The UAE Central Bank is making efforts to assist the visually impaired with new specialised banknotes being put into circulation.

Notes in denominations of Dh500 and Dh5 have been printed with distinct tactile features. The Dh500 note will feature a pair of three horizontal lines separated by a recognisable distance and located in the middle of the right and left sides of the note.

The Dh5 note will be printed with a horizontal line in the middle of the right and left sides of the note.

Apart from these changes, the overall design of the two notes will remain the same as those currently in circulation.

The notes will be dispensed to banks in accordance with the Central Bank’s established procedures for cash withdrawal and deposit.

The Central Bank issued instructions last July for banknotes to be printed using Braille characters. The move means the UAE has joined Hong Kong, China and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank in issuing notes with Braille features. China was the first nation to use Braille on banknotes, more than a decade ago.

When the announcement was made, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, tweeted: “I call on the UAE Central Bank to use Braille script in banknotes to make it easier for those without the blessing of eyesight.”

newsdesk@thenational.ae