Watch: UAE Central Bank warns of 8 mistakes when using new Dirham symbol

02/09/2025 03:58 AST

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) is once again drawing attention to the proper use of the new dirham symbol.

In a video posted today on its official X account, the bank highlighted the dos and don'ts that residents, businesses, and retailers need to follow.

"As every symbol holds value, every use carries responsibility," the CBUAE noted in the video, which outlined eight common mistakes to avoid:

Wrong placement - The symbol must always be before the numeral, never after.

No spacing issues - Leave sufficient space between the symbol and the number.

No distortion - Do not stretch, skew, or alter the shape.

Respect structure - Maintain its original geometric proportions.

Height matters - Match the symbol's height to the numeral's height.

Text direction - Ensure the symbol aligns with the text's direction.

Clear surrounding space - Leave one-third of its height as empty space around it.

Strong contrast - Keep enough color contrast against the background.

Where it belongs
Invoices, receipts, and POS systems - Always placed before the numeral, never alongside "AED" or "Dh."

Retail and price tags - To be displayed before product prices.

Digital platforms - Consistent alignment across mobile apps, banking portals, and websites.

Where it shouldn't be used
In company logos, app icons, or decorative branding.

Alongside "AED" or "Dh" abbreviations.

In legal or formal writing where the word "Dirhams" must be spelled out.

Why it matters now
The dirham's new symbol, unveiled in March 2025, is a major step toward giving the UAE's currency a unified global shorthand like the $, £, and ?. But the symbol has yet to be approved by Unicode, meaning it cannot be typed across all devices and platforms just yet.

Gulfnews