Currency of the United Arab Emirates 1000 Dirhams banknote of 1976, issued by the United Arab Emirates Currency Board
The United Arab Emirates Currency Board was established on May 19, 1973, in an effort to replace the Bahraini dinar and Qatar and Dubai riyal currencies, which had been circulated in the United Arab Emirates since 1966. The United Arab Emirates dirham was introduced on May 19, 1973, replacing the dinar and riyal in a span of a few weeks.
On the front are geometric patterns with a pale circular area to the right, which holds the watermark of a horse’s head, and a circular vignette to the left. The vignette contains an outline of the coast of the United Arab Emirates, over which is written in Arabic ‘United Arab Emirates’. Above the outline of the coast is a dhow and below are four camels and a camel driver. To the left of the vignette is a palm tree, to the right is an oil derrick and below is a string of pearls. The notes have a solid security thread (to the left of centre) and are signed by the Chairman of the Currency Board (رئيس مجلس النقد), Sheikh Hamad bin Rashid al Maktoum (who was also the Minister of Finance and Industry).
The 1000-dirham note carries two illustrations on its back – one is the Jahili fort at Al Ain in Abu Dhabi and the other is al-Fahidi Fort in Dubai. Jahili Fort was built in 1898 by Sheikh Zayid bin Khalifa al Nahyan (1855-1909) to defend the palm groves around the oasis. It is built of mud-brick, stones and palm-tree products. Additions to the fort were made in 1966, when an Officer’s Mess was built around the existing top storey and another storey added. However, what is most notable about the fort is that it is the birth place of Shaikh Zayid bin Sultan Al Nahyan , the present Amir of Abu Dhabi (and President of the United Arab Emirates). Al-Fahidi Fort in Dubai is one of the oldest forts in the United Arab Emirates. Used over time as an arsenal, a residence, and a gaol, the building was converted to Dubai’s museum and opened to the public in 1971. A large area under and adjacent to the fort has been excavated to create a thoroughly modern museum with entertaining displays. Depicted on the banknote beside al-Fahidi Fort is the minaret of the Grand Mosque of Dubai. The mosque and minaret have since been pulled down and rebuilt (1998), with the minaret of the new mosque erected in the same position.
First issued: 3 January 1976. Size: 171 mm x 75 mm.
The 1000-dirham note was subject to a number of counterfeiting attempts during the period of its issue. The most successful counterfeit was a note that was (probably) a lithograph print. The counterfeits could be identified by the vignette to the left on the front of the note. On the genuine notes, the palm tree and oil derrick, to the left and right of the vignette, are printed by the intaglio process and overlap the lithographic design. On the counterfeits, the palm tree and oil derrick are printed entirely within the white areas to either side of the vignette. (There were other small errors in the design, but this is the easiest way to identify the notes of the principal counterfeit attempt.)
United Arab Emirates Banknotes - UAE Paper Money
United Arab Emirates Currency Board
ND (1973-1976) Issue
1 Dirham 5 Dirhams 10 Dirhams 50 Dirhams 100 Dirhams 1000 Dirhams