The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has launched two new banknotes, in five and ten dirham denominations, made of polymer and enhanced by advanced technical characteristics and security features.

The new banknotes are the third issue of the national currency, and reflect the CBUAE’s aim to keep pace with the nation’s development and vision in the next fifty years, particularly in the financial and economic sectors. These issues follow the success of the initial 50-dirham polymer note.

The new Dhs5 and Dhs10 banknotes highlight the CBUAE’s adoption of sustainable practices and its efforts to develop enhanced environmental standards in the financial sector, and to promote sustainable growth by using environmentally-friendly and recyclable polymer material. They are more durable and sustainable than traditional cotton paper banknotes, lasting two or more times longer in circulation.

The CBUAE continued the approach of the third issue by combining aesthetic characteristics with modern technologies in the design. The distinctive features of these two banknotes include a transparent window featuring a portrait of the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the logo of the UAE nation brand with fluorescent drawings and inscriptions created using advanced intaglio printing techniques.

In designing the new five dirham banknote, the CBUAE preserved the colour characteristics of the same denomination banknote currently in circulation to make it easy for the public to identify them. Pictures of UAE national and cultural symbols are included in the design. The image of the “Ajman Fort”, an ancient monument that bears witness to the cultural and historical legacy of the UAE’s forefathers appears in the front centre face of this banknote, while the image of “Dhayah Fort” in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and one of the UAE’s prominent cultural landmarks, appears in the reverse centre of the banknote.

WAM