UAE dirham
Dirham history
The UAE is a federal monarchy consisting of 7 emirates. Each
emirate, in turn, is an absolute monarchy. The president of the UAE is
traditionally the sheikh of the largest emirate, Abu Dhabi. The position of
prime minister is assigned to the sheikh of the second largest emirate, Dubai.
The highest governing body is the Supreme Council of the Union, consisting of
seven sheikhs of all seven emirates.
After gaining independence, the task
of establishing a national currency of the United Arab Emirates arose. It was
decided to name the local currency in honor of the ancient Arabic coin - the
dirham, consisting of 100 fils. The issuer of the dirham was the Central Bank of
the United Arab Emirates. The first issue of coins and banknotes of the UAE took
place in 1973. The dirham replaced the
Indian rupee,
the Persian Gulf rupee, the
Saudi riyal, the
money of Bahrain and
Qatar.
The
first issue of the dirham included coins in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50
fils, as well as 1 dirham. The 1, 5 and 10 fils were minted in bronze, while the
higher denominations were minted in copper-nickel.
The 1 dirham coin
depicts a traditional Arabic coffee pot, the dallah, which is a symbol of the
UAE. It is in this vessel, and not in a Turk, that the Arabs brewed and brew
their favorite drink – coffee.
UAE dirham coins with values
Circulation coins
1 dirham 1973-1989
copper-nickel
١ درهم / الامارات العربية المتحدة / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
1987-1407 / Dallah (Arabian coffee pot)
Coin value <$US1
1 dirham 1996-2012
copper-nickel
١ درهم / الامارات العربية المتحدة / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
2012-1432 / Dallah (Arabian coffee pot)
Coin value <$US1
1 dirham since 2012
nickel plated steel
١ درهم / الامارات العربية المتحدة / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
2014-1435 / Dallah (Arabian coffee pot)
Coin value <$US1
Commemorative coins
1 dirham 1986
copper-nickel
27th Chess Olympiad in Dubai
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
27th CHESS OLYMPIAD DUBAI '86 / Chess pieces and Olympic rings
Coin value ~ US$15-20
1 dirham 1987
copper-nickel
25th Anniversary - Offshore Oil Drilling
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
ADNA-OPCO 25 YEARS OF PRODUCTION 1962-1987 / Offshore oil drilling rig
Coin value ~ US$10-15
1 dirham 1987
copper-nickel
10th Anniversary - al-Ain University
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Emblem above map and book within radiant design
Coin value ~ US$10-15
1 dirham 1991
copper-nickel
U.A.E. Soccer Team - Qualification for WC - 1990
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Stylized winged soccer player
Coin value ~ US$20-25
1 dirham 1998
copper-nickel
15th Anniversary of Women's Association
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
1998 / 1983 / logo
Coin value ~ US$5-7
1 dirham 1998
copper-nickel
10th Anniversary - College of Technology
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
HIOHER COLLEGES OF TECHNOLOGY TEN YEARS OF EXCELLENCE / 1998-1988 / Bird viewed through window frame
Coin value ~ US$3-5
1 dirham 1998
copper-nickel
35th Anniversary of Dubai National Bank
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
1963 / 1998 / THE NATIONAL BANK OF DUBAI 35th ANNIVERSARY / Towered bank building
Coin value ~ US$3-4
1 dirham 1998
copper-nickel
Sharjah Cultural City
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
88 SHARJAH CULTURAL CAPITAL / Stylized flame within beaded circle
Coin value ~ US$8-12
1 dirham 1999
copper-nickel
25 Years - Oil Production on Abu Al Bukhoosh Oil Field
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
25 YEARS OF PRODUCTION TOTAL ABU AL BUKHOOSH / Offshore oil drilling rig
Coin value ~ US$8-12
1 dirham 1999
copper-nickel
Sheikh Zayed
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
1430 / Square design
Coin value ~ US$4-5
1 dirham 2000
copper-nickel
25th Anniversary - Dubai Islamic Bank
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
DUBAI ISLAMIC BANK / 2000 25 1975 / Bank name within circle
Coin value ~ US$10-15
1 dirham 2000
copper-nickel
25th Anniversary - General Women’s Union
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
GENERAL WOMEN'S UNION / 1975-2000 / Stylized gazelle
Coin value ~ US$8-12
1 dirham 2001
copper-nickel
25th Anniversary - Armed Forces Unification
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
2001 1976 / Heraldic eagle within rope wreath
Coin value ~ US$8-12
1 dirham 2003
copper-nickel
50 Years of Formal Education
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
50 / 1953 2003 / Symbolic design
Coin value ~ US$4-6
1 dirham 2003
copper-nickel
40th Anniversary of Crude Oil Exports
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
ADCO FORTH ANNIVERSARY OF 1st OFSHORE CRUDE OIL SHIPMENT 2003 / Logo
Coin value ~ US$10-15
1 dirham 2003
copper-nickel
WBG and IMF meeting in Dubai 2003
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
DUBAI 2003 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES / Mosaic arc
Coin value ~ US$3-4
1 dirham 2003
copper-nickel
35th Anniversary of Abu-Dhabi National Bank
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
1968-2003 / 35 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE / NATIONAL BANK OF ABU DHABI / Bank building tower
Coin value ~ US$3-4
1 dirham 2004
copper-nickel
First Gulf Bank 25th Anniversary
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
1979-2004 / 25 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE / FIRST GULF BANK / Bank logo
Coin value ~ US$3-4
1 dirham 2005
copper-nickel
Honoring Mother of Nations
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
2005 HONORING - MOTHER OF THE NATION / SHEIKHA FATIMA BINT MUBARAK / Inscription in flower bud at center
Coin value ~ US$3-4
1 dirham 2006
copper-nickel
50th Anniversary of Dubai police
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
DUBAI POLICE GOLDEN JUBILEE / 1906-2006 / Police badge in center
Coin value ~ US$3-4
1 dirham 2007
copper-nickel
30th Anniversary of Zakum Development Co
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
ZADCO / 1977 2007 / THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF ZAKUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY / logo
Coin value ~ US$5-7
1 dirham 2007
copper-nickel
50th Anniversary of Abu-Dhabi Police
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
50 / 1967-2007 / ABU DHABI POLICE GOLDEN JUBILEE
Coin value ~ US$3-4
1 dirham 2007
copper-nickel
75th Anniversary of Sharjah Airport
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
SHARJAH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT / 1932-2007 / 75th ANNIVERSARY / Three birds in flight under arc
Coin value ~ US$3-4
1 dirham 2007
copper-nickel
30th Anniversary of Zakum Development Co
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
30 ADGAS 1977-2007 / 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1ST LNG SHIPMENT / logo
Coin value ~ US$4-6
1 dirham 2007
copper-nickel
10th Anniversary of the Hamdan Bin Rashid Award for Distinguished Academic Performance
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
10 2007-1998 / 10 below pen with tip touching star
Coin value ~ US$4-6
1 dirham 2007
copper-nickel
U.A.E. Boy Scouts, 50th Anniversary
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
50 YEARS / 2007 1957 / UAE SCOUT GOLDEN JUBILEE / Scout Fleur-de-lis within rope circle
Coin value ~ US$3-4
1 dirham 2008
copper-nickel
National Bank of Abu Dhabi, 40th Anniversary
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
40 1968 2008 / NATIONAL BANK OF ABU DHABI
Coin value ~ US$3-4
1 dirham 2009
copper-nickel
5th Anniversary of International Financial Centre in Dubai
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF SUCCESS / 2004-2009 / DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE
Coin value ~ US$3-4
1 dirham 2009
copper-nickel
World Environment Day
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 5 JUNE 2009 / 2009 / Map of the Mid East and Africa regions
Coin value ~ US$4-5
1 dirham 2010
copper-nickel
I love UAE
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
I LOVE UAE / ribbon in the shape of a heart
Coin value ~ US$4-5
1 dirham 2012
nickel plated steel
50th Anniversary of Oil Exports
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
50 1952-2012 / ADMA / THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY THE FIRST SHIPMENT OF OIL / oil derrick
Coin value ~ US$4-5
1 dirham 2015
nickel plated steel
Prince Hamdam
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Coin value ~ US$3-4
1 dirham 2015
nickel plated steel
50th Anniversary of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
GOLDEN JUBILEE / DUBAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY / building of organization
Coin value ~ US$3-4
1 dirham 2015
nickel plated steel
20th Anniversary of Global Village park in Dubai
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
GLOBAL VILLAGE / 20TH SESON CELEBRATIONS / fireworks
Coin value ~ US$3-4
1 dirham 2017
nickel plated steel
Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Program for Excellence and Social Creativity
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
2017 H.H. SHEIKHA FATIMA PROGRAM EXCELLENCE AND SOCIAL CREATIVITY
Coin value ~ US$3-4
1 dirham 2017
nickel plated steel
50th Anniversary of Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce and Industry
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
50 GOLDEN JUBILEE / 1967-2017 / RAK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY / building of organization
Coin value ~ US$3-4
1 dirham 2017
nickel plated steel
60th Anniversary of Abu Dhabi Police
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
SECURITY & SAFITY 1957-2017 /SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ABU DHABI POLICE
Coin value ~ US$3-4
1 dirham 2018
nickel plated steel
100 years since the birth of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (First President of UAE)
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
YEAR OF ZAYED / 2018 1918
Coin value ~ US$3-4
1 dirham 2019
nickel plated steel
Asian soccer cup in UAE
1 / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
2019 / AFC ASIAN CUP UAE 2019 / boy in traditional dress with eagle and ball
Coin value ~ US$3-4