Country profile: Egypt

Under the monarchy, Egypt flew a green flag bearing a white crescent and three white stars. After the revolution of 23 July 1952, led by the Free Officers, red, white and black became established as the colours of liberation.

From 1958 to 1971, Egypt used the flag of the United Arab Republic, formed with Syria: red, white and black, with two green stars. In 1972, the Federation of Arab Republics replaced the stars with a golden hawk, the Hawk of Quraish.

The current flag was adopted on 4 October 1984: it keeps the three bands and bears in its centre the golden Eagle of Saladin, holding in its talons a scroll with the name of the country in Arabic.

The official interpretation links each colour to a stage in the country's history:

• Red: the period before the 1952 revolution, marked by the struggle against the monarchy and British occupation.
• White: the revolution of 1952, achieved without bloodshed.
• Black: the end of the oppression of the Egyptian people.
• Eagle of Saladin: the memory of the sultan who united Egypt and Syria in the 12th century and retook Jerusalem from the Crusaders.

The eagle on the flag is inspired by an eagle carved on a wall of the Cairo Citadel, built in Saladin's time.

Red, white and black, often called the Arab liberation colours, are also found on the flags of Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Sudan. The flag of Yemen differs only in having no emblem.

The two green stars of the former United Arab Republic still appear on the flag of Syria.