The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) issued a brand-new AED 100 polymer banknote on March 24, 2025 — the latest step in the country's National Currency Project to modernise its banknotes with stronger security and sustainability credentials. The new Dhs100 polymer note entered circulation in time for Eid Al Fitr and will run alongside the existing version.
New AED 100 Polymer Banknote Design
The new note retains the red colour palette familiar from the previous Dhs100 issued in 1982, but its imagery is entirely refreshed to reflect the UAE's present-day vision.
Front design: The obverse features Um Al Quwain National Fort — a symbol of the Emirates' rich cultural and historical heritage.
Back design: The reverse showcases the Port of Fujairah, one of the region's largest seaports, alongside the Etihad Rail — a nod to the UAE's rapid infrastructure development and the railway network connecting all seven Emirates.
A see-through window on the note contains a watermark of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Advanced Security Features
The new Dhs100 banknote incorporates several layers of cutting-edge anti-counterfeiting technology:
- KINEGRAM COLORS — a multi-colored security chip element - SPARK Flow DIMENSIONS — advanced security stripe technology - Simulated windowed security thread with demetalized Arabic text - Sheikh Zayed watermark in a circular transparent window - Braille symbols to help visually impaired users identify the note's value
Polymer vs. Paper: Why the Switch?
The shift from paper to polymer is a deliberate sustainability move. Polymer banknotes last at least twice as long in circulation as their paper counterparts, reducing replacement costs and environmental waste. The CBUAE has already won "Best New Banknote" awards at the 2023 and 2025 High Security Printing EMEA conference for its AED 500 and AED 1,000 polymer notes.
Official Statement
CBUAE Governor His Excellency Khaled Mohamed Balama said the new banknote would circulate alongside the existing Dhs100 note. He emphasised that it complements the country's Net Zero ambitions and supports the financial wellbeing of residents.
Banks and exchange houses were instructed to update their currency-counting and dispensing machines to accept both the old and new Dhs100 notes.
The previous Dhs100 note — in circulation since 1982 — featured Al Fahidi Fort and the Dubai World Trade Centre. The new design marks a clear shift toward the UAE's sustainability and innovation agenda, celebrating landmarks from across the seven Emirates rather than a single emirate.
