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Otaibah Tribe

Arabia

The Otaibah Tribe
Flags used by the Otaibah Tribe
Hawazin Tribe

See also:

The Otaibah Tribe

The Otaibah (Oteiba, Otaiba, ʿUtaybah, ...) originate from the Hejaz (western Arabia) around the city of Taif. They expanded later into Nejd, in central Arabia, and today, they are mainly found in Saudi Arabia but also in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the Emirates and Yemen. They are considered among the largest tribes in Saudi Arabia.

The Otaibah are Adnanite (northern) Arabs of the Qaysite branch. They are the descendants of the ancient Hawazin tribe. The tribe played a major role in 19th century conflicts in central Arabia, notably against the Qahtan tribe and later in the Ikhwan brotherhood movement that supported Ibn Saud in unifying Arabia.

The name “Otaibah” is linked to a tribal ancestor, Otaibah ibn Guzayah ibn Jusham Ibn Sa'd ibn Bakr Ibn Hawazin. And according to an 8th-century AD manuscrit, quoted on Wikipedia ("The Great Ancestry"), "Otaibah" has also originally referred to a banner or war standard under which Hawazin clans united. Over time, the name of the banner could have become the collective name of the people who fought under it.

Their slogan is الهيلا ما يرضى الذل (Al-Hayla mā Yarḍā adh-Dhull), that's to say: "Al-Hayla does not tolerate humiliation", where "Al-Hayla" (الحيلة) is their honorary nickname, often used to denote their bravery and pride.
Their tribal number, used by youth in social circles in Saudi Arabia, is 511.

Jean-Marc Merklin, 20 September 2025

Flags used by the Otaibah Tribe

The tribe has a non-standardized flag known as "Al-Hayla" (or Al-Hilla), on which it is written (thanks to Google Translate) "Utaybah al-Hilāl".
The flag is a marker of tribal identity and cohesion and symbolizes their unity during the Settlements and Ikhwan periods, mainly in the 20th century, when nomadic groups were transformed into pro-Wahhabite religious-military colonies, called "hijras".

I found several versions of the Al-Hayla flag and one with only the name "Utaybah" on it:

2. xo-oteiba2.gif:
3 xo-oteiba3.gif: o
: xo-oteiba511.jpg

Links:
Wiki page on the tribe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otaibah
On the ancient Hawazin tribe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawazin
On the Qaysite confederation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qays
On the hijras: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Settlements_of_Otaibah
On the Ikhwan brotherhood: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikhwan

Flags:
https://mahally.com/products
https://www.tiktok.com/discover

Jean-Marc Merklin, 20 September 2025

I have found several variants:

image by Jean-Marc Merklin, 20 September 2025
based on photo

On a red background is written "عتبه الهلال" (ʿUtaybah al-Hilāl)) in yellow. Al-Hilāl literally means "The Crescent" but in that context it may rather mean something like "The Braves".
Jean-Marc Merklin, 20 September 2025

This flag is red with golden "عتيبه الهلا" ("ʕtibh alhla"): ayn-ta-ya-ba-ha alif-lam-ha-lam-alif.

image by Jean-Marc Merklin, 20 September 2025
based on photo

On a red background is written their tribal name "عتیبه" (ʿUtaybah)) in yellow.
Jean-Marc Merklin, 20 September 2025

This flag is red with golden "عتيبه" ("ʕtibh"): ayn-ta-ya-ba-ha.

image by Jean-Marc Merklin, 20 September 2025

On a red background is written what may be their tribal name (?) over a saber, in yellow.
Jean-Marc Merklin, 20 September 2025

Flag with the tribal number

image located by Jean-Marc Merklin, 20 September 2025

I also found a flag with the tribal number "511" under the tribal name "Utaybah", written in white on a red background.
Jean-Marc Merklin, 20 September 2025

Hawazin Tribe

image by Jean-Marc Merklin, 20 September 2025

The ancient Hawazin tribe is the direct ancestor of the Otaibah tribe. It can be found on the Wikipedia page for Hawazin. It is only a reconstruction of a banner supposed to have existed, described as 'based on David Nicolle "Armies of the Muslim Conquest" illustrations by Angus McBride. And Martin Hinds "The Banners and Battle Cries of the Arabs at Siffin" Al-Abhath XXIV". '
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hawazin_Flag_(20).png
Jean-Marc Merklin, 21 September 2025