UAE Dirham Symbol — Copy & Paste
New official symbol (U+20C3) launched 27 March 2025 by UAE Central Bank. Click any box below to copy instantly.
Click any symbol to copy
Common cheque & invoice text — click to copy
Is this symbol showing correctly on your screen?
The new Dirham symbol (U+20C3) is in Unicode 18.0 beta. Most devices do not yet have font support — it will show as a blank box □ until Unicode 18.0 fonts roll out in late 2026. Until then, AED and Dirhams Only remain the accepted formats on all UAE cheques and invoices.
The New Symbol — What It Looks Like & Why It Was Created
On 27 March 2025, the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) unveiled the new official UAE Dirham symbol as part of its initiative to position the dirham as a major global currency.
Design
The letter D with two horizontal lines with curved ends — similar in concept to $ (dollar) or € (euro). The two lines represent stability and pay homage to the UAE national flag.
Colors (official)
UAE flag colors: Green, White, and Black. For digital and print use, the Central Bank has approved specific color specifications.
Unicode
Codepoint: U+20C3
Included in Unicode 18.0 (final release: September 2026)
UAE is second Arab country to get an official currency symbol (after Saudi Arabia).
Position
Placed before the amount: 1,250 (same as $ or €). Do NOT place it after the number. For cheque amount lines, write Dirhams Only in full until software is updated.
When Will the Symbol Appear on Keyboards?
Unicode 18.0 Final Release
Unicode 18.0 beta was published on 27 May 2026 — it includes U+20C3 (Dirham), plus the Omani Rial and Saudi Riyal symbols. The final release is scheduled for September 2026. Once released, device manufacturers and OS vendors (Apple, Google, Microsoft) will add the symbol to their keyboards in subsequent updates.
Where it will appear on keyboard: Above the 6 key — replacing the ^ (caret) character on UAE Arabic and English keyboard layouts.
How to Type / Use the New Dirham Symbol Now
Until Unicode 18.0 keyboards roll out (September 2026+), use one of these methods:
Method 1 — HTML (for developers & websites)
Method 2 — Windows (Character Map / Alt code)
- Press Win + R, type
charmap, press Enter - In Character Map, go to the "Currency Symbols" range (Unicode 2000-20FF)
- Find U+20C3 — select, click Copy, paste with Ctrl+V
- Alternatively: in any app press 20C3 then Alt+X in MS Word (converts Unicode hex to character)
Method 3 — iPhone / Android
The symbol is not yet in iPhone or Android keyboards (coming with Unicode 18.0 rollout, late 2026). Until then, copy the symbol from this page and paste wherever needed. You can add it to your iPhone Text Replacement: Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement > add "aed" → "".
UAE Central Bank: 8 Mistakes to Avoid with the New Symbol
The UAE Central Bank issued official guidelines warning against these common errors:
Wrong position: Do not write the symbol after the amount (100 is correct — 100 is wrong)
Old abbreviations as substitute: Dh and DHS should not replace the new symbol in formal contexts — use or AED
Altering the design: Do not modify the two-line design, add extra elements, or distort proportions
Wrong colors: In color contexts, use only the approved UAE flag color scheme (green, white, black)
Mixing with Arabic symbol: Do not use د.إ and interchangeably in the same document — pick one style
Unofficial variations: Do not use any unofficial or community-designed versions of the symbol
Not spacing correctly: Put a thin space between the symbol and the amount: 1,250 (not 1250 as one block)
On cheques: Until cheque printing software is updated to use , writing Dirhams Only in full is still accepted and required by UAE banks
Old vs New: Complete Dirham Symbol Reference
| Symbol | Type | Still Valid? | Use On Cheques? |
|---|---|---|---|
| | NEW official symbol (U+20C3) | Yes — preferred | Pending software updates |
| AED | ISO 4217 currency code | Yes — always valid | Yes |
| Dh | Common English shorthand | Informal use only | Not recommended |
| د.إ | Arabic symbol | Arabic documents only | Arabic cheques only |
| Dirhams Only | Written in full (cheque format) | Yes — required | Yes — required |
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the new UAE Dirham symbol launched?
The new official UAE Dirham symbol (, U+20C3) was unveiled by the Central Bank of the UAE on 27 March 2025, to coincide with its initiative to make the dirham a recognised global currency and its launch of the Digital Dirham.
What does the new Dirham symbol look like?
The new symbol looks like the letter D with two horizontal lines with curved ends running through it: . The design is inspired by the UAE national flag. Similar in concept to the Dollar sign ($) or Euro sign (€).
Does the new symbol replace AED?
No. AED remains the official ISO 4217 currency code used internationally, in banking, and on all cheques. The new symbol is a visual symbol like $ or € — it is used alongside AED, not as a replacement. For UAE bank cheques, writing Dirhams Only in full remains required.
Will cheque printing software be updated to use the new symbol?
Yes, eventually. Once Unicode 18.0 fonts are widely adopted (after September 2026), cheque printing software will begin supporting the symbol. Until then, current UAE bank cheque format requires the amount in words: e.g. Five Thousand Dirhams Only. Our cheque printing software will be updated when UAE bank guidelines are formalised.
Is the new Dirham symbol Unicode U+20C3?
Yes. The Unicode Consortium assigned U+20C3 to the new Emirati Dirham Sign. It was included in Unicode 18.0 beta (May 2026) and the final release is scheduled for September 2026. HTML entity: ⃃
Need to convert AED amounts to words for cheques?
Until cheque software supports the new symbol, the written format remains: Five Thousand Dirhams Only. Our free converter handles it instantly.
Free AED to Words Converter →