## Arab Revolt Flagpole, Aqaba: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to See It

The Arab Revolt Flagpole is Aqaba’s most visible landmark—a 130-meter (430-ft) free-standing mast that flies the flag of the Great Arab Revolt, commemorating the 1916 uprising and the Battle of Aqaba (1917). Built and inaugurated in 2004, it stood as the world’s tallest free-standing flagpole at the time and remains among the tallest globally. On a clear day, the mast and flag are visible across borders from Israel, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, underscoring Aqaba’s position at the Red Sea’s crossroads.

– Location: Arab Revolt Plaza, central waterfront Aqaba (Google Plus Code G2C2+H8P). Coordinates: 29.521464, 35.000844.
– What flies here: the Arab Revolt flag (not Jordan’s national flag). A quick way to tell: Jordan’s flag has a white seven-pointed star—the Arab Revolt flag does not.

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### A fast history download

– Why here? The plaza sits beside Aqaba Fortress (Mamluk/Ottoman), a key site taken during the 1917 Battle of Aqaba—a pivotal win for the Revolt that opened a supply route for the northern campaign.
– When the pole went up: The current flagpole was constructed and opened in 2004 to mark Aqaba’s role in the Revolt.
– How big is “big”? Height 130 m; it routinely ranks on lists of the world’s tallest free-standing flagpoles. (Rankings change as new poles are erected, but the 130 m figure is stable.)

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### What you’ll see in the plaza (beyond the flag)

The Great Arab Revolt Plaza is a broad, waterfront public space with open areas and an 800-seat theatre used for performances and civic events. It overlooks the old port lighthouse and anchors the heritage cluster around the fort.

Immediate neighbors worth pairing with your visit:

– Aqaba Fortress (Mamluk Castle) – 16th-century fortified caravanserai, central to the 1917 battle and situated right next to the flagpole. A small adjacent building that served as Sharif Hussein bin Ali’s residence now houses the Aqaba Archaeological Museum.
– Aqaba Archaeological Museum / Al-Sharif Al-Hussein bin Ali House – museum collections from prehistoric to medieval Aqaba, inside Sharif Hussein’s former home by the fort and flag area.
– Al-Sharif Al-Hussein bin Ali Mosque – the city’s prominent white mosque a short walk away between the market and Al-Ghandour Beach (useful orientation point for navigating the waterfront).

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### Practical visiting tips

– Best light for photos: Late afternoon into sunset when the low sun backlights the flag against the Gulf of Aqaba and Sinai hills; the pole’s scale reads best from the waterfront promenade and the fort’s outer walkways. (General photo tip; the site is an open public plaza.)
– Wayfinding: If you’re starting at Aqaba Fortress, walk north along the seafront roads and roundabouts; the flagpole rises from the center of the Arab Revolt Plaza and is difficult to miss. (Plus Code G2C2+H8P.)
– Wind matters: The flag is enormous and designed for high wind criteria; on blustery days it unfurls dramatically. (Engineering specs establish wind design standards, but daily conditions vary.)

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### The engineering (for the curious)

If you like numbers: the pole is a free-standing steel structure comprised of 11 sections, with a foundation measuring 56 ft square × 8.5 ft deep. The standard flag used historically has been on the order of ~20 × 40 m (65 × 131 ft). These specs come from the engineering record and industry references for Aqaba’s mast.

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### Context: what the flag represents

The Arab Revolt flag symbolizes the 1916 uprising against Ottoman rule. You’ll often see it conflated with Jordan’s national flag in travel posts, but they are distinct. The Jordanian flag adds a white star within the red chevron; the Arab Revolt flag does not. Seeing the Revolt flag above the plaza ties directly to Aqaba’s role in Jordan’s modern origin story.

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### Nearby heritage loop (walkable)

– Flagpole & Plaza → Aqaba Fortress → Sharif Hussein House/Museum: these sit side-by-side on the waterfront; a short loop links all three without needing a car.

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### Important accuracy notes

– Height discrepancies online: You’ll find various figures (130–137 m) on tour blogs and forums. The well-documented height is 130 m, per engineering sources and long-standing references; use that number for accuracy.
– “Tallest in the world” claims: It was the tallest free-standing flagpole when it opened in 2004 but was later surpassed (e.g., Ashgabat’s 133 m pole in 2008, then others). Safer phrasing: “among the tallest.”

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### Key facts at a glance

– Name: Arab Revolt Flagpole (Aqaba Flagpole)
– City: Aqaba, Jordan
– Plaza: Great Arab Revolt Plaza
– Coordinates: 29.521464, 35.000844
– Plus Code: G2C2+H8P
– Height: 130 m free-standing steel flagpole
– Opened: 2004
– Significance: Commemorates the 1916 Arab Revolt and 1917 Battle of Aqaba; visible from Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia on clear days.

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#### Sources
Wikipedia’s technical/history page for the Aqaba Flagpole; Atlas Obscura’s entry confirming 130 m height and 2004 date; Visit Aqaba on plaza features (open spaces, 800-seat theatre); engineering/industry reference on flag dimensions and distinguishing the Arab Revolt flag vs Jordan’s national flag; and Aqaba Fortress/Museum references situating the cluster.

All details above are limited to well-sourced facts to minimize outdated or conflicting information.