The border around the green rectangle on the Maldives’ flag is red.
The national flag consists of a large red field surrounding a centered green rectangle. Inside the green panel is a vertical white crescent, with its closed side facing the flag’s hoist, or raising side. The simple arrangement makes the red border especially prominent.
The modern flag was adopted on 25 July 1965, when the Maldives became independent from the United Kingdom. Its symbolism is traditionally explained as red for the blood and sacrifice of national heroes, green for peace and prosperity, and white for the crescent associated with Islam, the state religion.
Earlier Maldivian flags included a black-and-white striped hoist. That element was removed at independence, producing the familiar red, green, and white design. The red is therefore not an outline added to a green flag; it is the surrounding field on which the green rectangle is placed.