Here's how the Dhs100 banknote has transformed over the decades

Time Out Dubai

20-05-2025

A Dhs100 note is always a welcome sight.
Showcasing its new look earlier this year, it won't be a surprise to know that this lovely bit of cash has had a few different outfits over the years.
Now coming in a special polymer material, the Dhs100 note has been covered in a series of cultural landmarks and other important features you might have never noticed.
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Having been in circulation for decades, there are also a selection of older designs that hold some very cool meanings.
So this is the time to dig the cash out your wallet and have a closer inspection of exactly what Dhs100 notes are hiding in there.
The first Dhs100 note
(Credit: CBUAE)
First issued out in 1973 when the UAE Currency Board issued its first banknotes, the Dhs100 note originally had a yellow and green colour.
On the English side of the note was a scene of Khor Fakkan on the Gulf of Oman in Sharjah, which includes the traditional dhow boat, a mosque and a fish market.
However, in 1982 the UAE Currency Board transitioned to the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE), and a second issue of the notes were released. At this time, the Dhs100 note was changed to the pink colour you know today.
The 2015 Dhs100 note
According to the CBUAE, the next version of the note came in 2015, with the Al Fahidi Fort in Dubai on the Arabic side, and the World Trade Centre (the first high-rise building in Dubai) on the other. The English side of the note also features the UAE's national bird, a falcon.
The 2025 Dhs100 note
Announced on Tuesday March 24 2025, the front of the new polymer banknote features the Um Al Quwain National Fort, a historical and cultural monument, which bridges the past with the present.
On the other side, you'll find the Port of Fujairah, one of the country's largest ports, alongside an image of Etihad Rail, the nation's upcoming passenger and freight railway service.
The note's design also features drawings and inscriptions created using advanced printing techniques.
It will have improved security features to combat counterfeits and boost the confidence of consumers when using the note. Improved features include a multi-coloured security chip known as KINEGRAM COLORS in each note.
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