Currency of the United Arab Emirates 5 Dirhams banknote of 1973, 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 5-dirham note carries an illustration of Fort Bithna. Bithna is a small village in Fujairah and the fort was quite important until quite recent times, as it controlled access from the west into Fujairah. However, a new road has been built which largely bypasses Bithna and, in these modern times, the fort no longer serves as a strategic point of defence. The fort is one of the better kept forts in the United Arab Emirates and, because it is a little distance from the road, is not visited as much as some other forts.
First issued: 20 May 1973. Size: 145 mm x 63 mm. Front: Standard pattern of the series.
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