Companies have been asked not to use Saudi Arabia's national flag in advertisements or as a trade mark because it carries the name of God.

The Saudi Embassy in Abu Dhabi has sent a letter to the Ministry of Information and Culture asking for a ban on the use of the Kingdom's flag in this way.

"The Saudi embassy has presented a memorandum to the ministry asking it to ban the use of the Saudi flag as a trade mark or in any advertisement," the ministry said.