UAE currency: A pocketful of history

The UAE’s currency is the dirham, which is divided into 100 fils. Different denominations of the dirham notes carry fine line drawings of notable UAE landmarks.

The dirham was put into circulation in 1973 two years after the UAE was formed, when it replaced both the Bahraini dinar (favoured by Abu Dhabi) and Qatari riyal (favoured by Dubai) which had been used since 1966. For many decades previously, the emirates had used the Gulf rupee, as well the golden pound or the silver Maria Theresa dollar.

DH500: Jumeirah Grand Mosque

Also known as ‘the two minaret mosque’, it was built in 1975 under the patronage of Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum. It was officially opened in 1979. It is only one of two mosques in the UAE open to non-Muslims – the other being Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. The architecture of the mosque, which can accommodate 1.300 people, is based on the Fatimid style.

The Shaikh Mohammad Centre for Cultural Understanding organizes visits to the mosque.