Flag adopted 7 September 1961 and officially hoisted 24 November 1961; coat of arms adopted in 1963.
Proportion: 1:2
Description: Horizontally divided green-white-red flag with a black trapezoid placed along the hoist.
Use: on land, civil and state flag, at sea, civil, state, and war ensign.

Colour approximate specifications (as given in Album des Pavillons [pay00]):

• Red: Pantone 186 c / CMYK (%) C 0 - M 90 - Y 80 - K 5
• Green: Pantone 340 c / CMYK (%) C 100 - M 0 - Y 70 - K 15

Meaning of the flag

"Kuwaiti flags came in all shapes and sizes from the establishment of Kuwait until 1961, when on gaining full independence the government decided to replace the old flag with a new design. This was promulgated by a law issued on 7/9/1961 (27 Rabi 1 1381 AH). The first article stipulated that Kuwait's national flag should consist of a horizontal rectangle which is twice as long as it is wide. This is divided into three equal horizontal stripes, the top one being green, the middle white and the bottom red, with the side next to the flag pole forming the base of a black trapezoid protruding into the stripes. The colors of the flag are derived from a poem by Safie Al-Deen Al-Hili."

From the defunct Kuwait Information Center website, forwarded by Dov Gutterman, 1 April 1999

The official explanation refers to the pan-Arab colours:

• White: deeds
• Black: battlefields
• Green: meadows
• Red: soaked with the blood of our enemies.

Another explanation says that white signifies honor, black stands for the sand whirled by Kuwaiti horsemen in the battle for freedom, green for the fields and red for gallantry.

Source: Webster's Concise Encyclopedia of Flags & Coats of Arms [mch85]

Jarig Bakker, 21 July 1999

Construction sheet for the flag

by Zeljko Heimer

Source: Album des Pavillons [pay00] and law #26 on the flag.

National emblem

from the website of the Kuwaiti embasy in Argentina

"The emblem of Kuwait consisted of 'a helmet with a falcon and two intersecting flags over it' until the middle of 1963, when the Council of Ministers decided to replace it with a new one. The present emblem of Kuwait is a falcon with outspread wings embracing a dhow (boom) sailing on blue and white waves. It is a symbol of Kuwait's maritime tradition."

From the defunct Kuwait Information Center website

The inscription is Dawilat Kuwait (State (of) Kuwait).

Dov Gutterman, 21 March 2001

Jack

by Zeljko Heimer

Naval blue flag with a white disk containing the naval emblem. The emblem consists of the zaruk ship on waves over a white anchor encircled with a golden wreath and crowned with the Emir's crown.

Source: Album des Pavillons [pay00]

Zeljko Heimer, 3 April 2002

Missing Kuwaitis tribute flag

by Santiago Tazon

Flag with a yellow background and a circle in the center wuth the logo formed by two hands with national colours gripping the bars.

The motto, written in English and Arabic, is We would never forget you.

Santiago Tazon, 24 May 2002

This flag is not just for Prisoners Of War (none of which the Iraqis admit holding) but for all Kuwaitis missing from the 1990-91 war, many of whom are civilians apparently taken to Iraq during the occupation. I believe the logo on the flag is that of the national commission for missing Kuwaitis.

Joe McMillan, 25 May 2002