Obverse. Photo © Central Bank of the UAE
  • 5 Dirhams 2009, United Arab Emirates, Khalifa, 5th Anniversary of Dubai International Financial Centre
  • 5 Dirhams 2009, United Arab Emirates, Khalifa, 5th Anniversary of Dubai International Financial Centre
Description

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is a special economic zone in Dubai covering 110 ha (272 acres), established in 2004 as a financial hub for companies operating throughout the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) markets. DIFC is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority, an independent regulator exclusive to the zone, and by its own court system, DIFC Courts, separate from the Emirate of Dubai's legal system and that of the federal government of the UAE. DIFC follows the common law framework and operates in English.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (1948–2022), the UAE's second president and ruler of Abu Dhabi from November 2004 to May 2022, was the eldest son of the UAE's first president, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He took on a significant role in the late 1990s due to his father's health issues and officially became Abu Dhabi's leader in 2004. His tenure saw cultural and academic growth, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways. Under his leadership, the UAE became a major economic power. Known for his pro-Western stance, he strengthened ties with the US and Israel.

Obverse

Depicts conjugated portraits of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan facing three-quarters left and a portrait of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, wearing a traditional cloak and headpiece, within a circle enclosed by the legend in Arabic and English text.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, born on July 15, 1949, is the ruler of Dubai, as well as the vice president, prime minister, and minister of defense of the UAE. He succeeded his brother in 2006 and has significantly contributed to Dubai's transformation into a global city, overseeing projects like the Palm Islands, Burj Al Arab, and Burj Khalifa. A billionaire primarily through real estate, he also founded Emirates Airline, DP World, and the Jumeirah Group. Despite his achievements, his governance is described as authoritarian, and a 2020 British court ruling found he had abducted two of his daughters and threatened his former wife. An equestrian enthusiast, he founded the Godolphin stable and owns the Darley breeding operation.

The traditional men's headwear in some Middle Eastern areas consists of three components: a knitted skull-cap known as the "keffiyeh," (also referred to as a ghutrah, shemagh, or ḥaṭṭah) a large cotton headscarf, typically plain white or with a red-and-white checkered pattern, called the "ghutra," and a black cord named the "agal," which secures the ghutra in place.

دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة
صاحب السمو الشيخ خليفة بن زايد آل نهيان
صاحب السمو الشيخ محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Reverse

Depicts the DIFC headquarters in the middle with the digit 5 within the building and denomination below it surrounded by the inscription of the event in Arabic and English within a circle encircled by the center name in Arabic and English divided by the logo of the center and dates of establishment and issue below.

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) headquarters is a gateway to a new financial district in Dubai. The Gate is a global center for leading financial businesses designed to embody the DIFC’s vales of integrity, transparency, and simplicity. Featuring monumental proportions, designed to symbolise the DIFC’s permanence and stability, the building is an iconic element of the master plan, which called for a promenade ending in a triumphal arch modeled after Champs Élysées and Arc de Triomphe. Sitting on an axis with the Emirates Towers and the World Trade Centre, the Gate Building creates a strong urban dialogue with these two Dubai landmarks.

مركز دبي المالي العالمي Dubai International Financial Centre
احتفالا بخمس سنوات من النجاح
5
خمسة دراهم
Celebrating five years of Success
2004-2009

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.925
Weight 40 g
Diameter 40 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal

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