On Thursday, November 30, the new banknote—which is being minted in the same shade of blue for better identification—will go into circulation.

A new polymer Dh500 banknote has been released by the UAE Central Bank, it was reported earlier on Wednesday. The UAE’s sustainable growth, including its iconic tourist destinations and cultural sites, is celebrated on the new Dh500 currency.

The front side features a picture of the striking Terra Sustainability Pavilion architecture at Expo City Dubai, symbolizing the UAE’s dedication to a sustainable future based on the values established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

The flip side showcases the Museum of the Future in Dubai, an architectural and engineering marvel that connects the past and the future. The reverse side of the polymer banknote features a prominent image of two iconic landmarks: the Emirates Towers, which is the tallest building in the world at 828 meters with over 160 stories, and the Burj Khalifa, which is located on the right side and is primarily powered by solar energy.

The CBUAE chose polymer material as a strategic step towards sustainability, which doubles or triples the durability of the new currency over conventional banknotes. Because it is completely recyclable, this material has a far smaller environmental impact.

With the introduction of KINEGRAM COLORS, a multicolored security chip technology, the UAE is the first nation in the Middle East to use the widest foil strip of its kind on banknotes. These technologies were previously used in the new Dh1000 banknote, the first in the regions of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, to fight counterfeiting.