6 must-know facts about the new UAE dirham currency symbol
The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates has approved the design for a brand new symbol for the dirham.
First announced in March of 2025, the new currency symbol will eventually be rolled out for wider use by businesses and residents alike.
Previously, the dirham did not have a standard abbreviated name, with it commonly shortened to AED, Dhs and Dh in media, banking and by the wider public.
But now the CBUAE has established a shortened version of dirham – similar to how the US has the $, the UK uses the £ and Europe has the €.
The new symbol has yet to be approved by Unicode, the universal system that allows us to type emojis en masse in the group chat, and could take some time to be formally introduced.
And the CBUAE has outlined the do's and don'ts of the symbol and how it will affect daily payments.
The UAE dirham symbol design explained
On the face of it, the dirham symbol looks like a capital D with two stylised lines through it, but there's been a lot more thought put into it than that.
Inspired by the UAE's national identity, the lines reimagine the stripes on the flag and integrate them into the letter D, in reference to the English name for the currency.
The pointed curves are inspired by classical Arabic calligraphy, where scripts such as Thuluth and Diwani often appear sharp. The sweeping endings are intended to express grace and authority.
Dos and don'ts of the new UAE dirham symbol
Dos and don'ts of the new UAE dirham currency symbol (Credit: CBUAE)
The CBUAE has outlined several dos and don'ts for how the symbol should be written and presented.
When writing out the price of something, the symbol should appear to the left of the numbers rather than to the right. Similar to how dollar and pound values are written.
The symbol should also never be used alongside the AED currency code or any other shortened term for the dirham. For example, you can't write the symbol AED500, it's an either or situation.
The CBUAE also outlined that the correct proportions should be maintained, the symbol should be the same height as the numbers, and space should be put between the symbol and the numerals.
It will primarily appear in black or white to ensure clarity and consistency but brand colour variations are allowed in marketing contexts as long as they maintain clear visibility. Gradients, effects and decorative alterations are not permitted.
Where the new UAE dirham symbol will appear on keyboards
UAE Dirham symbol will appear above the 6 on keyboards (Credit: CBUAE)
The currency symbol has been designated to appear on the number 6 key across all keyboard layouts, replacing the standard secondary symbol on the keyboard.
The CBUAE has advised that it should be centred horizontally and vertically within the top half of the key on single-language keycaps.
On dual-language keycaps, it should be placed in the top left corner to accommodate the secondary script, which typically appears in the lower portion of the key.
How to write the new UAE dirham symbol
(Credit: CanvaPro)
The new UAE dirham symbol is written out similarly to a capital D and has two wavy strokes through the middle of it.
Lines curve upwards from the left and invert downwards on the other side of the D.
Once introduced in Unicode, the currency symbol may be adapted to match different font styles as long as the core structure maintains its recognisable form.
The CBUA say that minor adjustments may be required to match up with a specific typeface as long as any modifications don't compromise the legibility or distort the symbol's identity.
What the new UAE dirham symbol means for paying with cheques
How the UAE dirham symbol will appear on cheques (Credit: CBUAE)
Next time you order a chequebook to pay for your rent, it's possible that the new symbol will be printed on the paper.
When printed on cheques, the symbol must appear in the 'amount in figures' field placed immediately before the numeric value. The symbol should be the same height and stroke weight as the numerals to maintain baseline alignment and prevent tampering.
The symbol should not be used in place of the written phrase 'dirhams' when writing out your cash value in words. Writing out the word in full will maintain legal clarity.
Where you'll see the new UAE dirham symbol
The UAE dirham symbol can already be seen in online shopping outlets such as noon (Credit: noon.ae)
The CBUAE has outlined where we should expect to see the symbol, in addition to a few places where it would be inappropriate to see it.
It has been designed to be used in financial and transactional contexts where values are expressed in numerals.
You may have already seen the symbol when shopping online, but you can also expect to see it at ATMs, on pricing labels, physical currency notes and coins, and on calculators.
Similar to guidelines for the UAE flag, the Dirham symbol should not be used in any logos or branding. The symbol should also not replace the full written form 'Dirhams' when amounts need to be spelt out. It should also not be used on splash screens or as part of identity or promotional design.
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