2026-05-15 · 6 min read
How to Print Cheques in UAE: Step-by-Step Guide
Printing cheques manually in the UAE is a time-consuming process prone to errors. With the right cheque printing setup, businesses can print accurate, bank-compliant cheques in seconds. This guide covers everything — from choosing the right printer to setting up your UAE bank templates.
What You Need to Print Cheques in UAE
To print cheques in the UAE, you need three things:
- A compatible laser printer — standard laser printers work well for cheque printing. MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) capability is a bonus but not always required by UAE banks.
- Cheque printing software — software pre-loaded with configurable bank/account layouts ensures your amounts, dates, and payee names print in exactly the right positions.
- Blank cheques — your existing chequebook from your bank. No special paper needed.
Many UAE businesses use a complete cheque printing setup that combines the printer, Windows software, bank-layout calibration and staff guidance. See the AED 950 cheque printer machine package for the current hardware-and-setup offer.
Supported UAE Banks for Cheque Printing
Good cheque printing software supports all major UAE banks. Here are the most commonly used:
Our software includes configurable UAE bank/account layouts, updated regularly when banks change their cheque formats.
How PDC (Post-Dated Cheque) Printing Works
Post-Dated Cheques (PDCs) are widely used in the UAE for rent payments, car loans, and supplier payments. Printing PDCs manually is extremely tedious — most businesses need to print 12 or more cheques with sequential dates.
With cheque printing software, you can:
- Enter the amount once and print all 12 PDC cheques automatically
- Set the starting date and interval (monthly, quarterly, etc.)
- Track which PDCs have been presented and which are pending
- Print cheques for multiple banks in the same session
Step-by-Step: Printing a Cheque
- Open your cheque printing software and select your bank from the dropdown list.
- Enter the payee name — the person or company you're paying.
- Enter the amount in numbers. The software automatically writes the amount in words.
- Enter the date — or use the PDC bulk feature for multiple dates.
- Place the blank cheque in your printer's manual feed tray.
- Click Print — the software aligns to your specific bank's cheque layout and prints.
- Verify and sign — check the printout, sign, and hand over or file.
Common Cheque Printing Mistakes in UAE
- ✗Not writing "Only" at the end — Every UAE bank requires the word "Only" after the amount to prevent fraud. Without it, cheques may be rejected.
- ✗Misaligned MICR ink — The magnetic ink code at the bottom must align exactly with bank specifications. Wrong alignment causes reader failures and return fees.
- ✗Using wrong paper type — UAE cheques require specific MICR-grade paper. Standard printer paper will cause cheques to be rejected.
- ✗Amount mismatch — The numeric amount and written words must match exactly. Even a one-fils difference can void the cheque.
- ✗Using expired cheque books — UAE banks regularly update cheque formats. Always use the latest cheque book issued by your bank.
How to Write Cheque Amount in Words — UAE Format
When writing the amount in words on a UAE cheque, follow this exact format:
AED 5,250.75 → Five Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dirhams and Seventy Five Fils Only
Key rules:
- Write "Dirhams" (not "UAE Dirham" or "AED") after the dirham amount
- Write "Fils" after the fils amount
- Always end with "Only" — this is mandatory for all UAE banks
- Use "and" between dirhams and fils (e.g. "...Dirhams and Fifty Fils Only")
- If no fils, omit the fils portion entirely (e.g. "Five Thousand Dirhams Only")
Use our free AED amount to words converter to get the exact text instantly.
For a plain written-out number without the Dirhams and Fils wording — useful for invoices, contracts and forms — use the number to words converter.
UAE Bank Cheque Requirements (2026)
| Bank | MICR Required | Amount in Words | Bilingual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates NBD | ✓ Yes | ✓ Required | Optional |
| First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Required | Optional |
| ADCB | ✓ Yes | ✓ Required | Optional |
| Mashreq Bank | ✓ Yes | ✓ Required | Optional |
| RAK Bank | ✓ Yes | ✓ Required | Optional |
| Dubai Islamic Bank | ✓ Yes | ✓ Required | ✓ Arabic recommended |
Ready to Set Up Professional Cheque Printing?
Complete package: hardware + software + configurable bank/account layouts + appointment-based on-site setup
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