🇦🇪🪙 The New UAE Dirham Symbol & Digital Dirham Wallet

Download the UAE Dirham (AED) symbol, official UAECB guidelines, press release, custom AED font, and vector files.

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Meet the new UAE Dirham

No, it’s not the Dom Coin (I wish! 😆)

It’s the new UAE Dirham currency symbol. The Central Bank of the UAE just unveiled the new symbol for the Dirham, marking a big step in its push to strengthen the currency’s global standing.

Designed for both physical and digital use, the new symbol reflects stability and national identity, incorporating elements inspired by the UAE flag.

More than just a design update, this move ties into the country’s broader financial ambitions - including the Digital Dirham, a blockchain-powered currency set to roll out later this year. With this, the UAE is doubling down on its vision to become a global leader in digital finance.

“Inspired by National Identity. Rooted in the essence of the UAE’s national identity, this concept reimagines the lines of the flag, seamlessly integrating them into the design of the letter “D”, for Dirham. The result is a powerful emblem of strength, unity, and progress.

UAE Central Bank

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Overall guidelines

If you are a fintech that operates in the 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates (or is in the process of entering the market), you will be expected to use the new symbol in your product instead of the ISO code “AED”.

The guidelines are simple:

• Always left-align the symbol to the numerals (even on an RTL layout).

• Keep a space between the symbol and the numerals.

• Do not stretch or alter the geometry of the symbol (this goes without saying).

The symbol currently comes in one thickness, but it’s expected that font designers will be allowed to create various weights for better integration into different font styles, allowing for more customisation in designs.

⬇️ Here is the official guideline document:

⬇️ And here is the official symbol:

⬇️ UAE Central Bank Press Release

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Font support for currency symbols

We rarely think about currency symbols - they just work. Open any Google Font, and you’ll see $ ¥ € seamlessly included.

That’s because fonts rely on Unicode, a universal encoding standard managed by a consortium of major tech players like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Adobe, Meta, and IBM. When designers create fonts, they assign characters to Unicode to ensure proper display across systems.

💬 The Challenge With the New UAE Dirham Symbol

Unlike established currency symbols, the new UAE Dirham symbol isn’t yet part of Unicode.

Getting a symbol approved is a slow process - the most recent addition was the Kyrgyzstani som in 2021. Even after approval, font adoption lags. Case in point: Bitcoin’s symbol was approved in 2017, yet it’s still missing from many fonts today.

➡️ Bottom line: It’ll be a while before you can just type the Dirham symbol in your favourite font.

A Quick Fix: The Custom AED Font 🎉

To help anyone transition in using the new UAE Dirham symbol, I’ve created a handy font that automatically converts any mention of AED to the new symbol.

How It Works

• The custom font contains only three characters: A, E, and D.

• A & E are blank, while D contains the new symbol.

• When assigned to the AED letters, the new symbol automatically appears - without changing the UI structure.

• If the font fails to load (e.g., in emails), AED remains as a readable fallback.

This quick workaround ensures seamless integration while we wait for official Unicode support.

Note: it is also possible to add the symbol in your existing font, not as an official currency symbol but by adding it as a custom character. But for this you might need the help of a typographer.

You can download the custom font here:

Be sure to forward this email to your design & engineering team. It will save them hours of work. 🚀

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I write independent, unbiased, industry-leading articles, featuring interviews with fintech leaders, CEOs, and experts across technology, product design, strategy, and more. I also share expert insights on industry trends, helping you stay ahead in fintech and digital banking.

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The Digital Dirham Wallet App

As part of the new UAE National Currency Symbol, the Central Bank of the UAE has announced the completion of the design phase for the Digital Dirham Wallet App.

This secure and integrated digital wallet will allow individuals and businesses to transact seamlessly using the Digital Dirham - a blockchain-powered, tokenised version of the national currency.

Designed for efficiency, security, and inclusivity, the wallet supports retail and wholesale payments, cross-border transactions, money transfers, and instant smart contract execution.

With advanced encryption and compliance with global financial standards, the Digital Dirham Wallet aims to reinforce the UAE’s position as a leading fintech hub while unlocking new opportunities for businesses and consumers in the digital economy.

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one-fs x Dubai AI Festival

Another major partnership secured for one-fs! 🕺🚀

The Dubai AI Festival, happening on 23-24 April 2025, is a flagship AI event bringing together:

🦄 20+ global unicorns revolutionising industries with cutting-edge AI innovations

🌎 20+ government agencies/ministries collaborating to drive AI adoption in governance

💼 20+ global enterprises presenting transformative AI solutions

💵 20+ top venture capitalists exploring AI investment opportunities

It’s an honour for one-fs to be selected as a partner for this event, organised by the Dubai AI Campus, in collaboration with the DIFC and the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence.

I’m particularly excited about this event’s strong AI & Fintech focus - two of my key areas of interest. Stay tuned for exclusive insights!

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About Dom Monhardt, founder of one-fs.com

I am a French technologist and product leader living in Dubai, with 15+ years of experience in building cutting-edge and innovative digital experiences.

I am interested in the intersection of business, design, and technology and am deeply passionate about the fintech and digital banking world.