The Central Bank of the UAE has unveiled a new currency symbol for the dirham, blending Arabiccalligraphy and the letter “D” with a visual inspired by the national flag. It represents a fusion of tradition and futuristic design, aligning with the country’s innovation-driven economic vision.
Official Guidelines Released
Though officially adopted in March 2025, the usage guidelines for the dirham symbol were released recently. The new symbol will now replace “AED” across all official, digital, and financial documents in the UAE.
Standard Usage Rules
- The dirham symbol must appear before the amount, at the same height and in the same font style.
- Minimum sizes: 5 pt in print and 12 px on screens.
- It should be used only for official purposes, in either black or white color.
- Clear spacing and high legibility must be maintained.
Where to Use the Symbol
The new symbol is to be used in:
- Invoices and receipts
- Cheques and price tags
- Digital platforms, mobile apps, trading and currency conversion tools
- All financial and official documents
Keyboard Shortcut Introduced
Updated UAE keyboards now support the symbol using the shortcut Shift + 6, making it easier to integrate into digital systems.
Misuse to Be Avoided
The Central Bank has listed specific restrictions:
- Do not use the symbol along with “AED”
- Avoid usage in logos, branding, or splash screens
- Do not apply decorative effects, gradients, or multicolors
- Do not shrink below the specified size or misalign with digits
- Do not replace the written word “dirham” with the symbol in texts
Symbol Represents UAE’s Economic Growth
The Central Bank encourages thoughtful use of the symbol, as it reflects the country’s respect for its growing economic landscape and national identity.
