Flags With a Vertical Stripe: Countries and Meanings

National flags with a distinctive vertical stripe or band at the hoist include the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Jordan, Sudan, Palestine, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Czechia, the Philippines, Guyana, the Bahamas, and Oman. At least a dozen flags place a bold vertical element next to the flagpole while the rest of the design runs horizontally.

Two Kinds of Vertical Design

It helps to separate two different layouts. A vertical triband, like France or Italy, splits the whole flag into three equal upright columns. This article instead focuses on flags where a single vertical stripe, band, or triangle sits at the hoist while the remaining stripes run horizontally, creating a strong contrast between the two directions.

This hoist-stripe layout is especially common among the Arab flags derived from the Arab Revolt banner, where a colored triangle or trapezoid at the hoist crosses horizontal bands of black, white, green, and red. It also appears in several African, Caribbean, and European designs, each with its own symbolism.

National Flags With a Hoist Stripe or Band

Arab Revolt Flags With a Hoist Triangle

• United Arab Emirates: A red vertical band at the hoist beside horizontal green, white, and black bands.
• Kuwait: A black trapezoid at the hoist, with horizontal green, white, and red bands across the fly.
• Jordan: A red hoist triangle bearing a white seven-pointed star, over black, white, and green horizontal bands.
• Sudan: A green hoist triangle beside red, white, and black horizontal bands.
• Palestine: A red hoist triangle with black, white, and green horizontal bands.

African and Other Hoist Designs

• Zimbabwe: A white hoist triangle containing a red star and the Zimbabwe Bird, beside seven horizontal stripes of green, yellow, red, and black.
• South Africa: A green horizontal Y shape whose point meets a black triangle at the hoist, uniting six colors in one design.
• Guyana: The Golden Arrowhead, with a black-edged red hoist triangle and a white-edged yellow triangle over a green field.
• Bahamas: A black hoist triangle beside three horizontal bands of aquamarine, gold, and aquamarine.

Single Vertical Stripes and Bands

• Czechia: A blue hoist triangle set against white-over-red horizontal bands.
• Philippines: A white hoist triangle carrying a golden sun and three stars, beside blue-over-red horizontal bands.
• Oman: A broad red vertical band at the hoist bearing the national emblem, beside horizontal white, red, and green bands. It combines a true vertical stripe with horizontal fields.

What the Vertical Stripe Means

In the Arab Revolt family, the hoist triangle is usually red and traces back to the Hashemite dynasty, while the horizontal bands recall historic Arab caliphates. In African flags such as Zimbabwe and South Africa, the hoist triangle often carries the most charged national symbols, from liberation stars to emblems of unity. The Philippine and Czech triangles anchor the design and hold key symbols, and Oman's red hoist band frames the state emblem. Across all of them, the vertical element at the hoist draws the eye to the flag's core message.

Questions and Answers

What is the difference between a vertical stripe and a vertical triband?

A vertical triband, like Italy or France, divides the entire flag into three equal upright columns. A vertical stripe or band, by contrast, is a single upright element at the hoist while the rest of the flag runs in horizontal bands, as on the flags of the UAE and Oman.

Why do many Arab flags have a triangle at the hoist?

Many Arab flags derive from the Arab Revolt flag of 1916. The colored hoist triangle, usually red, represents the Hashemite dynasty, while the black, white, and green horizontal bands stand for historic Arab caliphates and dynasties.

Which flag has a red vertical band with an emblem?

Oman's flag has a broad red vertical band at the hoist bearing the national emblem of crossed swords and a dagger. The rest of the flag is made of horizontal white, red, and green fields.