How To
How To
Time needed: 1 minute
How to copy and paste the Flag of United Arab Emirates Emoji to any device.
- Copy the Emirati Flag Emoji
Go to flagemoji.com and press the copy button (above). This works on any device.
- Paste the Emoji
Go to your email/iMessage/SMS texting service/document and paste the emoji.
For mobile devices
— double-tap or tap-hold, then paste should appear. Tap it.
For desktop and laptops on Apple devices
— command-P / ⌘-P
For desktop and laptops on Windows devices
— control-p
Codes
Emoji Codes
Flag emojis are unicode symbols, like any other letter or number on your keyboard. This means you can copy and paste the emoji itself into your code, whatever the language (click the button above).
They actually count as two characters: the two-letter country code (the ISO international standard). The unicode and shortcode both represent country data which devices can interpret and display the emoji.
| Country Code | Unicode | Shortcode |
| AE | U+1F1E6 U+1F1EA | :flag_AE: :AE: |
Emoji shortcodes are used on some platforms as a way for users to type in emojis from the keyboard. If you type the emoji shortcode on Github or Slack, the emoji will appear.
*The official name of the emoji is only the country name, not ‘United Arab Emirates Flag’, for example.
Description
Description
The flag of the United Arab Emirates has three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black (bottom) with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side. The flag incorporates all four Pan-Arab colors, which represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), petroleum resources (black), and unity (red). Red was the traditional color incorporated into all flags of the emirates before their unification.
Map
Map
Check out the map of Nigeria!
Weather
Anthem
National Anthem
| Title | “Nashid al-watani al-imarati” (National Anthem of the UAE) |
| Composer | Aref Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan / Mohamad Abdel Wahab |
FAQ
FAQs
United Arab Emirates declared its independence on December 2, 1971 from the United Kingdom.
United Arab Emirates flag colors represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), petroleum resources (black), and unity (red). Red was the traditional color incorporated into all flags of the emirates before their unification.
The flag of United Arab Emirates was formally adopted on December 2, 1971.
The government type of United Arab Emirates is a federation of monarchies.
Discover more fun facts of Sweden.
Printable
Printable Emirati Flag
Print another really cool flag. Why not the flag of Egypt?

3D Glossy Render — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag of United Arab Emirates as a photorealistic 3D render. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag fabric hangs or drapes naturally but preserves exact proportions, colors, and all symbols perfectly — completely faithful to the real United Arab Emirates flag. Dramatic studio lighting, glossy silk material, soft shadows, subsurface scattering, perfect specular highlights. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Chalk on Blackboard — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag of United Arab Emirates drawn in chalk on a real blackboard. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. Authentic blackboard — dark slate green surface with chalk dust and smudge marks. Soft, dusty white and colored chalk lines, imperfect edges, hand-drawn quality. Chalk dust particles visible in the air. The flag is immediately recognizable. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Embroidered Textile — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag of United Arab Emirates as intricate embroidery on linen fabric. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. Dense satin stitches, French knots, chain stitch detail. The flag design is completely faithful — exact colors, geometry, and all symbols faithfully stitched, immediately recognizable as the United Arab Emirates flag. Visible thread texture, dimensional quality, warm handcrafted feel. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Flagpole in Capital — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. Photorealistic photograph of the United Arab Emirates flag flying on a tall flagpole in front of an iconic government building in the capital city. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag ripples naturally in the wind, colors vivid and exact. Documentary photography style, sharp and realistic. Grand architecture in the background. Blue sky, dramatic clouds. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Golden Hour Reflection — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. Photorealistic photograph of the United Arab Emirates flag reflected in still water at golden hour. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag flies on a pole at the water’s edge, its reflection shimmering on the surface below. Warm amber and orange sunset light. The flag colors and design are faithful and vivid. Serene, cinematic landscape photography. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Street Art / Graffiti — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag of United Arab Emirates as vibrant street art spray-painted on a brick wall. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. Bold spray paint, dripping edges, stencil layers, overspray halos. The flag design is faithful and immediately recognizable — exact colors and symbols, just rendered in spray paint on urban concrete. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind. No tags, no graffiti lettering.

Sci-Fi Hologram — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag of United Arab Emirates projected as a futuristic holographic display. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. Translucent blue-white projection with scan lines, floating in dark space. Glitching edges, particle effects, data streams. The flag design is completely faithful and recognizable. Cyberpunk HUD elements framing the projection. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Hyperrealistic Wind — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. Ultra-hyperrealistic photograph of the United Arab Emirates flag caught in a dramatic gust of wind. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. Macro-level fabric detail — individual threads visible, fabric folds and tension lines crisp. Colors and design completely faithful to the real United Arab Emirates flag. High-speed shutter, razor-sharp focus, studio lighting. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Impressionist Oil — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag of United Arab Emirates painted in French Impressionist oil on canvas. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. Thick impasto brushstrokes, dappled light, vibrant broken color technique in the style of Monet. The flag is instantly recognizable — colors and design faithful to the real United Arab Emirates flag, interpreted with impressionist light and texture. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Lego Bricks — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag of United Arab Emirates built from Lego bricks, photographed as a real physical construction. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. Visible studs and brick seams, slight plastic sheen. Standard Lego colors approximate the flag’s palette. Built on a gray Lego baseplate. Dramatic angle showing the three-dimensional brick texture. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Low-Poly Geometric — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag of United Arab Emirates constructed from low-polygon geometric triangles. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. Aggressively faceted — each region broken into many visible triangular faces with subtle color variation across each polygon, creating real depth and dimensionality even in flat-color areas of the flag. Crystal-like, contemporary computational design. The flag is completely faithful and immediately recognizable. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Mosaic Tiles — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag of United Arab Emirates assembled as a Roman-style mosaic. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag is completely faithful to the real United Arab Emirates flag — exact proportions, colors, and all symbols, rendered in thousands of small stone and glass tesserae. Visible grout lines, rich earthy tones mixed with brilliant glass, slight historical weathering. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Native Landscape — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. Photorealistic photograph of the United Arab Emirates flag flying in an iconic natural landscape native to United Arab Emirates — the terrain, flora, and environment characteristic of that country. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag is prominent and its colors are faithful and vivid. Remote, uninhabited wilderness. National Geographic photography style. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Neon Sign — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag of United Arab Emirates recreated as a real neon sign mounted on a dark wall. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. Glowing glass neon tubes bent into the flag’s shapes — the colors of the flag rendered in actual neon light. Visible glass tube bends, metal mounting brackets on the wall. Warm neon glow and light bloom. Real neon, not digital. Photographed in a dark room. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Pencil Sketch — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag of United Arab Emirates as a bold, confident pencil sketch. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. Strong graphite lines on cream paper — not delicate but bold and decisive. Heavy pressure on key outlines, dramatic cross-hatching for deep shadows and shading. Immediately recognizable as the United Arab Emirates flag. Artist’s confident hand, not tentative. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Pixel Art — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag of United Arab Emirates as detailed 16-bit pixel art. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. Crisp pixel grid, limited palette with careful dithering, nostalgic retro game aesthetic. Clean grid-aligned design with subtle shading. Every element of the flag faithfully reproduced in pixels. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Stained Glass — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag of United Arab Emirates rendered as an ornate stained glass window. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The design is completely faithful to the real United Arab Emirates flag — exact colors, geometry, and all symbols preserved. Brilliant jewel-toned glass pieces separated by dark lead came lines. Warm sunlight streaming through, casting colored light. Gothic cathedral craftsmanship. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Ukiyo-e Woodblock — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag of United Arab Emirates as a traditional Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. Bold outlines, flat areas of rich color, flowing organic forms. Wind and waves incorporated into the composition. Printed on washi paper with visible wood grain texture. The flag is the central focus and instantly recognizable. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.

Vintage Postage Stamp — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag of United Arab Emirates as a vintage 1950s postage stamp. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag fills most of the stamp — it is the primary subject, faithfully rendered in fine engraved intaglio style. Perforated edges, aged paper with slight foxing. The stamp may show a denomination numeral only — absolutely no other text or country names.

Watercolor — Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. The flag of United Arab Emirates painted in loose, expressive watercolor. Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and black with a red vertical bar at the hoist. Wet-on-wet technique with soft color bleeds, visible brushstrokes, natural paper texture. Delicate splashes and drips at the edges. Luminous, translucent layers of pigment. No text, no letters, no words, no writing of any kind.
The flag of the United Arab Emirates is a powerful symbol of national unity and pride, featuring a striking composition of three horizontal stripes in green, white, and black, accompanied by a bold red vertical band along the hoist. The current design, officially adopted on November 2, 1971, upon the nation’s declaration of independence from British rule, was created by Abdullah Mohammed Al Maainah, a young citizen who won a national design competition to represent the newly formed federation. This distinctive flag combines Pan-Arab colors with a uniquely Emirati arrangement, creating one of the most recognizable national emblems in the Middle East and reflecting the values and aspirations of the seven emirates that comprise the federation: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.
Design Origins and Evolution
The United Arab Emirates flag emerged from the context of the federation’s independence from British protectorate status in 1971. Prior to this historic moment, the individual emirates flew their own flags and naval ensigns, and there was no unified national standard. When the United Arab Emirates was established on December 2, 1971, the nation required a flag that would symbolize the unity and cooperation of the seven emirates joining together in a single federation. The government organized a nationwide competition to select the most appropriate design, and Abdullah Mohammed Al Maainah, a young Emirati, submitted the winning entry that would become the official flag. His design drew inspiration from Pan-Arab nationalism and the region’s rich cultural heritage while creating something distinctly Emirati. The flag was officially hoisted for the first time on December 2, 1971, the same day the UAE was declared independent, making it inseparable from the nation’s modern identity and birth as a sovereign state.
The design process itself was significant in establishing a flag that resonated with the diverse population of the new federation. Since its adoption in 1971, the UAE flag has remained unchanged, serving as a constant symbol through the nation’s rapid transformation from a collection of trading and pearl-diving emirates into one of the world’s most developed and influential Gulf states. This stability in design reflects the flag’s deep cultural resonance and the broad acceptance of Al Maainah’s vision across all seven emirates. The flag’s longevity in its original form stands in contrast to some neighboring nations that have modified their flags multiple times, underscoring the effectiveness and universal appeal of this particular design.
Symbolism of Colors and Elements
The colors of the UAE flag carry profound symbolic meaning rooted in both Pan-Arab heritage and Emirati cultural values. The flag employs all four Pan-Arab colors—green, white, black, and red—colors that are deeply significant throughout the Islamic world and Arab nations. Each color in the UAE flag represents specific ideals and historical meanings that are central to the nation’s identity. The green horizontal stripe at the top symbolizes hope, fertility, and prosperity, reflecting the UAE’s aspirations for growth and development, as well as its agricultural heritage in a region historically shaped by desert oases. The green also represents Islam’s spiritual significance to the nation and its people, as green holds particular importance in Islamic tradition and culture. The white stripe in the middle represents peace, purity, and honesty, embodying the nation’s commitment to peaceful coexistence with its neighbors and the ethical principles that guide the federation’s governance and international relations. The black horizontal stripe at the bottom carries dual significance, representing the strength and resilience of the Emirati people, as well as mourning for those who sacrificed in the struggle for independence and sovereignty.
The red vertical band along the hoist side, which occupies a significant portion of the flag’s height, serves a distinctive purpose that sets the UAE flag apart from other national standards. This vertical element represents the blood shed by martyrs in the struggle for independence and freedom, honoring those who gave their lives for the nation’s sovereignty and unity. The red also symbolizes courage and the strength of character that defines the Emirati people and their leadership. By placing this vertical band along the hoist edge, the flag creates a visual frame that unifies the three horizontal stripes while drawing the eye to the nation’s sacrifice and determination. This combination of four colors—green, white, black, and red—was not accidental but rather a carefully considered choice that drew from Pan-Arab symbolism while creating a distinctly Emirati composition that honors both the federation’s regional heritage and its unique national identity.
Historical Changes and Development
The UAE flag has maintained remarkable consistency since its adoption in 1971, which distinguishes it from the flags of many other nations that have undergone numerous revisions and modifications. From the moment of its official adoption on November 2, 1971, the flag has been used consistently across all official contexts: government buildings, military installations, diplomatic missions, and public ceremonies. This unbroken continuity reflects both the quality of the original design and the national consensus that Abdullah Mohammed Al Maainah’s creation effectively represented Emirati values and aspirations. The stability of the flag design stands as a testament to the founder’s vision and the federation’s commitment to its established symbols.
Before 1971, the emirates that would become the UAE operated under British protectorate arrangements and maintained separate flags for their individual emirates and maritime purposes. The Union Jack flew over these territories, and each emirate had its own traditional flags and ensigns. The transition from this fragmented system to a unified national flag marked a significant moment in the region’s political history. The speed with which the UAE flag was adopted and universally accepted across all seven emirates demonstrates the design’s ability to transcend individual emirate identities and create a broader sense of shared national purpose. Since 1971, modifications have been limited to clarifications of technical specifications regarding proportions and colors, but the fundamental design has never been altered, preserving Abdullah Mohammed Al Maainah’s original vision intact.
Notable Facts and Cultural Significance
The UAE flag holds extraordinary significance in national consciousness and is deeply integrated into Emirati cultural practices and celebrations. Flag Day, observed on November 3rd each year, celebrates the flag’s design and adoption, serving as a moment for the nation to reflect on its symbols and values. During national celebrations, particularly on Independence Day (December 2nd) and National Day (December 2nd-3rd), the flag appears prominently in parades, public gatherings, and on buildings throughout the nation, creating spectacular displays of unity and national pride. The flag is also significant in the context of the UAE’s role in international affairs; it appears at United Nations headquarters, at diplomatic missions worldwide, and at international sporting events where it represents the nation’s achievements and values on global stages.
The flag’s design has proven remarkably versatile, maintaining visual impact whether displayed on buildings, worn as patches, incorporated into official seals and emblems, or reproduced in national media. The proportions of the flag—a 1:2 width-to-length ratio—ensure that it displays well in various formats and maintains its symbolic power across different scales and mediums. Abdullah Mohammed Al Maainah’s design demonstrates sophisticated understanding of vexillological principles: the flag features strong color contrast, distinctive elements that are instantly recognizable, and symbolic depth that rewards closer examination and understanding. The flag has become so identified with the UAE that it appears in numerous cultural contexts, from official ceremonies to popular celebrations, and is treated with the reverence and respect appropriate to a national emblem.
The Flag in Modern Context
Today, the UAE flag stands as a symbol of one of the Middle East’s most successful and developed nations. Since 1971, the United Arab Emirates has transformed from a federation of small trading and pearl-diving emirates into a global economic powerhouse, with major international business centers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, world-class infrastructure, and significant soft power influence. Throughout this remarkable transformation, the flag has remained constant, serving as a visual anchor to national identity and values even as the nation has modernized and expanded its global presence. The flag is protected by strict protocols governing its display, handling, and representation, with laws ensuring it is treated respectfully and never used in demeaning ways. The current modern version of the flag, maintained through official specifications by the UAE government, ensures consistency across all official and governmental uses.
The UAE flag represents more than just a political boundary or administrative entity; it embodies the ideals of unity, progress, and cultural pride that define the federation. The flag’s journey from a nationwide design competition in 1971 to its current status as a recognized symbol worldwide reflects both the effectiveness of Abdullah Mohammed Al Maainah’s original vision and the nation’s successful implementation of that vision. The green stripe’s promise of hope and prosperity has been realized through the UAE’s economic development; the white stripe’s commitment to peace has guided the nation’s diplomatic approach; and the black and red bands’ representation of strength and sacrifice continue to remind citizens of the principles upon which their federation was built. The stability of the design across more than fifty years provides continuity to national identity while the flag’s contemporary use ensures its continued relevance for future generations of Emiratis.
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