UAE Dirham Symbol Joins Unicode, Moving Closer to Smartphone Keyboards
By Steve
The UAE’s new dirham symbol has officially entered the global digital standard, bringing it a major step closer to appearing on smartphone and computer keyboards.
The **Unicode Consortium** has added the UAE Dirham Sign to **Unicode Standard Version 18.0**, assigning it the unique code **U+20C3**. The update means software developers, operating-system makers, banks, websites and other technology companies now have a standardised digital character for the UAE currency symbol.
For UAE residents, the change could eventually make typing the dirham symbol as straightforward as using $, €, £ or ¥.
## **What has changed?**
Until now, the new UAE dirham symbol existed officially, but it did not have its own standard Unicode character.
That created limitations for companies wanting to use the symbol consistently across websites, apps, digital invoices, banking platforms and devices.
Unicode 18.0 has changed that.
The UAE Dirham Sign is now officially encoded as **U+20C3 UAE DIRHAM SIGN**, giving technology companies a common digital reference for displaying the character.
## **What is Unicode and why does it matter?**
Unicode is the international standard that allows letters, numbers, symbols and emojis to be represented consistently across digital devices and software.
When you type symbols such as €, £ or ¥, Unicode helps ensure that the character can be recognised and displayed across different phones, computers, websites and applications.
Adding the UAE dirham symbol to Unicode therefore creates the technical foundation needed for much wider digital adoption.
Unicode 18.0 added **13,007 new characters**, bringing the standard to 172,808 encoded characters. The UAE dirham was among three highly anticipated new currency symbols, alongside the Maldivian rufiyaa and Omani rial.
## **When will the dirham symbol appear on your phone?**
Not immediately.
Unicode inclusion means smartphone manufacturers and software developers **can now implement the symbol**, but individual companies still need to add support.
Apple, Google, Microsoft, Samsung, font developers, keyboard providers and individual app developers may introduce it through future software, font or keyboard updates.
This means you could see the symbol working inside certain websites or apps before a dedicated option appears on your phone keyboard.
Unicode also warns that older devices may never receive native support if manufacturers no longer provide software updates for them.
## **Could it get its own keyboard key?**
Potentially.
The Central Bank of the UAE has already published guidance illustrating how the new symbol could be incorporated into keyboards, including a suggested placement associated with the **number 6 key**.
However, this does not mean every future keyboard will use that exact placement. Hardware manufacturers and software keyboard developers ultimately determine how users access the symbol on their products.
## **What does the new UAE dirham symbol look like?**
The official symbol was unveiled by the **Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE)** on **March 27, 2025**.
Its design is based on the letter **“D”**, derived from the English name of the dirham.
Two horizontal lines run through the character. According to the Central Bank and Unicode specification, these lines are inspired by the UAE flag and represent the financial and monetary stability of the UAE dirham.
## **Where will the new symbol be used?**
The Central Bank intends the symbol to be used widely across both physical and digital financial transactions.
Potential uses include receipts, invoices, price tags, online shopping platforms, cheques, ATMs, banking applications, accounting systems, online trading platforms and foreign-exchange websites.
For example, instead of businesses relying only on formats such as **AED 100** or **Dh100**, digital platforms will eventually be able to display the UAE’s official currency symbol consistently.
## **Why didn’t this happen when the symbol was launched?**
Creating an official currency symbol and making it universally usable on digital devices are two different processes.
After the Central Bank unveiled the symbol in March 2025, it formally proposed its inclusion in international character standards. The CBUAE said the symbol was intended for both physical and digital applications across financial systems, businesses and government entities.
Unicode later accepted the character for Unicode 18.0.
The new version was officially released on **September 16, 2026**, completing one of the most important technical steps towards widespread adoption.
## **Will AED disappear?**
There is currently no indication that the familiar **AED** currency code is disappearing.
AED is the UAE dirham’s international currency code, while the new character is its graphical currency symbol.
They can serve different purposes, much like currencies elsewhere can have both an international code and a familiar visual symbol.
The new symbol is therefore another way to represent the dirham rather than simply a replacement for every use of AED.
## **What happens next?**
The next stage depends largely on technology companies.
Operating systems need compatible fonts. Apps and websites need to support the character. Digital keyboards need a way for users to select it. Financial software and payment platforms also need to incorporate it into their systems.
Because these updates will happen at different speeds, the UAE dirham symbol is unlikely to appear everywhere at the same time.
Some UAE banking apps, government platforms and websites could support it before it becomes easily accessible from every smartphone keyboard.
## **Why this matters**
Unicode inclusion might sound like a small technical update, but it is an important milestone for the UAE dirham.
The UAE now has an internationally standardised digital character for its national currency, making consistent use across global technology systems much easier.
For residents, the most noticeable change will eventually be simple: instead of typing **AED** or **Dh**, the UAE’s own currency symbol could become something you can type directly from your phone.
The symbol is officially in the digital standard. Now, the next step is getting it onto the devices people use every day.
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