The Saudi Shura Council unanimously approved on Monday a draft amendment to the flag, emblem and national anthem system, which was submitted by member Saad Al-Otaibi, in order to keep pace with the Kingdom’s progress and to protect the state emblem. Amending the flag, which was issued nearly 50 years ago, aims to stay abreast with the great progress movement witnessed by the Kingdom in recent years, in support of the goals and initiatives of Saudi Vision 2030. The draft law seeks to raise the level of awareness and knowledge on the importance of the states flag, emblem and national anthem, and to ensure increased protection from infringement or neglect, and the consistency of the system’s provisions with the Basic Law of Governance and with Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, international conventions and norms. The amendment also aims to address the absence of a system that defines the state anthem and separates the provisions related to it. The Saudi flag was issued in 1973 AD during the reign of King Faisal. The Saudi Shura Council also approved a draft amendment to the current national anthem, which was composed by Poet Ibrahim Khafaji and Musical Composer Tareq Abdel Hakim. It was approved in 1984 to become the official national anthem in Saudi Arabia.