Abu Dhabi- The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) has officially unveiled a new symbol for the national currency, the UAE Dirham, in a move that reflects the vision of the country’s leadership and the directives of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Presidential Court, and Chairman of the Central Bank Board of Directors. The initiative aims to further establish the UAE as a leading global financial hub.

New Currency Symbol and Progress on the Digital Dirham

The CBUAE also announced significant progress in the development of the Digital Dirham, one of the flagship initiatives under the Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) program launched in 2023. The program is designed to position the UAE as a regional and global leader in financial innovation and digital transformation.

The Digital Dirham is legally grounded under Federal Decree-Law No. 54 of 2023, which amended certain provisions of Federal Law No. 14 of 2018 regarding the Central Bank and the regulation of financial institutions and activities. This legal framework ensures that the Digital Dirham is recognized as a legal tender, alongside physical banknotes and coins.

A Secure and Efficient Digital Currency

The Digital Dirham will serve as a secure and efficient digital version of the national currency, aimed at reducing transaction costs and enhancing data privacy and processing speed. Individuals and businesses will be able to obtain the Digital Dirham through licensed financial institutions, including banks, exchange houses, and fintech companies. The retail phase of the Digital Dirham is expected to be launched in Q4 of 2025.

Key Features: Tokenisation and Smart Contracts

The Digital Dirham comes equipped with advanced features, including:

• Tokenisation: Allowing for digital asset segmentation, improved financial inclusion, and enhanced liquidity access.

• Smart Contracts: Enabling automatic execution and settlement of complex transactions involving multiple stages and parties.

A Symbol of Identity and Financial Stability

To reflect national pride and global ambition, the Central Bank introduced a new currency symbol “D”, derived from the word Dirham. The design features two horizontal lines inspired by the UAE flag, symbolizing financial and monetary stability.

For the Digital Dirham, the symbol is encircled and colored with UAE flag elements, representing the nation’s identity and its readiness to embrace a prosperous digital future.

Integrated Platform and Digital Wallet

The CBUAE has developed a secure and integrated platform for issuing, transacting, and managing the Digital Dirham. It includes a Digital Dirham Wallet, designed for ease of use by individuals and businesses alike, allowing for transactions such as retail and wholesale payments, cross-border transfers, cash withdrawals, recharges, and currency exchange — all in a seamless, user-friendly experience aligned with global best practices.

The platform also supports innovative financial solutions tailored to emerging use cases, driven by the UAE’s rapidly expanding digital economy. This is expected to create a more resilient and competitive financial system, bolstering the UAE’s position as a global center for digital payments.

Official Remarks

On this occasion, H.E. Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank, expressed pride in the progress made in the Digital Dirham Program, describing the launch of the new national currency symbol and the development of the Digital Dirham Wallet as a major leap toward realizing the CBUAE’s vision.

He emphasized that the Digital Dirham, powered by blockchain and advanced technologies, will enhance financial stability, inclusion, and system resilience, while also enabling compliance with anti-financial crime standards. It will support the creation of innovative digital financial products, reduce costs, and improve access to global markets.