![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TXCZGX5CZVD2ZLTF3XV3EVLBWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=33efa88e1af88cfcd5481d4f137cbd18b35958a3b87b30a1b572f1b61e1a446a&width=400&height=225)
The UAE dirham first went into circulation on May 19, 1973. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XN43527WOAJYKNSJZAXSOPZ6WI.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d1d01c960d14c096ee41300ecd1441fca23ef727e5a1733e3bd7adabb34702b&width=400&height=225)
The back of the 1973 Dh100 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q6N5YXMWVOEELCWDTAZAPTDBB4.jpg?smart=true&auth=1567af2483e93482cf7a87994b9cde5a730938b2b575490ffdc4321dff6c3fd8&width=400&height=225)
The front of the 1973 Dh100 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/T6ZLE5CGC6KDETBVRELDOGSD74.jpg?smart=true&auth=a0f096f218ccdc102dbdfcbe92b4ed94377bae6c11e039d2866021f98b46f8ef&width=400&height=225)
The back of the 1973 Dh10 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QPJPUEE4UNRWKK75EQN5LEGOFU.jpg?smart=true&auth=8f92dadfb2cc37b91c427f3ef2f451cf576a219b6ee0cefccd5e2c7ef0ee9c7f&width=400&height=225)
The front of the 1973 Dh10 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RO65BPWPSWO75X3UGRLROFRGCE.jpg?smart=true&auth=9b22d828f2d36f12a5b5b8b3458fb190f36c6cbac5da3b761ef3051e27fb40aa&width=400&height=225)
The back of the 1973 Dh1 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TLWAH4T6SMZAIZWTSM6CV53LV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=fb2bd18c5ec94b6416993122faf38f53d7fdb9e48fd4a60216fac1e6067a56fb&width=400&height=225)
The front of the 1973 Dh1 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GZRHQG4474DZLAH5PI5ZLNGSTI.jpg?smart=true&auth=6a713cc1f1617a718a8aafc2fa0062de9633c9312b97806ddbe22c017fb33560&width=400&height=225)
The back of the 1973 Dh50 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BGOBERRQE3H7LVG363USCPAHTY.jpg?smart=true&auth=bd8c58a6073820240d2026c36a830c0a44150448bc6ad97f4d0f29d103131eee&width=400&height=225)
The front of the 1973 Dh50 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N6RPYYKQOP3OFQ5R3VMJP64TOI.jpg?smart=true&auth=1bd06ebc58bb905ae8bf5d516f5a1a6beae17e3af2d993279ff87fbc61d59417&width=400&height=225)
The back of the 1973 Dh5 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3LUT2PCTLZCNUHW3ZYSNUJ7MBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b3ce19ba647b6ee38b4cdac3b68d498ec6248b89d6f668c6d5f6cec010b7aaf0&width=400&height=225)
The front of the 1973 Dh5 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DH5BE3RYSREBVGHBHGS6YUGDDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=63ddb0fd1e682e1e557780cf062ef1cda1ff0af5736709a1cbda409b5811facb&width=400&height=225)
The UAE's Dh5 banknote. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SAWEQRD2VU3V7C3HDUGX3JCSRA.jpg?smart=true&auth=dd39a2667df52955ec117edf9eda67de893282bd7c848577ce10cd1fc5dea14e&width=400&height=225)
The Dh10 banknote. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2QLLQOB6SVKB5FQJOJ3B5J6PSI.jpg?smart=true&auth=69ae9c0b13c9220b228d7042afd5abd96495661974b87fae1ffc102c418057fa&width=400&height=225)
The Dh20 banknote. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J2MQPM2W4SRVOOPKOZUWVXTOFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=92ccd8173cb313f5d0875539a7840f57786746d123fab41ea95bf26c46b13d1d&width=400&height=225)
The Dh50 banknote. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KVU5IZXEJZPLTJEBEUTTM3QV2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=cec9c215714fa8db97c66b2b848289bacd40e9be9497a832a0c3e8b8efe21ae6&width=400&height=225)
The Dh100 banknote. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X7O65VWGIHYL52JYCLZBLPHPAE.jpg?smart=true&auth=460e8675810873328eb7634f53d37f8d73a2e17b47129127ce493443c8c9db72&width=400&height=225)
The Dh200 banknote. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3FNZOJXW7WTNC6SU66KRLCZKOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b4e7aa747a67cdd8006a2357ed0456220db7629602d0ebb73320adb3c25579ab&width=400&height=225)
The Dh500 banknote. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X2QOLWBR6UM3VXFA6SEYAOPN3Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=f5f0cc1d540945ff84c8b65ce5f437c18091a68acc564d10379b1a97d686ade1&width=400&height=225)
The Dh1,000 banknote. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TXCZGX5CZVD2ZLTF3XV3EVLBWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=33efa88e1af88cfcd5481d4f137cbd18b35958a3b87b30a1b572f1b61e1a446a&width=400&height=225)
The UAE dirham first went into circulation on May 19, 1973. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XN43527WOAJYKNSJZAXSOPZ6WI.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d1d01c960d14c096ee41300ecd1441fca23ef727e5a1733e3bd7adabb34702b&width=400&height=225)
The back of the 1973 Dh100 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q6N5YXMWVOEELCWDTAZAPTDBB4.jpg?smart=true&auth=1567af2483e93482cf7a87994b9cde5a730938b2b575490ffdc4321dff6c3fd8&width=400&height=225)
The front of the 1973 Dh100 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/T6ZLE5CGC6KDETBVRELDOGSD74.jpg?smart=true&auth=a0f096f218ccdc102dbdfcbe92b4ed94377bae6c11e039d2866021f98b46f8ef&width=400&height=225)
The back of the 1973 Dh10 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QPJPUEE4UNRWKK75EQN5LEGOFU.jpg?smart=true&auth=8f92dadfb2cc37b91c427f3ef2f451cf576a219b6ee0cefccd5e2c7ef0ee9c7f&width=400&height=225)
The front of the 1973 Dh10 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RO65BPWPSWO75X3UGRLROFRGCE.jpg?smart=true&auth=9b22d828f2d36f12a5b5b8b3458fb190f36c6cbac5da3b761ef3051e27fb40aa&width=400&height=225)
The back of the 1973 Dh1 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TLWAH4T6SMZAIZWTSM6CV53LV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=fb2bd18c5ec94b6416993122faf38f53d7fdb9e48fd4a60216fac1e6067a56fb&width=400&height=225)
The front of the 1973 Dh1 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GZRHQG4474DZLAH5PI5ZLNGSTI.jpg?smart=true&auth=6a713cc1f1617a718a8aafc2fa0062de9633c9312b97806ddbe22c017fb33560&width=400&height=225)
The back of the 1973 Dh50 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BGOBERRQE3H7LVG363USCPAHTY.jpg?smart=true&auth=bd8c58a6073820240d2026c36a830c0a44150448bc6ad97f4d0f29d103131eee&width=400&height=225)
The front of the 1973 Dh50 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N6RPYYKQOP3OFQ5R3VMJP64TOI.jpg?smart=true&auth=1bd06ebc58bb905ae8bf5d516f5a1a6beae17e3af2d993279ff87fbc61d59417&width=400&height=225)
The back of the 1973 Dh5 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3LUT2PCTLZCNUHW3ZYSNUJ7MBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b3ce19ba647b6ee38b4cdac3b68d498ec6248b89d6f668c6d5f6cec010b7aaf0&width=400&height=225)
The front of the 1973 Dh5 note.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DH5BE3RYSREBVGHBHGS6YUGDDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=63ddb0fd1e682e1e557780cf062ef1cda1ff0af5736709a1cbda409b5811facb&width=400&height=225)
The UAE's Dh5 banknote. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SAWEQRD2VU3V7C3HDUGX3JCSRA.jpg?smart=true&auth=dd39a2667df52955ec117edf9eda67de893282bd7c848577ce10cd1fc5dea14e&width=400&height=225)
The Dh10 banknote. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2QLLQOB6SVKB5FQJOJ3B5J6PSI.jpg?smart=true&auth=69ae9c0b13c9220b228d7042afd5abd96495661974b87fae1ffc102c418057fa&width=400&height=225)
The Dh20 banknote. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J2MQPM2W4SRVOOPKOZUWVXTOFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=92ccd8173cb313f5d0875539a7840f57786746d123fab41ea95bf26c46b13d1d&width=400&height=225)
The Dh50 banknote. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KVU5IZXEJZPLTJEBEUTTM3QV2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=cec9c215714fa8db97c66b2b848289bacd40e9be9497a832a0c3e8b8efe21ae6&width=400&height=225)
The Dh100 banknote. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X7O65VWGIHYL52JYCLZBLPHPAE.jpg?smart=true&auth=460e8675810873328eb7634f53d37f8d73a2e17b47129127ce493443c8c9db72&width=400&height=225)
The Dh200 banknote. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3FNZOJXW7WTNC6SU66KRLCZKOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b4e7aa747a67cdd8006a2357ed0456220db7629602d0ebb73320adb3c25579ab&width=400&height=225)
The Dh500 banknote. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X2QOLWBR6UM3VXFA6SEYAOPN3Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=f5f0cc1d540945ff84c8b65ce5f437c18091a68acc564d10379b1a97d686ade1&width=400&height=225)
The Dh1,000 banknote. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TXCZGX5CZVD2ZLTF3XV3EVLBWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=33efa88e1af88cfcd5481d4f137cbd18b35958a3b87b30a1b572f1b61e1a446a&width=400&height=225)
The UAE dirham first went into circulation on May 19, 1973. Antonie Robertson / The National
How the UAE dirham was introduced 50 years ago today
Before the UAE had its own money there was the dinar, the riyal, the rupee and a silver coin with the face of 300-year-old dead empress
![James Langton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F59aec61e-41b3-468c-8a69-57168338145b.png?smart=true&auth=20537dd68c837a65707d347b248e74bad34b378390f02a7be13b68d756185b99&width=70&height=70)
James Langton
19 May, 2023
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic