The Egyptian flag in its current form was adopted on October 4, 1984, although its basis was formed after the 1952 revolution that ended the monarchy. It is a tricolor of horizontal stripes of red, white, and black, with a golden Saladin eagle in the center of the white stripe. The proportions of the flag are 2:3, neat and harmonious, like the pyramids at Giza.
Salah ad-Din (1138-1193) founded the Ayyubid dynasty and was the sultan of Egypt, Syria, Yemen, and Palestine. He became famous for uniting Arab lands and recapturing Jerusalem from the Crusaders in 1187. This leader was not only an outstanding warrior, but also famous for his justice and honor. His name became a symbol of courage, dignity, and unity. Although there is no direct evidence that Salah ad-Din used the eagle as a personal sign, there is an interesting stone image of a stylized two-headed bird in the Cairo Citadel he built.
Why the eagle? Birds have always had a special place in Egyptian culture. In ancient times, the Egyptian vulture was considered sacred to the goddesses Isis, Mut, and Nehbet, personifying protection and divine power. Some have suggested that the Salah al-Din eagle may be an echo of these ancient images, combining modern Arab identity with the grandeur of the pharaonic era. On the Egyptian flag, the eagle holds a shield with the colors of the flag, as if to protect the nation. The scroll with the name of the country in Arabic emphasizes sovereignty. And the golden color is used not just for beauty - it is a symbol of unwavering power that shines like the sun over the pyramids of Giza.
The symbolism of the eagle is multifaceted and deep:
The name “Saladin's Eagle” stuck because he was not just a ruler, but a true legend of Arab pride. His victories over the Crusaders and his reputation as a just leader made him the perfect symbol for the young republic that was resisting colonialism. The eagle may not have been his official emblem during his lifetime, but it has become the personification of his legacy - a force that paves the way.
In the 13th century, Egypt was ruled by the Mamluk Sultanate, a state created by slave warriors who became the elite. The Mamelluks did not have a single official flag in the modern sense, but used banners that reflected their power and connection to Islam. The most common was a yellow flag with a white crescent, sometimes with Arabic inscriptions or geometric patterns. The yellow color symbolized power and wealth, and the crescent symbolized Islam and faith. These flags flew over Cairo and the battlefields where the Mamelukes fought the Crusaders and Mongols.
In 1517, the Ottoman Empire defeated the Mameluke Sultanate, and Egypt became its province. The flags of the Ottoman Empire in Egypt were predominantly red with a white crescent moon and a star (similar to the modern flag of Turkey). This design reflected the Ottoman tradition: the red color represented the power of the sultan, and the crescent and star represented Islam and the unity of the empire. For Egyptians, this flag was a sign of someone else's power, but also of protection. The Ottoman sultans controlled Mecca and Medina, which added religious significance to the flag. However, in the hearts of the locals there was a dream of their own flag, which would speak of Egypt, not of distant Istanbul.
In 1805, Muhammad Ali, an Albanian officer in the Ottoman army, seized power in Egypt, defeating the Mamelukes and Ottoman rivals. He founded a dynasty that ruled the country until 1953 and introduced a new flag, which was the first step toward Egyptian identity. The flag was red with one white crescent and one white star in the center. This design was very similar to the flag of the Ottoman Empire, as Egypt remained its province. The red color symbolized strength and struggle, the crescent symbolized Islam and power, and the star symbolized hope for a great future.
In 1867, the Ottoman sultan officially recognized the title of khedive for Ismail Pasha, grandson of Muhammad Ali, which marked the beginning of the Egyptian khedive, a period of flourishing autonomy within the empire. The new flag retained the red background and one white crescent, but instead of one star, it has three white five-pointed stars arranged in a triangle. Ismail Pasha, who was called “Ismail the Magnificent,” turned Cairo into “Paris on the Nile,” built the Suez Canal (1869), and expanded his influence to East Africa. The flag flew over these accomplishments, but after the British occupation of 1882, caused by the uprising of Urabi Pasha, the Union Jack often appeared next to it.
In 1914, when the Ottoman Empire entered World War I, Great Britain declared Egypt its protectorate, abolishing Ottoman suzerainty. The Khedive was transformed into the Egyptian Sultanate, and Khedive Abbas II was replaced by Sultan Hussein Kamel. The new flag retained the red background but received three white crescents and three white five-pointed stars. The three crescents symbolized Egypt, Sudan, and Nubia, the territories under the sultan's control. The stars represented the hope for independence and unity of the three religions: Muslims, Christians, and Jews. This flag was a compromise: the British allowed the local color to be preserved, but kept Egypt under control.
In 1922, Britain recognized Egypt's independence, and King Fuad I approved a new flag: green with a white crescent and three white stars. The green color, like the banks of the Nile, symbolized fertility and Islam, while the three stars stood for Egypt, Nubia, and Sudan, or three religious communities: Muslims, Christians, and Jews. The crescent remained a sign of faith and heritage. This flag flew over a country that was trying to become truly free, even though British troops remained in the Suez Canal. It was a symbol of hope, but also a reminder that the road to full independence was still ahead.
On July 23, 1952, the Free Officers movement, led by Gamal Abdel Nasser, staged a coup, overthrowing King Farouk I. The revolution ended the monarchy, and on June 18, 1953, Egypt became a republic. The period was marked by the struggle against British influence, the nationalization of the Suez Canal in 1956, and the beginning of Arab nationalism. The new flag, known as the Arab Liberation Flag, consisted of three horizontal stripes-red, white, and black-with the golden Saladin eagle in the center of the white stripe. The red color represented the blood shed in the fight against the British, the white color represented the purity of hearts and the peaceful nature of the revolution, and the black color represented the dark times of colonial oppression. Saladin's eagle, holding a shield with the name of the country, symbolized the strength, pride, and heritage of Saladin, who resisted foreign invaders.
On February 1, 1958, Egypt and Syria united to form the United Arab Republic (UAR), proclaiming a political union that was to be the first step toward broader Arab unity. This period, led by President Gamal Abdel Nasser, was marked by pan-Arab ideas, the nationalization of the Suez Canal, and attempts to resist Western influence. The union collapsed on September 28, 1961, after a military coup in Syria, but Egypt retained the name of the UAR and its symbols until January 1, 1972. In 1963, negotiations were also held on Iraq's possible accession, but they were unsuccessful. The flag of the KSA, officially approved on April 8, 1958, by Law No. 12, consisted of three horizontal stripes: red on top, white in the middle, and black on the bottom. In the center of the white stripe were two green five-pointed stars. By the way, the flag of the UAR is identical to the modern flag of Syria. These colors came from the Arab Liberation Flag, introduced after the 1952 revolution. The two green stars represented Egypt and Syria, emphasizing their unity in the struggle for a common goal.
On January 1, 1972, Egypt, Syria, and Libya created the Federation of Arab Republics (FAR) in an effort to deepen Arab cooperation after the failure of the OAU. This federation, initiated by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and supported by Egypt and Syria, was an attempt to unite the efforts of the three countries, but remained more symbolic than practical. In 1973, Egypt and Libya tried to create a closer alliance within a federation, but the plans failed. In 1976, Egypt and Syria also planned to deepen cooperation, and in 1977, Sudan expressed interest in joining, but these initiatives did not materialize. The Federation officially dissolved on November 19, 1977, when Libya withdrew after conflicts with Egypt, but Egypt continued to use the flag until 1984. The FJP flag retained the red, white, and black tricolor, but instead of stars, a golden Quraish hawk, also known as the Saladin eagle, appeared in the center of the white stripe. Egypt added the inscription “Arab Republic of Egypt” in Arabic below the hawk, which distinguished its version from the Syrian and Libyan ones. The flag was used until October 4, 1984, when Egypt adopted the modern version.
