UAE unveils new Dh1,000 note in celebration of 51st National Day

Currency bears the image of the UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

The new Dh1,000 note will begin circulating in the first half of next year. Photo: Wam

The UAE has launched a new Dh1,000 banknote in celebration of its 51st National Day.

The note, which will enter into circulation during the first half of next year, pays homage to the UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the country's soaring space ambitions.

It has been issued by the Central Bank of the UAE.

The front side of the note bears the image of Sheikh Zayed, the country's first president, next to the model of a space shuttle and incudes a nod to the Emirates Mars Mission and Maj Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati astronaut to journey to space.

The striking design was inspired by Sheikh Zayed's key meeting with Nasa in 1976 to express his ambitions to cement the UAE as a major player in the global space race.

Now, 46 years on, the Emirates has taken significant strides in a highly competitive field.

In 2019, astronaut Maj Al Mansouri etched his name in record books as the first Emirati to journey into space.

He spent eight days on board the International Space Station.

The reserve astronaut for that mission, Sultan Al Neyadi, will travel on the ISS for six months — with a launch date scheduled for February.

In February 2021, the UAE launched the Arab world's first mission to Mars.

The Hope probe remains in the orbit of the Red Planet, with a goal of studying the planet's weather system and atmospheric conditions.

The region's maiden Moon mission is being led by the Emirates.

The Rashid rover is expected to blast off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in the coming days, after the launch was twice postponed this week because of technical issues.

The new note also highlights another major Emirati achievement in the form of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, which is central to efforts to switch focus to renewable energies and safeguard the environment.

The note is made of polymer and has advanced security features.

Authorities said the current Dh1,000 cash note will remain in circulation even after the new version is made available at Central Bank branches and in cash machines.