across regional political divides. Oman is known for its beautiful wadis, ancient forts, and frankincense production from the southern Dhofar region.

CapitalMuscat
RegionMiddle East
Current flag since1970
Main coloursRed, White, Green
Populationabout 4.6 million
Areaabout 310,000 km²
Flags in history4

Population and area are rounded.

What the flag of Oman means

White stands for peace and prosperity, red for battles against invaders, and green for fertility and the Green Mountain, Jebel Akhdar. The national emblem in the upper hoist shows a khanjar dagger in its sheath over two crossed swords. The flag was adopted in 1970 by Sultan Qaboos, and its proportions were changed in 1995.

How to recognise it

Horizontal white-red-green with a vertical red stripe at the hoist bearing the Omani coat of arms.

Did you know?

Oman has been continuously ruled by the same family, the Al Said dynasty, since 1744.

Easily confused with

Oman's flag is often mixed up with these. Learn to tell them apart:

Yemen

Bahrain

Flag history of Oman

Every flag that has flown over Oman, from today back through time.

1970–present

Sultanate of Oman (current)

Oman's horizontal red-white-green flag with the national emblem (crossed khanjar daggers over a belt, and two crossed swords) was adopted when Sultan Qaboos overthrew his father in 1970 and opened Oman to the modern world. Red is the traditional colour of Omani rulers; white represents peace; green represents the Jebel Akhdar ("Green Mountain") region. The khanjar dagger on the emblem is also depicted on Omani currency and is a potent symbol of Omani cultural identity.

1856–1970

Sultanate of Muscat and Oman

When the Omani Empire split in 1856, the homeland became the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, flying the plain red banner of the Al Bu Said dynasty — red being the traditional colour of Omani and Gulf rulers. Sultan Said bin Taimur (1932–1970) kept the country in extreme isolation, banning sunglasses, radios and even bicycles, until his son Qaboos's 1970 coup transformed both the country and its flag and renamed it simply Oman.

1696–1856

Omani Empire

At its height the Omani Empire was a major Indian Ocean power, ruling Zanzibar and a stretch of the East African (Swahili) coast and competing with Portugal and Britain for the spice and ivory trade — all under a plain red flag. In 1856 it divided between two of the ruler's sons into the Sultanate of Zanzibar in Africa and the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman in Arabia.

1913–1959

Imamate of Oman (interior)

For centuries Oman's mountainous interior was governed separately by an elected Imam under the Ibadi tradition, distinct from the coastal sultanate at Muscat. The 20th-century Imamate flew a red flag bearing the Islamic profession of faith in white calligraphy. After oil was found, the Sultanate — backed by Britain — crushed the Imamate in the 1950s Jebel Akhdar War, ending Oman's long internal division by 1959.

Related historical states

Empires, kingdoms and republics that once covered part of Oman.

1820–1970

Sultanate of Muscat

A plain red banner flew over the coastal Sultanate of Muscat, distinct from the inland Imamate of Oman, until Sultan Qaboos united the country and modernized its flag in 1970.