Not long ago, Aisha Matar stood at the checkout counter of a bustling Dubai supermarket and asked the cashier a question they weren't expecting: "Do you have the old Dh20 note?"

From fading one-dirham paper notes to discontinued old-style Dh5, Dh10, and early Dh20 bills, a growing community in the UAE is preserving old currency that is slowly disappearing from everyday circulation. Some collect for nostalgia or cultural pride, others see investment value, and many trade within a niche network.

It's not the first time Aisha has asked. Over the past few months, Dubai residents have been visiting smaller groceries and cash-heavy stores around the city, hoping to spot the paper version of the UAE's green Dh20 note that was phased out in the early 2000s.“It's not impossible to find, but it's getting harder,” she said.

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For Aisha, it's not just a banknote, it's a link to the past.“This was the note we grew up with. The colour, the feel of the paper... It's different from the new ones,” she said. She's part of a small but growing group of residents collecting discontinued UAE currency, preserving paper notes that are quietly disappearing from circulation.

She recently added another rare item to her collection, a full roll of 10 fils coins.“I found it by chance. It was still sealed. That denomination barely shows up anymore,” she said.“To me, this is part of preserving what's vanishing."

More than just money

From the original red-and-blue Dh5 and Dh10 to the short-lived orange Dh200, collectors across the country are tracking down old notes that were once part of daily life. While some do it for sentimental reasons, others see it as a financial investment or a way to preserve a slice of national history.

“People don't realise how many of these notes have vanished. They think the old ones aren't special, but the designs have changed, and some were discontinued altogether,” said Ahmed R., a Dubai-based resident who's been collecting for five years.

Ahmed's most prized find is a paper Dh1 note from the 1970s .“It's completely faded now, but I keep it in a protective sleeve,” he said.“You don't see these anymore. Most people didn't even know there used to be a paper version of the Dh1.”

The illusive 1989 Dh200 note

Among the rarest bills is the original Dh200 note issued in 1989. Its unique colour and design made it stand out, but also made it a target for counterfeiters.

“It was one of the most forged notes at the time. That's why the central bank stopped distributing it fairly quickly,” said Omar A., another collector in Abu Dhabi who's spent years trying to track down an original Dh200 in good condition.“If you find one now, especially unmarked, it's a big deal in the community.”

What began as a quiet hobby has become a small community. Some collectors trade notes through online forums and social media groups, where they share images, discuss condition, and negotiate prices.“There's a whole trading scene,” said Ahmed.

“I didn't even know this community existed until I found an online post about UAE currency. Since then, I've met collectors from all over the country,” he said.

The appeal of old notes also runs deeper for some Emiratis and long-time residents. It's about identity.“Each note tells a story,” said Aisha.“It reminds you of how the country used to look, of what was considered important enough to print: forts, dhows, falcons, markets.”

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