The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has released a new polymer banknote worth Dhs1,000 for public circulation. The note will be available at banks and exchange houses from April 10, according to the state news agency, WAM. The banknote features different shades of brown, similar to the existing Dhs1,000 note, with fluorescent blue representing the UAE nation brand in the center. The front of the note showcases the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan alongside a model of a space shuttle, commemorating his meeting with NASA pioneers in 1974, as well as the Emirates Mars Mission ‘Hope Probe’. The reverse side features the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi, which aims to diversify energy sources in the country and reduce carbon emissions. To prevent counterfeiting, the note includes advanced security features such as Spark Flow Dimensions, the largest multi-colored Kinegram surface applied foil stripe in the MENA region, and Braille symbols to help the visually impaired identify the note’s value.
The new banknote will be in circulation alongside the current Dhs1,000 note. In addition, the CBUAE has partnered with G42 Cloud and R3 to launch its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) strategy, as part of its Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) Programme, with the first phase of the initiative expected to complete within the next 12 to 15 months.