"The UAE dirham is pegged to the US dollar at exactly AED 3.6725 to the dollar. Not approximately. Exactly."
The dirham was introduced on 19 May 1973, when the UAE unified its currency in the years following federation. It replaced the Qatar and Dubai riyal, which had itself replaced the Gulf rupee in 1966 — the currency that had circulated across the British-administered Gulf before the emirates became independent.
Cash still matters in specific contexts: older souks, some taxi drivers, neighbourhood convenience shops, and anywhere you’re negotiating. ATMs are plentiful and dispense AED directly; airport exchange counters are convenient but not the best rates — a high-street exchange shop in Karama or Deira will do better.
Banknotes in circulation
5AEDBrown
Imam Salem Al Mutawa Mosque
Sharjah Central Souq


10AEDGreen
Palm farm
Traditional khanjar dagger


20AEDBlue
Trading dhow
Dubai Creek Golf Club


100AEDRed
World Trade Centre
Fahidi Fort


200AEDOrange
UAE Central Bank
Zayed Sports City


500AEDBlue-purple
Jumeirah Mosque
Saker falcon


1000AEDTurquoise
Abu Dhabi Corniche
Al Hosn Palace


Recent redesigns
The UAE Central Bank has issued polymer redesigns across select denominations since 2022, featuring updated imagery and enhanced security features.
5AEDBrown
Al Jahili Fort
Sheikh Zayed portrait


10AEDGreen
Roman-style colonnade
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque


50AEDPurple
Sheikh Zayed writing
UAE founding leaders


500AEDBlue
Museum of the Future
Burj Khalifa
Expo City Sustainability Pavilion


1000AEDBrown-red
Barakah nuclear plant
space programme

