The UAE dirham symbol is now part of Unicode 18.0, giving device makers and software companies a final standard for adding the currency sign to keyboards, fonts and operating systems. The Unicode Consortium released the update on September 16, while The National reported the final inclusion on September 22.
Unicode 18.0 gives the UAE dirham symbol a code point
The sign is assigned code point U+20C3, formally named UAE DIRHAM SIGN. It was unveiled by the Central Bank of the UAE on March 27, 2025, with two horizontal lines representing monetary stability and drawing inspiration from the UAE flag, according to The National’s report.
The Unicode Consortium’s version 18.0 announcement says the release adds 13,007 characters, taking the total number of encoded characters to 172,808. The UAE dirham sign is one of three new currency symbols in the release, alongside U+20C2 RUFIYAA SIGN and U+20C4 OMANI RIAL SIGN.
The symbol’s standardisation closes the encoding gap that made consistent use across digital systems difficult. Developers can now reference the same code point rather than relying on images, private fonts or improvised text representations.
When will the symbol appear on UAE keyboards and phones?
Unicode inclusion does not automatically add a key to a laptop or phone. Apple, Google, Samsung, Microsoft and keyboard developers must implement Unicode 18.0 in their fonts, operating systems and input tools before most users can select the sign normally.
The Central Bank’s 2025 style guide suggested placing it on the number 6 key, but the final layout remains a decision for each keyboard maker. Existing apps may also need updated fonts before the character renders correctly instead of appearing as a missing-glyph box.
This is a shipped standard, not yet a guaranteed rollout date for consumer devices. For now, the important change is that vendors have the technical reference needed to begin supporting the UAE dirham sign. Our earlier coverage of the UAE dirham symbol’s keyboard approval covered the planned September arrival; Unicode 18.0 is the final step that makes implementation possible.
Can I type the UAE dirham symbol on every phone now?
No. Unicode 18.0 provides the standard, but phone makers, operating systems, fonts and keyboard apps must add support before it appears reliably on consumer devices.
What is the UAE dirham symbol code point?
The UAE DIRHAM SIGN is assigned code point U+20C3 in Unicode 18.0.
Will the symbol definitely be on the number 6 key?
Not necessarily. The Central Bank suggested the number 6 key in its style guide, but each keyboard maker controls its final layout.
