[Curiosity Lab] The Secret of the UAE Flag Embroidered in the Sky by Black Eagles

On the 29th, during the official state welcome ceremony for Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), held on the lawn in front of the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul, the Republic of Korea Air Force's special flight team, the Black Eagles, performed a celebratory flight.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The leader of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) made the first-ever state visit to South Korea. On the 29th, President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee held an official welcoming ceremony at the lawn yard of the Yongsan Presidential Office, attended by UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. President Yoon wore a dark navy suit with a green tie matching the colors of the UAE flag, while Mrs. Kim wore a yellow blouse with a black skirt suit. President Mohammed wore traditional white Arab attire. After the two leaders exchanged greetings and moved to the inspection stand on the lawn, eight aircraft from the Air Force's special flight team, the Black Eagles, formed a squadron and flew southward from behind the office building. The Black Eagles emitted green and white smoke, the colors of the UAE flag, as they soared through the sky. Even when Presidents Yoon and Mohammed inspected the honor guard, the Black Eagles appeared and flew in the direction the two leaders were walking.

President Yoon Suk-yeol and President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are shaking hands and posing for a commemorative photo at the Korea-UAE summit held on the 29th at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The UAE Flag Selected Through a Contest...Each Color of White, Black, Green, and Red Has a Different Meaning

Flying the Black Eagles to paint the sky with the colors of the UAE flag symbolizes the utmost respect. What is the official meaning of the UAE flag as stated by the UAE government? The UAE flag was established in December 1971. At that time, a nationwide contest was held. It was published in the Al Ittihad newspaper in Abu Dhabi two months before the declaration of independence. About 1,030 designs participated, and only six final candidates were selected, with the current flag chosen as the winner. The origin of the flag dates back to the 14th century, to the era of the Iraqi poet Safi al-Din al-Hilli. His poetry mentions four colors. White represents people's deeds, black their struggles, green the fields where these struggles take place, and red symbolizes the sword. The UAE flag's colors cover rectangular shapes and together form a shape similar to the letter 'E.' The vertical part of the 'E' is red, the upper horizontal part is green, the middle horizontal part is white, and the lower horizontal part is black.

Map of Middle Eastern Arab Countries' Flags

In fact, flags of Middle Eastern and Arab countries are inspired by al-Hilli's poetry and mainly feature four colors: red, green, white, and black. Saudi Arabia's flag has a green background with white Arabic script (the Shahada) and a sword. This phrase is considered the most sacred in Islam, and Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries that does not lower its flag to half-mast. The black color below the Shahada on the flag was added by King Ibn Saud of the Wahhab kingdom, symbolizing the provisional protection of Allah and Islamic law and defending Allah and Islam from infidels (hostile forces such as Christianity and Judaism).

Middle East Inspired by al-Hilli...Africa Uses Red, Yellow, and Green as Basic Colors

Map of African flags based on the primary colors red, yellow, and green

One characteristic of African countries' flags is the frequent use of tricolor stripes based on red, yellow, and green. These colors are called Pan-African colors and originated from the flag of Ethiopia. Red symbolizes the blood responsible for the unity of all Africans regardless of geographic location. Black naturally represents the black skin color of Africans, green symbolizes Africa's rich and fertile homeland, and yellow represents prosperity as gold.

Many European countries' flags are based on tricolor schemes of blue, red, and white. These colors, representing liberty, equality, and fraternity from the French Revolution, spread to many European countries. As a result, countries and their flags are often confused. The island nation of the United Kingdom, once known as the empire on which the sun never sets, has the 'Union Jack.' It consists of blue, red, and white, with a blue background overlaid by a red cross and an 'X' shape, both bordered in white. It combines England, Scotland, and Ireland. 'Union' means unity or alliance, and 'Jack' refers to a flag flown at the bow of a ship.

European Flags That Are Confusing Every Time You See Them Are Based on the French Tricolor

A map of European flags based on three primary colors: red, blue, and white

The Spanish flag is somewhat different; gold symbolizes the land, and red represents the blood shed defending the land. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the shield divided into four quarters features a castle in the upper left representing the Kingdom of Castile, a lion in the upper right representing the Kingdom of Le?n, four red vertical stripes in the lower left representing the Kingdom of Aragon, and golden chains in the lower right representing the Kingdom of Navarre.

The pomegranate flower represents Granada, the three lilies in the center symbolize the current royal Bourbon family, and the crown above the shield is the royal crown, also present on the left pillar. The crown on the right pillar represents the emperor's crown. The pillars on both sides are the Pillars of Hercules, representing Gibraltar and Ceuta, with a scroll wrapped around them bearing the motto 'PLUS ULTRA,' meaning 'further beyond.' In medieval times, before the discovery of the Americas, the motto was 'NON PLUS ULTRA,' meaning 'nothing further beyond,' as it was believed there was no land beyond Gibraltar. After the discovery of the New World, Emperor Charles V changed it to the current motto.

Switzerland Has a Square Flag, Nepal a Triangular One...But the Best Is the Taegeukgi

Square-shaped Swiss flag and triangular-shaped Nepal flag

Among unique shapes, only two countries have square flags: Vatican City and Switzerland. Switzerland is known for its mercenaries guarding the Vatican, the only Swiss soldiers. Nepal's flag is triangular, symbolizing the Himalayas.

Neighboring China’s flag is called the 'Five-star Red Flag (Wuxing Hongqi),' with red symbolizing the blood of the communist army and revolution. Five golden stars are located in the upper left corner; gold represents harvest and brightness. The large central star symbolizes the Chinese Communist Party, and the four smaller stars represent the four classes: workers, peasants, petty bourgeoisie in cities, and national bourgeoisie. The simplest flag design is Japan's flag, called the Hinomaru, featuring a red circle on a white background. The red circle reflects the ancient Japanese belief in the sun as a deity, symbolizing the connection between the nation and the sun.

Citizens visiting Seodaemun Prison History Hall are looking at the large Taegeukgi flag hanging on the exterior wall of the history hall. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

The Taegeukgi is the national flag of the Republic of Korea. It has a white background with a blue and red Taegeuk in the center, and in each corner, four trigrams from the I Ching are drawn: Geon (乾), Gon (坤), Gam (坎), and Ri (離), which are symmetrical vertically. This symbolizes the harmony of yin and yang.