The vertical hoist stripe on Oman's national flag is red.
Oman's flag has a red vertical stripe at the hoist, next to the flagpole, joined to a red horizontal stripe that forms a T-shaped division across the flag. The upper fly-side field is white and the lower field is green. Oman's national emblem—a khanjar dagger crossed with two swords—appears in the upper part of the hoist stripe.
Red has historical significance because Oman used a plain red banner before 1970. It also represents the battles fought by the Omani people. White is associated with peace and the Imam, while green recalls the Jebel Akhdar, or “Green Mountains,” and the fertility of the land.
The flag was redesigned after Sultan Qaboos bin Said came to power in 1970. Its proportions changed several times: the current 4:7 proportion was established by royal decree on May 22, 2004. The red hoist stripe is the key feature distinguishing Oman's layout from simple green-white-red horizontal tricolors.