Morocco's Royal Coat of Arms and National Symbols
The Shield
Introduced on 14 August 1957, the coat of arms is the arms of dominion of the King of Morocco. Its central shield is set against a red field and combines several national emblems in one composition.
On the shield a green radiant pentagram echoes the flag and represents the five pillars of Islam. Behind it a rising sun signifies renewal and the realm, while the snow-capped Atlas Mountains denote the land itself.
The Atlas Lions
Two lions support the shield, one shown in profile and the other facing forward. These are the Atlas lions, a North African subspecies long used as an emblem of majesty, strength, justice and courage.
The lions are more than decoration: they tie the monarchy to a powerful natural symbol native to the region. The same Atlas lion imagery gives the national football team its nickname, linking the coat of arms to popular identity.
Crown and Quranic Motto
Above the shield rests the royal crown, marking the arms as those of the King and the monarchy as the institution at the center of the state. The crown anchors the design's royal character.
Beneath the shield a scroll carries a Quranic verse, In Tansurullaha Yansurkum, from Surah Muhammad, often rendered as If you support God, He will support you. The motto fuses faith with statecraft, framing the nation's strength in religious terms.
A Coherent National Identity
Read together, the coat of arms tells a compact story: an Islamic nation (the pentagram and verse), rooted in a distinctive land (the Atlas Mountains and lions), under a monarchy (the crown). Each piece reinforces the others.
These symbols appear on official documents, currency and government insignia throughout Morocco, including the southern provinces, presenting a single national identity. Their consistency is part of how the state expresses unity across the whole territory.
Frequently asked
What do the lions on Morocco's coat of arms represent?
They are Atlas lions, a North African subspecies used as an emblem of majesty, strength, justice and courage. The same imagery gives the national football team its Atlas Lions nickname.
What does the Quranic motto say?
The scroll carries the verse In Tansurullaha Yansurkum from Surah Muhammad, commonly translated as If you support God, He will support you, linking faith with national strength.
When was the coat of arms adopted?
Morocco's coat of arms was introduced on 14 August 1957 as the arms of dominion of the King, combining the pentagram, rising sun, Atlas Mountains, lions and royal crown.