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About the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)

What Is the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)?

The United Arab Emirates Dirham, abbreviated as AED and locally referred to as Dh (singular) or Dhs (plural), is the sole legal tender in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah. The symbol for the United Arab Emirates Dirham is د.إ, which is derived from its Arabic name "درهم إماراتي". The dirham, subdivided into 100 fils, is pegged to the United States Dollar at a rate of approximately 3.67 AED to 1 USD. x

The United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) is issued by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates. The Central Bank is responsible for managing the currency, including its design, production, and distribution. It also oversees the monetary and financial stability of the currency, along with implementing monetary policies and maintaining foreign reserves.

What Is the History of AED?

The term 'dirham' traces its origins to the Greek drachma. Before 1966, the Gulf rupee, pegged to the Indian rupee, was in use across the emirates. Following India's devaluation of the Gulf rupee, the UAE, then the Trucial States, adopted various currencies, including the Qatar and Dubai riyal and the Bahraini dinar. In 1973, the UAE dirham was established as the unified currency, replacing the Bahraini dinar in Abu Dhabi and the Qatar and Dubai riyal in other emirates.

Notes and Coins of AED

The UAE introduced coins in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 fils, and 1 dirham in 1973. These coins feature Eastern Arabic numerals and Arabic text. The smaller denominations (1, 5, and 10 fils) are less commonly used, leading to rounding of amounts in transactions. The UAE has also issued commemorative coins for various events.

Banknotes were introduced in 1973 in denominations ranging from 1 to 1000 dirhams. Over the years, new series have been released, with the latest including polymer notes to commemorate significant national events. These notes feature Arabic texts and Eastern Arabic numerals on the obverse, and English texts with Arabic numerals on the reverse.

Exchange Rates and International Use

Since 1978, the dirham has been officially pegged to the IMF's special drawing rights (SDRs), but in practice, it has been closely tied to the U.S. dollar. This pegging ensures a stable exchange rate, making the AED a reliable currency for international trade and finance.

Is AED a Stable Currency?

The United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) is considered a stable currency, largely due to its peg to the US Dollar at a fixed rate of about 3.67 AED to 1 USD, which ensures consistent exchange rates and protects it from market volatility. The UAE's strong and diverse economy, with significant income from oil, trade, tourism, and finance, supports the dirham's stability. The country's substantial foreign currency reserves further strengthen its financial position. The Central Bank of the UAE plays a crucial role in maintaining this stability through effective monetary policies and banking sector regulation. Additionally, the UAE's prominent economic and political role in the Middle East enhances confidence in the dirham, contributing to its reliability and stability as a currency.

Is AED Pegged to USD?

Yes, the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) is pegged to the United States Dollar (USD). The peg has been in place since the early 1970s. Under this arrangement, the value of the AED is fixed in terms of the USD, and the Central Bank of the UAE maintains this fixed exchange rate by ensuring that it holds sufficient foreign exchange reserves, primarily in USD, to support the peg. This means that the AED has a set exchange rate against the USD, and fluctuations in the value of the dollar directly impact the value of the dirham.