If you want to understand UAE Dirham denominations, this guide covers everything you need. The Dirham is the official currency of the United Arab Emirates, and knowing the current AED notes and coins helps whether you are visiting the UAE for the first time, handling cash for a business, or exchanging money before a trip. This guide lists every note and coin in active circulation, explains the key security features, and shows you how to count AED cash quickly and accurately.
The UAE Dirham uses the symbol AED and the ISO code AED. One Dirham divides into 100 fils. The Central Bank of the UAE issues all banknotes, and the exchange rate has stayed fixed at 3.6725 AED per US Dollar since 1997.
Current UAE Dirham Denominations: All AED Banknotes
The Central Bank of the UAE currently issues eight banknote denominations. Each note has a distinct color and features a famous UAE landmark on the reverse. This design makes it straightforward to tell the notes apart, even for first-time visitors.
| Denomination | Primary Color | Front Design | Reverse Landmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| AED 5 | Brown/tan | UAE crest and falcon | Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain |
| AED 10 | Green | UAE crest and falcon | Al Fahidi Fort, Dubai |
| AED 20 | Light blue/teal | UAE crest and falcon | Liwa Oasis landscape |
| AED 50 | Purple/violet | UAE crest and falcon | Jebel Hafeet mountain |
| AED 100 | Red/pink | UAE crest and falcon | Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque |
| AED 200 | Yellow/gold | UAE crest and falcon | UAE map with key landmarks |
| AED 500 | Navy blue | UAE crest and falcon | Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi |
| AED 1000 | Brown/maroon | Portraits of UAE founders | UAE landscape panorama |
All current AED notes feature the UAE national emblem and a golden falcon on the front. The falcon is the national bird of the UAE and a symbol of strength in Emirati culture. Furthermore, the reverse of each note highlights a specific UAE landmark, making the notes culturally significant beyond their everyday monetary value.
AED Coin Denominations: All UAE Dirham Coins
UAE coins measure value in fils, with 100 fils making one dirham. The Central Bank currently issues six coin denominations for everyday use. First, here is the full list with key details for each coin.
| Denomination | Value in AED | Material | Design Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Fil | AED 0.01 | Bronze-plated steel | Palm tree and dhow |
| 5 Fils | AED 0.05 | Bronze-plated steel | Crossed swords with palm tree |
| 10 Fils | AED 0.10 | Bronze-plated steel | Traditional dhow sailing vessel |
| 25 Fils | AED 0.25 | Nickel-plated steel | Arabian ibex |
| 50 Fils | AED 0.50 | Nickel-plated steel | Oil derrick |
| 1 Dirham | AED 1.00 | Bimetallic | UAE national emblem |
In practice, 1 fil and 5 fils coins rarely appear in everyday transactions. Most retail prices in the UAE round to the nearest 25 fils or half dirham. However, both small denominations remain legal tender and the Central Bank still mints them.
Security Features of UAE Dirham Notes
The Central Bank of the UAE includes multiple security features in each AED banknote to prevent counterfeiting. If you handle large amounts of UAE Dirham cash in a business setting, knowing these features helps you verify notes quickly.
Security Features on Higher UAE Dirham Denominations (AED 100 and Above)
First, higher-value notes carry the most advanced features. These include:
- Holographic strip: A shiny strip on the right side of the note shifts color when you tilt it. This feature is very difficult to reproduce accurately with standard printing equipment.
- Color-shifting ink: The denomination numeral in the corner changes color when the note tilts. It moves from gold to green on most denominations.
- Security thread: An embedded metallic thread runs vertically through the paper. Hold the note up to a light source and the thread appears as a solid, unbroken line.
- Watermark: Hold the note against a light and you can see the UAE falcon watermark and the denomination numeral in the paper itself.
- Raised print: Key text and design elements use raised ink that you can feel by running a finger across the surface.
- UV features: Under ultraviolet light, certain areas of the note glow, including the security thread and select design elements.
Security Features on Lower UAE Dirham Denominations (AED 5 to AED 50)
Lower-value notes include a simpler set of features. These are:
- A simplified security thread visible under light
- A watermark portrait visible when held to light
- Microprinting visible under magnification
How to Count UAE Dirham Accurately
For businesses and individuals handling large amounts of AED cash, a clear counting process saves time and reduces errors. Here is the most efficient approach for counting UAE Dirham denominations.
- First, separate all notes into denomination groups. Keep all AED 500 notes together, all AED 100 notes together, and so on.
- Next, count each group and record the quantity.
- Then enter the quantities into our free AED Money Counter to calculate the total automatically.
- Finally, verify the result by cross-checking one denomination group manually as a spot check.
For retail businesses that need to reconcile a cash drawer at the end of each shift, our free Cash Drawer Count Sheet supports AED denomination input. It calculates the closing balance, flags any discrepancy, and exports a PDF report for your records.
AED to USD Quick Reference
Because the UAE Dirham has a fixed peg to the US Dollar at 3.6725 AED per USD, the conversion always stays predictable. The table below gives quick reference values for common AED amounts.
| AED Amount | Approximate USD Value |
|---|---|
| AED 10 | ~$2.72 |
| AED 50 | ~$13.61 |
| AED 100 | ~$27.22 |
| AED 500 | ~$136.12 |
| AED 1,000 | ~$272.25 |
| AED 5,000 | ~$1,361.24 |
These values use the fixed peg rate and stay stable over time. For daily official rates, the Central Bank of the UAE publishes updated reference rates on its website. In addition, The UAE Cabinet provides official information on the Dirham’s monetary policy and legal tender status.
AED Quick-Count Reference for Businesses
This table shows how many notes of each denomination make up common totals. It is useful for preparing deposits or verifying cash counts quickly.
| Amount | In AED 1,000 notes | In AED 500 notes | In AED 100 notes | In AED 50 notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AED 1,000 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 20 |
| AED 5,000 | 5 | 10 | 50 | 100 |
| AED 10,000 | 10 | 20 | 100 | 200 |
| AED 50,000 | 50 | 100 | 500 | 1,000 |
For large cash deposits, our free Denomination Breakdown Calculator shows the most efficient note combination for any amount you enter. This saves time when organizing cash for a bank drop.
