UAE copies Saudi Arabia with new dirham symbol launch

The UAE has introduced a new symbol for its national currency, the dirham, following a similar move by Saudi Arabia .

Unveiled by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) on Thursday, the new design draws inspiration from the letter ‘D’ for ‘dirham’, including two horizontal lines, a nod to the UAE flag, and a symbol of financial strength.

The dirham typically uses the letter Dh to denote the currency but the revamped symbol follows Saudi Arabia’s launch in February of a new riyal symbol inspired by Arabic calligraphy with the name of the national currency.

The British pound, euro, and US dollar are other currencies with long-standing and instantly recognisable symbols.

The UAE’s new dirham symbol is part of the country’s broader plan to position its currency as a familiar global player and see it used in international trade, reflecting the nation’s growing economic influence. 

According to the UK’s largest foreign exchange provider, the UAE dirham was ranked among the top 10 best-selling currencies between February 2024 and January 2025.

In addition to the new physical dirham symbol, the country is also progressing with the development of the Digital Dirham, a blockchain-based digital currency.

Khaled Mohamed Balama, governor of the CBUAE said: “We are proud to unveil today the new symbol for the UAE’s national currency and the design of the digital dirham wallet.

“The digital dirham, built on blockchain technology, is expected to enhance financial stability, improve inclusion, increase resilience, and help combat financial crime.”

The launch also coincides with the UAE’s adoption of the FX Global Code, making the CBUAE the first central bank in the Arab region to join the digital wave.

The new symbol is part of the UAE’s Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) Programme, which aims to modernise the country’s financial systems and promote financial inclusion.

The Digital Dirham will be available through licensed financial institutions and will be legally recognised for use in digital transactions, alongside physical currency.

It is expected to offer key advantages such as tokenisation, which will allow fractionalised access to digital assets, and smart contracts that will automate complex transactions and allow for instant settlement.