The 500 dirham banknote issued by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) won the Best New Banknote award for 2025 at the High Security Printing EMEA conference held in Basel, Switzerland, at the beginning of February 2025. The banknote features a design that reflects the UAE’s journey in the field of sustainability and embodies the central bank’s strong commitment to promoting sustainable solutions in the financial sector.
The new recognition reflects the central bank’s commitment in implementing the latest technical specifications and advanced security features. The banknote incorporates advanced security technologies including stunning three-dimensional designs and the region’s largest surface-applied foil stripe.
The polymer-based banknote, the third in the UAE’s new all-polymer series, was printed on De La Rue’s SAFEGUARD substrate by Oumolat Security Printing – a fully owned subsidiary of CBUAE specialising in printing banknotes – and entered circulation on 30 November, 2023.
The CBUAE opted for the fully-recyclable polymer material as a strategic move towards sustainability, making the new banknotes more durable and longer lasting than traditional paper currencies.
While the front side of the note displays the motif of Terra, the sustainability hub in Expo City Dubai, the reverse side features the Museum of the Future, with two other iconic landmarks, the Emirates Towers and the Burj Khalifa, in the background. The motifs showcase the UAE’s vision of leadership in climate protection and building a sustainable future and also highlights some of the nation’s architectural wonders and tourism landmarks.
Advanced security features include a multi-coloured, registered KINEGRAM COLORS stripe from KURZ, which is applied over a large window, with a portrait of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. A similar stripe featured on the 1,000 dirham banknote issued in 2022 won the Best New Banknote award in 2023.
In line with its commitment to inclusivity, CBUAE has included prominent symbols in Braille to help blind and visually impaired users identify the banknote.
CBUAE Assistant Governor for Banking Operations and Support Services and Oumolat Chairman Saif Al Dhaheri says, “The Central Bank of the UAE’s AED 500 banknote winning the ‘banknote of the year’ award is a testament to our dedication to sustainability and innovation. We are proud to lead the region in introducing banknotes with advanced security features and materials that minimise environmental impact. Additionally, our dedication to inclusivity ensures that our banknotes are accessible to all, with Braille symbols aiding visually impaired users.”
