UAE dirham.

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.

Coins

1fils

Rarely circulates

5fils

Rarely circulates

10fils

Occasionally seen

25fils

Occasionally seen

50fils

Very common

1dirham

Very common

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

50AEDPurple

Al Jahili Fort

Oryx

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