View source for Flag of Egypt

{{Short description|none}}
{{See also|List of Egyptian flags}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name = Arab Republic of Egypt
| Noun =
| Image = Flag of Egypt.svg
| Nickname = Egypt
| Morenicks = 
| Use = 110110
| Symbol = {{FIAV|110110}} {{FIAV|normal}}
| Proportion = 2:3
| Adoption = {{Start date and age|1984|10|4}}
| Design = Horizontally divided [[red]]-[[white]]-[[black]] [[tricolour flag]] with the [[Eagle of Saladin]].
| Designer = ʻAlī Kāmil al-Dīb
| Image2 = Flag of Egypt without eagle.svg
| Use2 = 100100
| Adoption2 = {{Start date and age|1952|7|23}}
| Symbol2 = {{FIAV|100100}} {{FIAV|normal}} {{FIAV|Equal}}
| Proportion2 = 2:3
| Design2 = Variant of the national flag without the Eagle of Saladin.
| Designer2 = ʻAlī Kāmil al-Dīb
| Nickname3 = 
| Morenicks3 = 
| Use3 = 001000
| Symbol3 = {{FIAV|001000}} {{FIAV|normal}} {{FIAV|Mirror}}
| Proportion3 = 2:3
| Adoption3 = {{Start date and age|1984|10|4}}
| Design3 = National flag with two white crossed sabres in [[canton (heraldry)|canton]].
| Image4 = Naval Ensign of Egypt.svg
| Nickname4 = 
| Morenicks4 = 
| Use4 = 000001
| Symbol4 = {{FIAV|000001}} {{FIAV|normal}} {{FIAV|Mirror}}
| Proportion4 = 2:3
| Adoption4 = {{Start date and age|1984|10|04}}
| Image5 = Presidential Standard of Egypt.svg
| Nickname5 = Presidential Standard of Egypt
| Morenicks5 = 
| Use5 = 
| Symbol5 = 
| Proportion5 = 2:3
| Adoption5 = {{Start date and age|1984|10|04}}
| Design5 = National flag with gold outlined Eagle of Saladin in canton.
}}
[[File:Flag of Egypt, Island Harbour, Isle of Wight, England.jpg|thumb|Egyptian flag in [[Island Harbour Marina|Island Harbour]], England]]
The [[national flag]] of [[Egypt]] ({{langx|ar|عَلَمْ مِصر}} {{IPA|arz|ˈʕælæm mɑsˤɾ|}}) is a [[tricolour (flag)|tricolour]] consisting of the three equal horizontal red, white, and black bands of the [[Arab Liberation Flag]] that dates back to the [[Egyptian Revolution of 1952|1952 Egyptian Revolution]]. The flag bears Egypt's national emblem, the [[Eagle of Saladin|Egyptian eagle of Saladin]], centred in the white band.

==Symbolism==
In 1952, the [[Free Officers Movement (Egypt)|Egyptian Free Officers]] who toppled [[Farouk of Egypt|King Farouk]] in the [[Egyptian Revolution of 1952|23 July Revolution]] assigned specific symbolism to each of the three bands of the revolutionary and liberation flag. The red band symbolizes the  Egyptians’ blood in the war against colonization. The white band symbolizes the purity of the Egyptians’ hearts. The black band below the white symbolizes the manner in which darkness is overcome.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/Templates/Articles/tmpArticles.aspx?ArtID=8|title=Egyptian Flag Symbolism|website=Sis.gov.eg|access-date=15 October 2017|archive-date=5 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805150037/http://sis.gov.eg/En/Templates/Articles/tmpArticles.aspx?ArtID=8|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Eagle in the center is regarded as the [[Eagle of Saladin|Egyptian eagle of Saladin]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-20 |title=The Egyptian Vulture: National Bird Of Egypt - Berry Patch Farms |url=https://www.berrypatchfarms.net/national-bird-of-egypt/ |access-date=2025-03-28 |language=en-US}}</ref> which in itself reflects a much older origin in Egyptian history, as it represents the [[Egyptian vulture]]. In [[Ancient Egypt]], several hieroglyphs include the Egyptian vulture including what is listed as G1 in the [[Gardiner's sign list]] - U+1313F 𓄿<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Quirke |first=S. G. J. |date=2017-03-01 |title=The Writing of the Birds. Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Before and After the Founding of Alexandria |url=https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10072642/ |journal=Electryone |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=32–43}}</ref>,The bird was held sacred to [[Isis]] and [[Mut]] in [[ancient Egyptian religion]].

Egypt's Revolutionary and Liberation flag, which was designed on 23 July 1952, was then an inspiration to several Arab countries and was adopted by many Arab states. The same horizontal tricolour is used by [[Flag of Iraq|Iraq]], [[Flag of Sudan|Sudan]] and [[Flag of Yemen|Yemen]] (and formerly [[Flag of Libya|Libya]] and [[Flag of Syria|Syria]]), the only difference being the presence (or absence) of distinguishing national emblems in the white band.

== Colours scheme ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
![[File:Flag of Egypt.svg|30px]]
! style="background:#c8102e; width:200px" | <span style="color:white;">Red</span>
! style="background:#FFFFFF; width:200px" | <span style="color:black;">White</span>
! style="background:#000000; width:200px" | <span style="color:white;">Black</span>
! style="background:#ffcd00; width:200px" | <span style="color:white;">Gold</span>
|-
| style="text-align:right" | '''[[Pantone]]'''
| <code>PMS 186</code> <ref name="IOC12">{{Cite journal |title=Flags and anthems manual London 2012 |journal=Olympics library |url=https://library.olympics.com/Default/digital-viewer/c-34593 |pages=40}}</ref> || - || <code>PMS Black</code> <ref name="IOC12"/> || <code>PMS 116</code> <ref name="IOC12"/>
|-
| style="text-align:right" | '''[[RGB color model|RGB]]'''
| <code>200, 16, 46</code> {{ref|noteP|a}} || <code>255, 255, 255</code> || <code>0, 0, 0</code> || <code>255, 205, 0</code> {{ref|noteP|a}}
|-
| style="text-align:right" | '''[[Hexadecimal]]'''
| <code>#C8102E</code> {{ref|noteI|b}} || <code>#FFFFFF</code> || <code>#000000</code> || <code>#FFCD00</code> {{ref|noteI|b}}
|-
| style="text-align:right" |'''[[CMYK color model|CMYK]]'''
| <code>0, 92, 77, 22</code> {{ref|noteI|b}} || <code>0, 0, 0, 0</code> || <code>0, 0, 0, 100</code> || <code>0, 20, 100, 0</code> {{ref|noteI|b}}
|}
:{{note|noteP|a}} Converted from Pantone color model per {{url|connect.pantone.com}}
:{{note|noteI|b}} Converted from RGB based on ''Inkscape'' colours value

==History==
The development of the modern Egyptian flag was determined first by the [[Muhammad Ali Dynasty]], under whom Egypt was united with [[Sudan]], and later by the rise of [[Egyptian revolution of 1952|Egyptian nationalism]] and [[Revolutionist|revolutionary ideas]] among the [[Egyptian Army]].

{{anchor|Muhammad Ali Dynasty}}

===Muhammad Ali Dynasty (1805–1922)===
When [[Muhammad Ali of Egypt|Muhammad Ali]] successfully [[Muhammad Ali's seizure of power|seized power in Egypt]], at that time the country was officially an [[Eyalet]] ([[Egypt Eyalet]]) of the [[Ottoman Empire]]. However, throughout his reign, and that of his sons and grandsons, Egypt enjoyed virtual independence as an own [[Khedivate of Egypt|Khedivate]]. The meaning of the three stars and crescents has been suggested that this was to symbolise the victory of his armies in three continents (Africa, Asia, and Europe), and his own sovereignty over [[Egypt]], [[Sudan]], and [[Hejaz]]. The similarity with the [[flag of the Ottoman Empire]] was deliberate, as Muhammad Ali harbored grandiose ambitions of deposing the [[Ottoman dynasty]], and seizing the [[Ottoman Sultan|sultanic throne]] himself.

Egypt retained this flag even after formal Ottoman sovereignty was terminated in 1914, when Egypt was declared to be a [[Sultanate of Egypt|sultanate]], and a [[British protectorate]].

After the [[Urabi Revolt]] in 1882, British forces occupied the country, igniting ever greater nationalist resentment. This reached a peak in the [[Egyptian Revolution of 1919|Revolution of 1919]], when both the red flag introduced by Muhammad Ali, and [[List of Egyptian flags#Political flags|a special green banner bearing a crescent and cross]]<ref name="Ansary 144">{{cite book |last=el Ansary |first=Nasser |title=L'Encyclopédie des souverains d'Égypte des pharaons à nos jours |trans-title=The Encyclopedia of rulers of Egypt from the Pharaohs until today |year=2001 |publisher=Éditions du Perron |location=Alleur |language=fr |isbn=978-2-87114-173-0 |oclc=48965345 |pages=144 |trans-chapter=Evolution of the Egyptian flag |chapter=Évolution du Drapeau égyptien |ref=Ans01}}</ref><ref name="Neubecker">W. Smith, O. Neubecker: ''Die Zeichen der Menschen und Völker: Unsere Welt in Fahnen und Flaggen''. Reich Verlag Luzern, 1975, {{ISBN|3-7243-0115-4}}</ref> were used in protests against the British (the latter symbolizing that both Egypt's [[Muslim]] and [[Coptic Christian|Christian]] communities supported the [[Egyptian nationalism|Egyptian nationalist movement]] against the occupation).

<gallery>
File:Flag of the Ottoman Empire (also used in Egypt).svg|{{FIAV|Historical}} Flag used in the [[Ottoman Egypt|Egyptian Eyalet]] (1793–1844)
File:Flag of Egypt (1844-1867).svg|{{FIAV|Historical}} [[Ottoman Egypt|Egyptian Eyalet]] (1844–1867)
File:Flag of Muhammad Ali.svg|{{FIAV|Historical}} Flag used in Egypt during the rules of [[Isma'il Pasha]] and [[Tewfik Pasha]] (1867–1881)
File:Egypt flag 1882.svg|{{FIAV|Historical}} {{FIAV|110110}} Flag of the [[Khedivate of Egypt]] (1881–1914) and the [[Sultanate of Egypt]] (1914–1922)
File:Sultanate of Egypt Protectorate Ensign.svg|{{FIAV|Historical}} Protectorate ensign of the [[Sultanate of Egypt]] (1914–1922)
</gallery>

{{anchor|Kingdom of Egypt}}

===Kingdom of Egypt (1922–1953)===
[[File:Flag of Egypt 1922.svg|right|thumb|{{FIAV|Historical}} Flag of the [[Kingdom of Egypt]] (1922–1953) and co-official flag of the Republic of Egypt (1953–1958)]]
In 1922, the UK agreed to [[Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence|formally recognize]] Egyptian independence, but only on the condition that the [[Sultan of Egypt]], [[Fuad I of Egypt|Fuad I]], change his title to [[King of Egypt|King]]. Upon so doing, the now King Fuad issued a Royal Decree formally adopting a new national flag of a white crescent with three white stars on a green background in it.

The three stars symbolised the three component territories of the [[Kingdom of Egypt|Kingdom]], namely Egypt, [[Nubia]], and [[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan|Sudan]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flaggenlexikon.de/faegypt.htm |title=Flagge Ägyptens unter den Khediven 1867–1882 |access-date=2003-09-07 |author=Volker Preuß |language=de |archive-date=2014-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225140511/http://www.flaggenlexikon.de/faegypt.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> while the green signifies the agricultural nature of the country,{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} other sources suggest that it symbolised the predominant religion of the country, [[Islam]]. It has also been suggested that the three stars represented the three religious communities of the country: [[Muslim]]s, [[Christians]] and [[Jew]]s.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Podeh | first = Elie | title = The symbolism of the Arab flag in modern Arab states: between commonality and uniqueness | journal = Nations and Nationalism | year = 2011 | volume = 17 | issue = 2 | pages = 419–442 | doi = 10.1111/j.1469-8129.2010.00475.x }}</ref>
{{-}}

{{anchor|Republic of Egypt}}

===Republic of Egypt (1953–1958) – Egyptian Free Officers movement===
[[File:Flag of the Egyptian Revolution (1952).svg|alt=|thumb|{{FIAV|Historical}} Egyptian Revolution Flag (1953–1958) – the tricolor of the [[Egyptian Revolution of 1952|1952 Egypt Revolution]], with the [[Eagle of Saladin]] in the center and symbolic three stars representing the 3 Abrahamic religions]]
Following the Revolution of 1952, the [[Free Officers Movement (Egypt)|Egyptian free officers]] retained the flag of the Kingdom, but also introduced the Revolutionary and Liberation flag of red, white, and black horizontal bands, with the emblem of the Revolution, the [[Eagle of Saladin]], in the center band. This earlier version of the eagle differs somewhat from the one later adopted. Even when the Kingdom was formally abolished by the declaration of the Republic on July 18, 1953, the flag of the Kingdom remained in official use, until [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]] announced the formation of a new regional political union and changed the name to [[United Arab Republic]] in 1958.<ref>Podeh, Elie. "The symbolism of the Arab flag in modern Arab states: between commonality and uniqueness." Nations and Nationalism 17.2 (2011): p. 435.</ref> The new flag symbolised a break from the [[Flag of the Ottoman Empire|Ottoman-inspired]] flags of the monarchical period, placing emphasis on the Arab nationalism then espoused by the Nasser government.

{{-}}
{{anchor|United Arab Republic|The United Arab Republic (1958–1972)}}

===United Arab Republic – Egyptian-Syrian Union under President Gamal Abdel Nasser (1958–1972)===
[[File:Flag of the United Arab Republic (1958–1971), Flag of Syria (1980–2024).svg|right|thumb|{{FIAV|Historical}} {{FIAV|110110}} flag of the [[United Arab Republic]] (1958–1971) – though Syria withdrew from the union in 1961, Egypt retained the official name until 1971]]
In 1958, [[Syria]] united with [[Egypt]] to form the [[United Arab Republic]] (UAR) and adopted a national flag based on the original Egyptian Liberation flag after the revolution, but with two green stars (representing the two countries of the union) replacing the former Egyptian Eagle in the white band. A modified version of that eagle was then adopted as the UAR's coat of arms. The flag with the 2 green stars, representing the two constituent nations was used as the national [[flag of Syria]] until the ousting of [[Bashar al-Assad]] in December 2024. It was briefly used by the [[Yemen Arab Republic]] for two months in 1962.

{{-}}
{{anchor|Federation of Arab Republics}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
![[File:Flag of the United Arab Republic.svg|30px]]<br>Colours scheme{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
! style="background:#ce1126; width:100px" | <span style="color:white;">Red</span>
! style="background:#FFFFFF; width:100px" | <span style="color:black;">White</span>
! style="background:#007a3d; width:100px" | <span style="color:white;">Green</span>
! style="background:#000000; width:100px" | <span style="color:white;">Black</span>
|-
| style="text-align:right" | '''[[RGB color model|RGB]]'''
| <code>206/17/38</code> || <code>255/255/255</code> || <code>0/122/61</code> || <code>0/0/0</code> 
|-
| style="text-align:right" | '''[[Hexadecimal]]'''
| <code>#ce1126ff</code> || <code>#FFFFFF</code> || <code>#007a3dff</code> || <code>#000000ff</code> 
|-
| style="text-align:right" |'''[[CMYK color model|CMYK]]'''
| <code>0/92/82/19</code> || <code>0/0/0/0</code> || <code>100/0/50/52</code> || <code>0/0/0/100</code> 
|}

===Federation of Arab Republics (1972–1984) – A regional union attempt by Muammar Gaddafi ===
[[File:Flag of Egypt 1972.svg|right|thumb|{{FIAV|Historical}} {{FIAV|110110}} Flag of the [[Federation of Arab Republics]] (1972–1984)]]
Though Syria withdrew from the UAR in 1961, Egypt continued to use the official name of the United Arab Republic until 1971, when the country was renamed officially as the Arab Republic of Egypt. In 1972, when Egypt formed the [[Federation of Arab Republics]] along with Syria, and [[Libya]], the UAR's flag (whose design Syria would reuse for [[Flag of Syria|their own flag]], eight years later) was replaced by a common flag for the Federation, once again based on the [[Arab Liberation Flag]]. The two green stars in the white band were replaced by the [[Hawk of Qureish]], which had been the [[coat of arms of Syria]] prior to the formation of the UAR in 1958. The Hawk of Qureish was also adopted as the Federation's coat of arms.
{{-}}
{{anchor|Arab Republic of Egypt}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
![[File:Flag of Egypt 1972.svg|30px]]<br>Colours scheme{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
! style="background:#ce1126; width:100px" | <span style="color:white;">Red</span>
! style="background:#FFFFFF; width:100px" | <span style="color:black;">White</span>
! style="background:#000000; width:100px" | <span style="color:white;">Black</span>
! style="background:#efbb22; width:100px" | <span style="color:white;">Gold</span>
|-
| style="text-align:right" | '''[[RGB color model|RGB]]'''
| <code>206/17/38</code> || <code>255/255/255</code> || <code>0/0/0</code> || <code>239/187/34</code>
|-
| style="text-align:right" | '''[[Hexadecimal]]'''
| <code>#ce1126</code> || <code>#FFFFFF</code> || <code>#000000</code> || <code>#efbb22</code>
|-
| style="text-align:right" |'''[[CMYK color model|CMYK]]'''
| <code>0/92/82/19</code> || <code>0/0/0/0</code> || <code>0/0/0/100</code> || <code>0/22/86/6</code>
|}

===Arab Republic of Egypt (1984–present)===
[[File:Flag of Egypt.svg|right|thumb|{{FIAV|normal}} {{FIAV|110110}} Flag of the Arab Republic of Egypt (1984–present)]]
While the Federation of Arab Republics was dissolved in 1977, Egypt retained the Federation's flag until October 4, 1984, when the gold Hawk of Qureish was replaced in the white band (and on the coat of arms) by the [[Eagle of Saladin]] (the 1958 version as opposed to the 1952 version). The shield held by the eagle is colored entirely gold and white, as opposed to the colors seen on the shield on Egypt's coat of arms.
{{-}}

====Rules governing the hoisting of the flag====
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2025}}
The flag is hoisted on all Egyptian governmental buildings on Fridays, national holidays, the opening session of the House of Representatives, and any other occasions as determined by the Minister of the Interior. The flag is hoisted daily on border posts, customs buildings, Egyptian consulates, and embassies overseas on Revolution Day (July 23), and other national holidays, as well as during the visit of the [[President of Egypt|Egyptian President]] to the country hosting the diplomatic mission.

Abusing the flag in any way is a criminal offense and is punishable under law as it implies the contempt of the power of the state. Penal provisions also govern abuse of foreign flags or national emblems of other countries.

==See also==
{{Portal|Egypt}}
*[[Coat of arms of Egypt]]
*[[Flags of the Egyptian Armed Forces]]
*[[List of Egyptian flags]]
*[[Pan-Arab colors]]
*[[Flag of Iraq]]
*[[Flag of Sudan]]
*[[Flag of the United Arab Emirates]]
*[[Flag of the United Arab Republic]]
*[[Flag of Yemen]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{cite web|url=http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/LastPage.aspx?Category_ID=18 |title=Egypt Flag |publisher=Egypt State Information Service |access-date=2010-07-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113145432/http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/LastPage.aspx?Category_ID=18 |archive-date=2010-11-13 }}


{{Africa topic|Flag of|title=[[Flags of Africa]]}}
{{Arab Flags}}
{{Asia topic|Flag of|title=[[Flags of Asia]]}}
{{Egypt topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Egypt, Flag of}}
[[Category:Flags of Egypt| ]]
[[Category:National flags]]
[[Category:Flags displaying animals]]
[[Category:Flags including Arabic script]]
[[Category:Quadcolor flags]]
[[Category:Flags with coats of arms]]