Oman’s national flag combines white, red and green bands with its national emblem at the red hoist. The Foreign Ministry dates adoption to 17 December 1970 and the legal update to 22 May 2004. [1] This record illustrates the current legal framework, not an earlier narrow-middle-band flag.
Specification
Annex 1 describes a rectangular flag with a red vertical third beside the mast, a white emblem in its upper quarter, and white, red and green horizontal units from top to bottom. The middle red unit joins the hoist panel. [2] FOTW’s construction account describes equal horizontal bands. [4]
| Display | Hoist × fly | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 6 m street mast | 1 × 2 m | 1:2 |
| 10 m building mast | 2 × 3.5 m | 4:7 |
| 12 m ground / airport mast | 1.7 × 3 m | 17:30 |
| Car flag, Qanoon transcription | 35 × 35 cm | 1:1; disputed |
| Table flag | 17 × 26 cm | 17:26 |
These are the annex’s transcribed sizes, reordered as hoist × fly for rectangular examples. [2] FOTW instead transcribes the car flag as 35 × 25 cm and reports older ceremonial proportions of 5:7. The scan could not be retrieved for visual confirmation; the conflict remains open. [4] No single ratio should replace all display sizes.
Colors and manufacture
The consolidated annex names spun-polyester bunting of weight 165 gm and prints the references Banto – New ORM. C2X Red and Banto – New ORM. CNE 354 C2X – Green. Their precise commercial interpretation is unresolved; they are not silently converted into Pantone or RGB targets. [3]
| Color | Local SVG fill only |
|---|---|
| White | #FFFFFF |
| Red | #DB161B |
| Green | #008000 |
These retained reference colors are screen approximations. Screens and ratio calculators do not replace approved physical standards. [6]
Construction notes
The inspected SVG has viewBox 0 0 1200 600. The red field covers the rectangle; white and green panels occupy x=400–1200 and y=0–200 and 400–600 respectively. This gives a one-third-fly hoist panel and equal 200-unit bands. The source’s quarter-fly hoist has been widened to follow the annex’s wording. [2] [6]
The reference emblem’s paths are preserved inside translate(102.5 10) scale(.65), placing the drawing in the upper quarter of the red panel. This scale and placement are editorial choices, not legislated dimensions. Its white shapes use fine red detail strokes. The original illustrated annex was unavailable for contour comparison; the specimen is not a certified tracing of that illustration. Source and local checksums, modifications and rights are recorded separately. [6]
Historical record
The Ministry’s 1970 adoption and 2004 update are distinct milestones. [1] The decree took effect on issue, 22 May 2004, and was published in Official Gazette 768 on 1 June. [2]
FOTW records equalization of the horizontal bands in 1995, but its heading gives 18 October while a contributor account gives 25 April. It also records conflicting hoist-width descriptions and an emblem revision attributed to 1985 without identified legislation. These reference dates are not promoted to independently verified enactment dates. Earlier unequal-band designs are historical variants and are not interchangeable with this specimen. No individual designer is assigned. [5]
Symbols and use
The Foreign Ministry identifies a sheathed khanjar and belt over crossed swords, traditional Omani weapons. It associates white with peace, red with resistance to foreign invasion, and green with fertile land. These are official explanatory meanings, separate from manufacturing instructions. [1]
The consolidated law covers government and diplomatic buildings, ports and vessels, permits dignified display at citizens’ celebrations, and provides for half-masting during official mourning. Its private-institution display and emblem-use provisions are distinct from the copyright status of this specimen. [3]
Source trail
- Foreign Ministry: Flag, Emblem and National Anthem ↗ — official identity, 1970 adoption, 2004 update and symbolism.
- Royal Decree 53/2004, Arabic text reproduced by Qanoon ↗ — dates and Annex 1. Qanoon is an independent legal publisher. Linked gazette scan ↗ could not be visually retrieved.
- Consolidated flag, emblem and anthem law ↗ — materials, color wording and use; notes the 2020 anthem amendment.
- FOTW: Specifications and Construction Sheets ↗ — independent transcription and discussion; car-size discrepancy.
- FOTW: Oman ↗ — competing 1995 dates, historical band proportions and emblem observations.
- Specimen provenance, rights and geometry → — Commons-derived public-domain reference and disclosed adaptations.
Sources checked 14 September 2026. Open questions: original-annex illustration, exact emblem contours and size, car-flag transcription, physical color references, and the precise 1995 revision date.
Related records: United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Browse national flags or the Flag Index.