United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) Currency Guide

Discover everything you need to know about the united arab emirates dirham, including its history, value, and how it plays a role in the economy.

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Cassidy Rush is a writer with a background in careers, business, and education. She covers international finance news and stories for Remitly.
  • The United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) is the official currency of the United Arab Emirates. It started in 1973 and breaks down into 100 fils coins.
  • The currency of the united arab emirates is set to the United States Dollar. The exchange rate is always 3.6725 AED to 1 USD so it stays stable.
  • The Emirati dirham comes from older money in the area, like the Gulf rupee and the Dubai riyal. This shows the rich story of money in united arab emirates.
  • New polymer banknotes have come out, like the new look of the 50 AED note. These have better safety features, such as special watermarks that use new technology.
  • There are many types of dirham coins used in united arab emirates. The coins that most people see are between Dh1 and 50 fils. Coins with smaller values are not used much.

Introduction

The United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) is the official currency of the United Arab Emirates. It stands for the country’s economic strength and history. People all over the united arab emirates use the dirham every day. The currency ties the country’s past with now because it is linked to the united states dollar. This keeps its exchange rate steady.

If you travel for work or fun, knowing about the AED can help you when you pay for things. It also helps you better understand your finances. The AED is a strong currency of the united arab emirates in the world of money. Let’s look at why this currency is so important in today’s global market.

Understanding the UAE Dirham

The UAE dirham (AED) is important for the UAE economy. It is linked to the USD at a rate of 3.6725 AED. This peg helps keep the money steady in global trade and keeps the power of your money strong. The dirham is split into 100 fils, which lets people use the money in smaller amounts. But you do not see 1 fils coins much these days.

If you like collecting or care about history, you might be interested in commemorative dirham coins. They remember big moments and leaders in the UAE. The new notes are made from polymer, which makes them safer and harder to copy. These changes show how the UAE wants to stay modern with the uae dirham, different dirham coins, and all denominations including fils coins.

Origin and History of the AED

The story of the Emirati dirham started with the Gulf rupee, which people used in the region before. In 1966, when India made the Gulf rupee less valuable, the Trucial States began to use other money like the Dubai riyal and Bahraini dinar. But by 1973, the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) was brought in. This new money helped join all the emirates using one type of currency.

The word “dirham” comes from the Greek word “drakhmé.” This shows the long history of trade, even during the time of the Ottoman Empire. The country also started using fils coins and dirham notes. These made the dirham strong in the UAE’s market.

If you want to know more about the past, the Wayback Machine lets you see how the UAE’s economy changed over time. You can also find big moments, like commemorative coins made for the country’s important days. All of this helped the united emirates have a strong money system today.

Current Economic Significance

Today, the UAE Dirham (AED) is more than just a national currency. It is also a sign of steady growth in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Its fixed exchange rate to the US Dollar (USD), set at 3.6725 AED, helps boost trust in trade, money transfer, and deals with others around the world.

The AED’s peg to the USD gives many businesses and workplaces in the UAE a stable setup. They do not have to stress about sudden rate changes. Tourism, trade, and the money transfer sector all benefit from this link and find it easier to work, do business, and plan for the future.

The way the AED connects with other money all over, like the Indian Rupee (INR) and the Saudi Riyal, shows just how important the dirham is. If you need to change the emirati dirham to other coins like USD, INR, or Saudi Riyal for travel, shopping, or other local uses, the UAE dirham stays key. It keeps showing its use in both local markets and around the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the symbol for the UAE Dirham?

The currency symbol for the UAE Dirham is د.إ. This comes from Arabic writing. You may also see Dh used when people do transactions. It stands for the name dirham. In 2025, a new symbol was shown for AED. It is a Latin letter D with two horizontal lines. This new look is made to show a modern style for the UAE Dirham.

How does AED compare to USD in value?

The UAE Dirham (AED) keeps a steady exchange rate with the United States Dollar (USD). The fixed rate is 3.6725 AED to 1 USD. This set rate helps protect you from bad exchange rates. It also brings predictability for people and businesses using the US Dollar in the UAE or anywhere else in the world.

What are common denominations of AED in circulation?

The AED has many types of dirham coins and banknotes. People in the UAE often use dirham coins like Dh1, 50 fils, and 25 fils. It is not easy to find 1, 5, and 10 fils coins because these fils coins are rare. The different denominations help people with all their daily transactions. They let people pay the exact amount when they need to in the UAE.