On March 27, 2025, the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) introduced a new symbol for the UAE Dirham, marking a further step in the evolving financial landscape in the UAE.
In the same announcement, the CBUAE highlighted key progress in the rollout of the Digital Dirham - an essential part of the Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) Programme launched in 2023. This initiative aims to position the UAE at the forefront of financial innovation and digital infrastructure.
The Digital Dirham will be made available through licensed financial institutions - including banks, exchange houses, finance firms, and fintechs - based on specific use cases. Launch of the Digital Dirham for the retail sector is expected in Q4 2025 and separate updates from our Banking & Finance team will be issued in due course. Please contact Catriona McDevitt, our Head of Banking & Finance, if you would like to know more.
What to Expect from the Digital Dirham:
- Tokenisation: Supports the fractional ownership of digital assets, helping expand access to liquidity and promote financial inclusion.
- Smart Contracts: Enables automated, instant settlement of complex transactions—including those involving multiple parties or conditional terms.
To support the rollout of the Digital Dirham, the CBUAE has developed a secure, integrated platform designed to manage the currency’s issuance, circulation, and use. Central to this platform is the Digital Dirham wallet.
Whether for individuals or businesses, the Digital Dirham wallet emphasises user convenience and enables a wide range of financial transactions including retail, wholesale, and cross-border payments, as well as transfers, withdrawals, top-ups, and redemptions in alignment with global best practices.
Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the CBUAE, stated that
“It is anticipated that the Digital Dirham as a blockchain based platform with cutting edge capabilities shall substantially enhance financial stability, inclusion, resilience, and combatting financial crime. It will further enable the development of innovative digital products, services, and new business models, while reducing cost and increasing access to international markets.”
From an IP perspective, the design of the new symbol in both physical and digital forms (see below) offers an interesting insight into the elements of each symbol and why they were selected.
Physical Form Symbol
Digital Form Symbol
According to the CBUAE, the particular depiction of the Physical Form Symbol as an international symbol representing the UAE’s physical currency was selected as a derivative of the English name ‘Dirham’ and incorporates two horizontal lines that “embody the stability of the UAE Dirham and inspired by the UAE flag, to enhance financial and monetary stability”.
The depiction of the Digital Form Symbol for the Digital Dirham mirrors the elements of the Physical Form Symbol physical currency symbol but with the addition of a circle (representing the UAE’s vision for a strong and innovative financial future) and using the colours of the UAE flag to “reflect pride and national identity”.
The announcement of these new currency symbols was in conjunction with the CBUAE’s recent adoption of the FX Global Code, making it the first central bank in the Arab region to join this international framework.
These steps reflect the UAE’s commitment to reinforcing trust, transparency, and ethical standards in the foreign exchange market, reinforces the UAE’s position as a global leader in digital payments and financial innovation, and supports the broader vision of establishing the UAE Dirham as a globally recognised currency by promoting sound market practices and professional conduct in currency trading.