šø UAE Introduces a New Currency Symbol for the Dirham
In March 2025, the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) officially launched a new symbol for the UAE Dirham (AED). This move aims to modernize the currencyās visual identity and position the UAE Dirham as a globally recognized and digitally ready currency. The symbol resembles a stylized Latin "D", intersected by two horizontal barsthat represent financial stability and echo the UAE flag.
For the upcoming Digital Dirham, the symbol also appears within a circular ring featuring the colors of the UAE flagāsignifying trust, innovation, and continuity.
šÆ Why a New Symbol Now?
This update is part of a broader national strategy to:
Modernize the UAE Dirhamās branding
Strengthen its global financial reputation
Support the launch of the Digital Dirham in Q4 2025
Align with international best practices such as the FX Global Code
The introduction of the symbol comes as the UAE embraces digital transformation across all financial sectors.
š How to Use the New UAE Dirham Symbol
The Central Bank has outlined specific usage rules to maintain consistency across public, private, and digital platforms.
Always place the symbol before the number. For example, write it as "ļ·¼500", not "500ļ·¼". You must never use it together with the abbreviation "AED". It's either the new symbol or the abbreviationānot both.
The symbol should always match the height, weight, and baseline of the numerals it accompanies. On screens, make sure the symbol is at least 12 pixels tall, and in print, it must not be smaller than 5 points.
Maintain clear space around the symbolāspecifically, a gap equal to one-third of its height. This ensures that the symbol is never cluttered or lost within text or design elements.
Color-wise, stick to black or white for all professional use. You may use brand colors for marketing and decorative visuals, but only if the symbol is used correctlyāwithout any gradients, shadows, or effects. Also, do not rotate, distort, stretch, or replace the word "Dirhams" with the symbol in full-text representations of currency.
š² Where You Should Use the Symbol
The symbol should be implemented across a variety of applications in business, finance, and design.
On websites and mobile apps, the symbol should scale proportionally with the font size and align perfectly with the baseline of your currency values. On invoices, receipts, and cheques, the symbol should always come before the amount in numbers. However, when writing out amounts in full (like "Three hundred dirhams"), the word "Dirhams" must still be used in fullānot replaced by the symbol.
If you're using the symbol on a physical or virtual keyboard, it will appear on the '6' key. On bilingual Arabic-English keyboards, the symbol should be visible on the upper-left of the keycap.
In marketing materials, itās acceptable to use brand colors or even a ringed version of the symbol (for the Digital Dirham), but only when the other guidelinesālike position, spacing, and scaleāare strictly followed.
š¾ How to Access the UAE Dirham Symbol Files
To maintain quality and accuracy, the Central Bank has made the official assets available for download on their website. These include high-resolution files in SVG, PNG, EPS, and PDF formats. These assets are ready to be integrated into your branding, marketing, app design, POS systems, and document templates.
You can download them directly from the Central Bank of the UAEās official site.
š The Digital Dirham Is ComingāBe Ready
The Digital Dirham is expected to launch in Q4 of 2025, and this new symbol will play a central role in identifying the digital currency across wallets, platforms, and blockchain-based systems. The ringed version of the symbol will become a visual standard for smart contracts, tokenized payments, and secure e-wallet integrations across the UAEās digital economy.
By implementing the symbol correctly today, youāre preparing your business for a smooth transition into this digital future.
ā How Your Business Can Prepare
To stay ahead of the curve, start by replacing āAEDā with the new symbol across your platforms. This includes updating websites, mobile apps, invoices, POS systems, and internal templates.
Ensure your design and finance teams are trained on the Central Bankās usage guidelines, especially regarding position, spacing, and clarity. Donāt forget to audit your existing materialsālike brochures, forms, receipts, and online pagesāto eliminate inconsistent usage of the old āAEDā format.
š Final Thoughts
The introduction of the new UAE Dirham symbol isnāt just about aestheticsāit represents a major leap toward modernization, digital transformation, and economic identity on a global scale.
By understanding and applying the official guidelines, your business not only ensures compliance but also demonstrates alignment with the UAEās forward-thinking vision for finance.
š¬ Need Help Implementing the Symbol?
Whether you're updating your website, app, ERP software, or print materialsāwe can help you integrate the new UAE Dirham symbol with correct styling and technical precision.
Just let us know, and weāll assist with custom code, design templates, or brand updates.
