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, the bank said. These issues follow the success of the initial 50-dirham polymer note.
The bank said the new notes are more durable and sustainable than traditional cotton paper banknotes, lasting two or more times longer in circulation. They are made using environmentally-friendly and recyclable polymer material.
The ten and five dirham banknotes will enter circulation on Thursday 21st April and Tuesday 26th April 2022 respectively. Current banknotes of both denominations will remain in circulation along with the new polymer notes, as banknotes whose value are guaranteed by the UAE law.
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 color 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 center 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 center of the banknote.
The new ten dirham banknote has kept its green color, similar to the AED10 banknote currently in circulation. Its front central face features an image of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a religious, national and cultural iconic landmark, which has become a renowned global destination. The center reverse side contains an image of the Khorfakkan amphitheater as one of the unique cultural landmarks in the Emirate of Sharjah.
The CBUAE employed the latest international standards and technologies in the two new banknotes, using enhanced technical specifications and high-quality security features (both apparent and latent) to enhance consumers’ confidence and to combat counterfeiting of the national currency. Prominent symbols in Braille to help blind and visually impaired consumers to identify the banknote’s value were added in the banknotes.