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Kuwait: History of the Flag

1899-1909
1909-1915
1915-1956
1956-1961

See also:

Other links:

A gallery of historical Kuwaiti flags (with 24 images)

Before 1899, the flag is supposed to have been a plain red flag. All the drawings are made in the reversed form (hoist to the right of the observer) because the Arabic word "Kuwait" should be read this way. The main source is an article in the Flag Bulletin [tfb], as well as other vexillological bulletins or newsletters.
Jaume Ollé, 7 June 1997

1899-1909 flag

image by Jaume Ollé

1909-1915 flag

image by Jaume Ollé

1915-1956 flag

image by Jaume Ollé

Variant

image by Jaume Ollé

1956-1961 flag

According to Flags of the World [car61]:

"The National Flag of Kuwait has a scarlet field with a narrow white vertical stripe at the hoist - the scarlet edge adjoining this stripe being wavy. The word "KUWAIT" in Arabic, also in white, is superimposed along the horizontal center line of the field. There are four versions of this flag: two have rectangular fields and two triangular. One of each of these pairs is charged with the Arabic inscription "There is no god but God" in white, positioned along the aforesaid wavy edge. So far as can be ascertained, any of the four forms may be used - there being no official ruling in the matter. In point of fact, the triangular pattern without the inscription is used by most of the subjects. However, we venture to suggest that its opposite number, the triangular one, would be more suitable for maritime usage."
Jarig Bakker, 4 May 2000

I seem to remember that the special four versions were strictly regulated for usage, that depended not only on the flag use (civil/state) but also on the occasion (normal day/holyday/celebration).
Željko Heimer, 5 May 2000