On Monday, the UAE Central Bank, which is officially known as the Central Bank of the UAE or CBUAE rolled out a brand new 100 dirham banknote. This is made using a sophisticated kind of polymer. Also, it has advanced security and design features.
The new banknote started hitting the market yesterday. The government has made sure that the bank notes are immediately available to all and acceptable for all retail transactions. Exchange companies, along with banks, have already readied their machines for the notes. They have also updated their note-counting machines to make sure that there are no discrepancies in accepting the polymer notes vs. the old existing paper ones. The value of all currency has been legal tender since 1971. Before that, currencies were backed by the dollar and the dollar by gold. Since then, it has been fiat, legal tender.
Great Color Combinations
The new design is made using different kinds of red. The existing colour combinations have been maintained by the Central Bank.
Also, the design includes the national branding of the United Arab Emirates. The use of inscriptions and drawings was done with the latest and most cutting edge of printing technologies.
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On the front side of this new 100 dirham bank note you have the Um Al Quwain National fort. This icon of the United Arab Emirates connects the present of the country with the desert past of nomadic living, camels and wide open sky.
The back side shows the Port of Fujairah. This is one of the largest and most popular in the country. Even though it is not as well known as its more popular counterpart in Dubai, it is still a great icon of the UAE. Also, the bank notes highlight something that most expats are not aware of. The UAE is not all about oil. Abu Dhabi is oil-rich. The other Emirates, including Dubai, are built on commerce, ports, and trading. Contrary to popular belief, a Sheikh in Dubai is more likely or not connected to things like real estate than having a fortune rooted in the fossil fuel industry.
Etihad Rail on the notes
What is more, the 100 dirham bill also includes the Etihad Rail. This is the railway network of the United Arab Emirates that links all the major seven Sheikhdoms that make up the UAE with the rest of the GCC or Gulf Cooperation Council. The railway links connect the country together. The most reliable way to move people and goods around the country and the wider GCC region continues to be the country’s railway network, which is becoming more important by the day.
The aim of these new bank notes is to tell the Emirari story to the world. This is the third issuance and a part of the National Currency Project. The UAE today is at the crossroads of east and west and connects people from all over the world, be it through business, international workers and of course the national carriers Etihad and Emirates.
Better Security Features
To enhance consumers’ confidence and combat counterfeiting, the Dh100 banknote incorporates advanced security features, including modern technologies such as SPARK Flow DIMENSIONS and multi-colored security chip technology known as KINEGRAM COLORS.
Polymer banknotes are more durable and sustainable than traditional paper banknotes, lasting two or more times longer in circulation. In this issue, the CBUAE maintained its consideration of all banknote users by adding prominent Braille symbols to help blind and visually impaired consumers identify the banknote’s value.
The Central Bank of the UAE won awards for having the best banknotes in 2025 and 2023. The designs have great security features to make sure that these are not able to be fake.
Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the CBUAE, said, “The new Dh100 banknote reflects our commitment to the leadership’s vision for a sustainable future through initiatives and achievements that support Net Zero and enhance the nation’s financial competitiveness. He added, “Its design embodies the country’s ambitious aspirations for future progress and prosperity while honoring its historical and cultural heritage. We are pleased to announce this special issue in conjunction with the Eid Al Fitr celebrations.”
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