United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates or the UAE became fully independent on 2nd December of 1971 from the British-Trucial Sheikhdoms to form a union between Abu Dhabi and Dubai along with other four Emirates - Sharjah, Ajman, Fujeirah and Umm al-Quwain upon writing an independent constitution. Later on  Ras al-Khaimah joined the union in early 1972.

UAE introduced its currency as Dirham (AED) on 19th May of 1973 which is subdivided into 100 Fils. The name dirham is derived from the Greek word Drachmae which means handful. The first set of coins were introduced in 1973 in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 fils and 1 dirham.
The 1, 5 and 10 fils are struck in Bronze. Whereas the 25 and 50 fils and 1 dirham coins are struck in Cupro-Nickel.

The obverse side of the 1 fil coin presents three date palm trees as its main flora.

The 5 fils coin presents a fish. Rice and coastal fish are the main and traditional food of the UAE. Fishery is one of its oldest profession.

The 10 fils coin presents a traditional dhow (a boat) which is being used as a major transport over centuries.

The 25 fils coin presents a Gazelle. The sand gazelle is the second largest of the antelopes that occur in the UAE. The sand gazelle is one of the most beautiful creatures in the world with elegantly curved and considerably longer horns of both males and females. The sand gazelle is the only antelope that regularly gives birth to twins. Endangered by the early 1970s, this species of gazelle was in serious decline. Now fewer than 2500 are left in the wild.

Oil is an important and the main driver of the UAE's economic life which has turned a desert to a fastest country of the world. Today UAE oil reserves are ranked 7th in the world. Oil derricks are presented on the 50 fils coin.

The 1 dirham coin presents the traditional Arabian tea pot. Tea is the famous custom throughout the Arab countries, which is used in both casual and formal meetings between friends, family and even strangers. Tea and teapot carry the cultural symbol of the Arabs for centuries.

1st Muhrram 1401 falls on November 9 -1980; starts 15th century in Hijri (Islamic) calendar. In 1981, UAE circulated a 5 dirham coin as its first ever commemorative one to mark the fifteenth century on the reverse side whereas the obverse side presents a falcon, the national bird of UAE. It is the biggest and heaviest coin of UAE ever circulated.

Dubai hosted the 27th Chess Olympiad between 14-November and 2-December organised by the World Chess Federation (FIDE). They also comprised an open and women's tournament to promote the game of chess.

United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) completes  10 years in 1986 as the oldest institution of higher learning in the United Arab Emirates which was established in 1976 at Al Ain. UAEU was ranked as the best university in the country and 338th in world in 2011. Also it is placed among the top 50 universities established in last 50 years as of 2011.

Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO) completes 25 years of offshore oil drilling in the United Arab Emirates in 1987.

1990: The year is important and memorable in UAE sports history for qualifying the football world cup in Italy organised by FIFA.

Return to the top

50 UAE Fils 1995

Size and shape of 50 fil and 1 dirham coins were changed in 1995. The 50 fil coin were reduced from 6.57 gm (24.85 mm) to 4.4 gm (21 mm) by changing it to curve-equilateral-heptagonal shape. Whereas the 1 dirham coin were changed only in size by reducing from 28.5 mm (11.3 gm) to 24 mm (6.4 gm).

1 UAE Dirhams 1995

UAE celebrated 15th anniversary of Rashid bin Humaid award which is given for culture and science every year since 1983. His highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi was the ruler of Ajman since 1928. He is the founder of the modern Emirate of Ajman.

The Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) was established in 1988. Today (Dec'2012) it has more than 19000 students and almost 2000 stuff base on 17 campuses throughout the UAE which makes it the largest institution of higher learning in the United Arab Emirates. A 1 dirham coin was released honoring 10th anniversary of HCT in 1998.

In 1998, Sharjah was named the ‘Cultural Capital of the Arab World’ by UNESCO, an honour richly deserved in appreciation of Sharjah’s cultural achievements and the success the Emirate has shown in preserving its heritage. Sharjah has kept the spirit of its history alive by innovatively incorporating tradition into every aspect of contemporary development.

National Bank of Dubai was founded on  19th June 1963 as the oldest local  bank in the southern Gulf . NBD has played an important role in development of Dubai. As of 2007, NBD was the fourth largest bank in UAE. It was merged with Emirates Bank to form Emirates NBD as the largest bank (asset wise) in UAE in 2007. UAE dedicated 1 dirham to NBD to commemorate their 35th anniversary in 1998. 

Total, a multinational company and one of the world's leading producers and suppliers of natural gas, started operating Abu Al Bakhoosh in Abu Dhabi in 1974 gradually to become the major gas supplier in the UAE. Silver jubilee of Total Abu Al Bakhoosh was celebrated in 1999.

Dubai Islamic Bank was established in 1975 as the first ever bank in UAE to incorporate the rule of Islam in all its practices and is the largest Islamic bank in the UAE. 1 dirham coin was commemorated on silver jubilee of DIB in 2000.  

The role of women in the United Arab Emirates has advanced greatly in recent years, making the UAE a leader in women's rights in the Arab world. Though there were few opportunities for women outside the home before 1960, the discovery of oil led to advancement in women's position. The UAE constitution guarantees equality between men and women in areas including legal status, claiming of titles, and access to education. The General Women's Union (GWU), established by HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak in 2000. 

The 1918 born man who turned the desert to green, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was honored as the Islamic Personality of the year 2000. He was the driving force behind the formation of the United Arab Emirates and the first president of the UAE. He is regarded to be considerably pious in his religious observances.

On May 6, 1976 came the wise agreement of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan with his fellow brothers Their Highnesses members of the Supreme Federal Council and Rulers of the Emirates to make a historic decision to the unification of the armed forces for a sublime goal: defend the UAE and national achievements. A one dirham coin was published in 2001 to commemorate 25th Anniversary of Armed Forces Unification. 

One of the UAE’s highest priorities has always been education. Education in the UAE started with the first civilizations that cultivated this region. In those early days, education was a personal experience was people learned by experimentation and imitation as well as interaction with the immediate environment. Different types of education was adopted in the UAE such as Mutawwa (informal education), then Scientific Circle Education and then Developed Education or Semi Systematic. The modern systematic education started with Al Qassemia School in Sharjah -1953/1954 which marked the first academic year in formal education in the UAE. This education was organized and furnished a number of schools and classes along with proper curriculum with testing standards and certification for the students at the end of each academic year. Today, the UAE offers a comprehensive education to all male and female students from kindergarten to university, with education for the country’s citizens being provided free at all levels. UAE celebrates the 50th anniversary of formal education in 2003. 

British companies played a leading role in the development of oil industry in Abu Dhabi and other Gulf Sheikhdoms. During the Second World War, all exploration work in Abu Dhabi, as in the rest of the Gulf, was put on hold and after the war; efforts were focused more on Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait more than Abu Dhabi. In 1953, D’Arcy Oil Company acquired Abu Dhabi’s offshore concession, passing it to Abu Dhabi Marine Areas (ADMA) in 1955, owned initially by British Petroleum (BP). In 1958, ADMA became the first company to discover oil in commercial quantities at Umm Shaif close to Das Island. A production and processing centre and an oil export terminal were built on the island. Crude began to be shipped from Das Island in 1962 – the year when Abu Dhabi joined the family of oil exporters and the rapid formation of the Emirates began! UAE celebrates its Fortieth Anniversary of first Onshore Crude Oil Shipment in 2003.

UAE celebrated 35 years of excellence of National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) in 2003. NBAD was founded in 1968 and is the second largest lender in the United Arab Emirates as of today (2013). Global Finance, a prestigious international financial magazine, has ranked NBAD for the fifth consecutive year among its “World’s 50 Safest Banks”.

World Bank International Monetary Fund Annual Meeting was held in Dubai in 2003. The Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group (Bank) and the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (Fund) normally meet once a year to discuss the work of their respective institutions. The Annual Meetings, which generally take place in September-October, have customarily been held in Washington for two consecutive years and in another member country in the third year. The first Annual Meetings were held in Washington in 1946. Dubai is 20^th city to organize the meeting.

25 Years of First Gulf Bank in 2004: First Gulf Bank (FGB) is a publicly owned bank headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and owned by several sons of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It was established in 1979 in Ajman and provides financial services across the UAE, with a wide distribution network of branches in different business & industrial areas such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and Al Ain and is currently one of the fastest growing banks in the region. Within the UAE, it is also often known by its Arabic name Bank Al Khaleej Al Awal.

Honoring mother of the Nation-Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak in 2005: Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi called mother of the UAE or nation. She is wife of the founder and the first president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. She was born in Al Hayer in Al Ain city. She is women rights supporter and the supreme chairperson of the family development foundation. She significantly contributed to the foundation of the first women’s organization in 1973, the Abu Dhabi society for the awakening of women. She was also instrumental in a nationwide campaign towards girls' education. In addition, Sheikha Fatima heads the United Arab Emirate's women federation, which she founded in 1975. She is also president of motherhood and childhood supreme council. At the end of the 1990s, she publicly announced that women should be member of the federal national council of the Emirates.
She also supports efforts concerning adult literacy and provision of free public education to girls. In 1997, five different organizations of the United Nations, namely the UNICEF, WHO, UNIFEM, UNFP and UNFPA, awarded Sheikha Fatima for her significant efforts for women's rights.

World Environment Day ('WED') is celebrated every year on 5 June to raise global awareness of the need to take positive environmental action. It is run by the United Nations Environment Programme.
The first World Environment Day was in 1973. Mexico hosted WED in 2003 with the theme of  'Your Planet Needs You – Unite to Combat Climate Change'. UAE commemorated one Dirham coin on this world event in 2003.

Dubai Police Golden Jubilee in 2006 :
The Dubai Police force was founded on June 1, 1956. The Dubai Police force strives to be 'most progressive' of all Arabic police forces and aims for high education standards amongst its personnel. The force was the first to use many new law enforcement techniques, including electronic finger printing and DNA testing. The force was also the first to use GPS systems to locate stolen vehicles. In addition, the force was the first to create a Human Rights Department, as well as the first to employ a Community Policing program.

50th anniversary of Abu Dhabi Police in 2007: Abu Dhabi Police is the primary law enforcement agency in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Under the command of His Highness Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, the Abu Dhabi Police is primarily responsible for enforcing criminal law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout the Emirate. Integrity, honesty and respect for human rights are the core values of the Abu Dhabi Police while the notion of public service is a central pillar in Abu Dhabi police thinking. Abu Dhabi Police has achieved the flexibility, adaptability and durability required to be widely regarded as one of the world's leading law enforcement agencies.

30th Anniversary Of 1st LNG Shipment in 2007

30th Anniversary of ZADCO in 2007: Zakum field was discovered in 1963 and has been in production since 1967. Zakum Development Company (ZADCO) was created in 1977 to develop the upper reservoirs of this giant field. Besides Upper Zakum , the Company operates Umm Al Dalkh, and Satah fields. Crude oil from Upper Zakum, Umm Al Dalkh and Satah fields is pumped via main oil lines to Zirku Island for further processing, storage and export. ZADCO is a leading operating company in the oil industry in the U.A.E.

UAE celebrated 75th Anniversary Sahrjah International Airport in 2007. Sharjah is a thriving, bustling city famed for its culture, heritage and tourist attractions.  Sharjah International Airport history goes back to 1932, when it was used as a stopover point by Imperial Airways - the forerunners of British Airways, who constructed an airfield at Sharjah as a stopover en-route to India and Australia.   It was the first airport in UAE and GCC. Today, Sharjah Airport is the Middle East region’s leading Air Transportation gateway. It is considered as the No.1 cargo hub in the region and it is increasingly becoming popular throughout the world as a favorite transit, departure and arrival point for passengers. As of today, it is the second largest Middle East Airfreight Hub in terms of cargo tonnage. 

In March 1998 ,His Highness Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum , Dubai Deputy Ruler and the UAE Minister of Finance & Industry , issued a decree to specify a prize entitled (Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for the Distinguished Academic Performance) to undertake the task of upgrading the educational performance in all its stages and sectors that are under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. The Award anguished Teacher , The Distinguished Student , The Distinguished Social Worker , The Distinguished Supervisor , Best Scientific Innovation , Best Applied Project and The Distinguished Parent.

UAE Scout Golden Jubilee in 2007: The Emirates Scout Association is the national Scouting organization of the United Arab Emirates. Scouting was founded in the United Arab Emirates in 1972 and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1977 whose current stated mission is "to contribute to the education of young people, through a value system based on the Scout Promise and Scout Law, to help build a better world where people are self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society". Scouting was previously founded in several of the individual emirates prior to unification. Scouting was extant in Sharjah by 1957, and inUmm al-Qiwain prior to 1971.

National bank of Abu Dhabi completes 40 years in 2008.

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is a federal financial free zone situated in the Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The DIFC was established pursuant to UAE Federal Decree No. 35 of 2004, UAE Federal Law No. 8 of 2004 and Dubai Law No. 12 of 2004. It has its own legal system and courts distinct from those of the wider UAE, with jurisdiction over corporate, commercial, civil, employment, trusts and securities law matters. The DIFC aims to provide a platform for business and financial institutions to reach into and out of the emerging markets of the region. It was established to create an environment for growth, progress and economic development in the UAE and the wider region by providing the needed legal and business as well as physical infrastructure benchmarked against international standards.

UAE introduced a coin in 2010 featuring “I Love UAE”, a program to promote the Emirati talents, business and products to the United Arab Emirates and the rest of the world and inspire the youth.