UAE Dirham Symbol to Appear on Smartphone and Computer Keyboards

The UAE dirham symbol is on its way to becoming a standard feature on smartphones and computer keyboards, following its inclusion in Unicode’s 18.0-beta review of future symbol and emoji standards. The move marks a significant step toward enhancing the currency’s digital presence and reflects the UAE’s growing role as a global financial hub.

Unicode’s Beta Review

Unicode, the California-based organization responsible for standardizing digital characters and emojis across billions of devices, has opened its 18.0-beta review to public feedback. The UAE dirham symbol, along with those of the Omani rial and Saudi riyal, is among the new additions under consideration.

In a blog post, Unicode stated that the character repertoire for version 18.0 is considered stable, though users can still submit feedback until July 7. The final version is expected to be published in September, after which technology companies may adopt the symbols for their devices.

“No new characters will be added at this phase,” Unicode noted, “but characters that are new in this version could still be removed or modified if strong justification arises.”

UAE’s Push for Digital Currency Symbol

The UAE Central Bank first unveiled a symbol for the dirham in March 2025 as part of its efforts to strengthen the country’s financial identity. Designed to represent the stability of the currency while paying homage to the UAE flag, the symbol was created to be font-independent, ensuring it can be widely adopted without licensing restrictions.

In its submission to Unicode, the Central Bank emphasized the symbol’s role in everyday transactions for the public, businesses, and government. The bank also released style guidelines in 2025, proposing that the dirham symbol appear on the number 6 key of keyboard layouts.

A Milestone for Financial Activity

Unicode acknowledged that the introduction of new currency symbols is a “significant milestone for financial and commercial activity” in their respective regions. The organization expressed its commitment to collaborating with monetary authorities to ensure a smooth launch.

“Monetary authorities introducing new symbols for their currencies represent a significant milestone for financial and commercial activity in their domain,” Unicode stated in a February blog post.

What’s Next?

While Unicode’s approval is a critical step, the final decision on where and how the dirham symbol appears on keyboards rests with device manufacturers. If adopted, the symbol will join other currency symbols like the dollar ($), euro (€), and yen (¥) in everyday digital use.

For now, users can track the progress of the 18.0-beta review and provide feedback on Unicode’s website. The inclusion of the dirham symbol on keyboards would not only simplify digital transactions but also elevate the UAE’s global financial standing.