UAE issues new Dhs1,000 banknote with innovative designs and modern security features

In line with the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership, the UAE's strategy and future aspirations, and as part of the UAE’s 51st anniversary celebrations, the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has launched a new banknote of AED1000 denomination, made of polymer and using innovative designs and advanced security features.

The issuance of the new Dhs1,000 banknote, which is the fourth in the Third Issuance of the National Currency Project, comes within the framework of the Central Bank's approach to improve the financial sector in the UAE.

In the design of the new banknote, the CBUAE was keen to highlight the spirit of the union and the success story of the UAE, using images along with cultural and development symbols that reflect the pioneering global achievements of the UAE, which boosted its position amongst developed countries in a record time.

The front side of the new banknote depicts the image of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, next to a model of a space shuttle. This was inspired by the meeting of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan with the pioneers of the American space agency NASA in 1976, to express the ambitions of the founding leader to position the UAE amongst the pioneering explorers of the space.

This ambition was achieved in the Emirates Mars Mission "Hope Probe" journey in 2021, and it was embodied in the new banknote by placing the image entitled "Emirates Mission to Explore Mars - the Hope Probe” at the top of the banknote, left of late Sheikh Zayed image, to showcase the UAE’s unique global position in space science and industry.

This dream was also reflected in the image of an astronaut added as a security mark that appears on both sides of the banknote, to express the arrival of the first Emirati astronaut to the space.

The Central Bank was also keen to focus on another global achievement for the UAE, by placing an image of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi at the back side of the new banknote. The Plant will play a key role in diversifying energy sources in the country, reduce carbon emissions and hence enable the UAE to advance further in meeting its international obligations in this regard.

The new Dhs1,000 banknote highlights CBUAE’s continuous efforts to adopt sustainable practices by using recyclable polymer material, which is one of today’s top modern elements in the banknotes production. They are more durable and sustainable than traditional paper banknotes, lasting two or more times longer in circulation.  

The design of this new banknote contains distinctive aesthetic characteristics, with different shades of brown. The CBUAE preserved the colour characteristics of the same denomination banknote currently in circulation to make it easy for the public to identify, in addition to the fluorescent blue marks of the UAE nation brand in the centre, and drawings and inscriptions created using advanced intaglio printing techniques.

Furthermore, the CBUAE is the first in GCC and MENA regions to issue the largest multi-coloured KINEGRAM surface applied foil stripe in the new banknote issue. This comes in line with its efforts to enhance consumers’ confidence and to combat counterfeiting of the national currency, making the UAE the first country in GCC and MENA regions to issue the largest of its kind surface applied foil stripe in banknotes.

In this issue, the CBUAE maintained its consideration of all banknote users by adding prominent symbols in Braille to help blind and visually impaired consumers to identify the banknote’s value.

The new banknote will be available in Central Bank branches and ATMs in the first half of 2023. The current Dhs1,000  note will continue to be in circulation, as a banknote whose value is guaranteed by law.

On this occasion,  Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the CBUAE, said: "The issuance of the new Dhs1,000  banknote comes under   the vision of UAE’s President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to keep-up with the comprehensive development our country is witnessing, and represent UAE’s global achievements and successes, as well as highlight its future ambitions in various sectors.”

He added: "We work in accordance with the vision of our wise leadership, and the directives of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Presidential Court, and Chairman of the CBUAE Board of Directors, in transforming strategic plans, businesses and various projects into reality.

“This comes in line with our aim to develop the financial sector in the country, and realise CBUAE’s vision to be among the top central banks globally in promoting monetary and financial stability, supporting the UAE’s competitiveness and to boost the dirham’s position as an international currency.”